Tennis Study Guide

SERVING THE BALL
In singles, two people play, one on each end of the court. In doubles, two players at one end play against two players at the other end.
To start the game, one player (the server) stands behind the baseline, just to the right of the center service mark (no standing on the line-that's called a foot fault.) The server hits the ball across the net into the service court on the opposite side of the center service line. If the first serve doesn't land in the service court, it's a fault and the player gets one more chance. If this second serve is also a fault, the server loses the point (a double fault). If either of those two serves is "good" (lands in the correct service court) the receiver has to hit the ball back over the net.
If the ball touches the net when it is served but still bounces into the correct service court, a let is called and the server gets to try that serve again. If the ball hits the net and then lands outside the correct service court, the serve is a fault.
PLAYING THE POINT
Play continues until one player hits the ball into the net or outside their opponent's court, or until one player hits a shot so well that the opponent can't reach it. (This is called 'hitting a winner")
After each point in singles, the server and receiver change sides (not ends-just left to right or right to left). In doubles, the server changes sides but the receivers stay where they are and receive alternate points.
After the serve, all balls must land on or inside the baseline. They must also land on or inside the singles sideline (in singles) or the doubles sidelines (in doubles). You can hit the ball after one bounce or before it bounces (except on a return of serve, when you have to let it bounce). You must hit it before it bounces twice.
KEEPING SCORE

• No point = Love (0)
• First point = 15
• Second point = 30
• Third point = 40
• Fourth point = Game
• Deuce = Each side has 3 points or 40 all. One side must have two consecutive points after deuce to win a game.
• Advantage = The first point after deuce.
• If the server wins the first point after deuce, the score is called advantage server or ad-in.
• If the receiver wins the first point after deuce, it is called advantage receiver or ad-out.
• A set in tennis is the player who wins 6 games and is ahead by 2 games. Exceptions are when the games are tied at 6-6 each, and players play a 7-point tie-breaker. The set is scored 7-6 for the winner. A match in tennis is 2 out of 3 sets for women and 3 out of 5 sets for men. (in professional tennis)
• Opponents change ends of the court after every ODD game. (sun, wind, & court conditions.)
• The server always calls out the score…and ALWAYS says THEIR score FIRST.

DID YOU KNOW?
The word love in tennis is said to come from the French 1'oeuf (the egg) because that's what a zero looks like on the scoreboard. The scores 15, 30 and 40 are from the old game of Real Tennis.

Tennis Vocabulary

Ace – good serve that is unreturned and not touched by a player.
Ad court – side, on which the second point of each game begins, also called the left court or the backhand court.
Alley – area on each side of the singles court that enlarges the surface area for doubles play, also known as the tramlines.
Baseline – line, which demarcates the legal length of the court.
Center line – Refers to both the line dividing the service boxes, a ‘server' will often hit ‘down the center line'.
Changeover – time after every odd game when players change ends of the court. They have 90 seconds to make the changeover.
Crosscourt shot -- ball hit diagonally across the court, as opposed to one hit straight down the line.
Deuce court – side, on which the first point of each game begins, also called the right court or the forehand court.
Double-fault – Failure to hit either of two serves in play.
Drop shot – A delicate shot that barely clears the net and falls short in the opponent's court.
Follow-through – the finishing motion of the swing after the ball has been hit.
Lob – a high-arcing shot, usually hit from behind the baseline, using topspin or under-spin to regain position.
Mid-court – the area around the service lines, halfway between the net and the baseline. Also known as “No man's land.”
Net rusher – player who aggressively moves forward to a position at the net.
Overhead smash – stroke played above the head with a service-type action, usually from near the net and in response to a lob.
Rally – Play exchange between two or more players.
Ready position – shot preparation. Weight slightly forward, knees slightly bent, racket up and in front of the body.
Service box – area on the other side of the net in which a serve must land in order to be legal.
Service break (break point)– one player wins a game while the other player is serving.
Service line – line in mid-court that marks the boundaries of the service boxes.
"T" – mid-court area formed by the junction of the centre service line and the service lines. You may hear “a player serves down the T for an ace.”
Topspin – hitting over the top of the ball for forward rotation in flight
Diagram of the tennis court: (The ONLY dimension you need to know is how high the net is) Know all the lines!!