Welcome to the World of Tennis

TENNIS 101

To understand the sport let’s go through some of the basic rules:

1. Scoring: In tennis, points are awarded for winning rallies. The first point is called 15, the second point is called 30, the third point is called 40, and the fourth point (if needed) is called a game point. If both players have won three points, the score is tied at deuce, and the next point is called advantage. If the player with the advantage wins the next point, they win the game. If the player without advantage wins the next point, the score goes back to deuce.
2. Serving: Each game starts with a serve. The server stands behind the baseline and must hit the ball over the net and into the service box on the other side of the court. The serve must be hit underhand or overhand, and the server must alternate between the left and right service boxes after every point.
3. Returning: The player receiving the serve must hit the ball back over the net and into the opponent’s court. The goal is to hit the ball in such a way that the opponent cannot return it.
4. Rallying: Once the serve has been returned, the players engage in a rally, hitting the ball back and forth over the net until one player either makes an error (such as hitting the ball out of bounds or into the net) or the ball cannot be returned.
5. Court: A tennis court is rectangular in shape and is divided into two halves by a net. The court is 78 feet long and 27 feet wide for singles matches, and 78 feet long and 36 feet wide for doubles matches. The lines on the court indicate the boundaries of play.
6. Equipment: Players use tennis rackets to hit the ball and wear athletic clothing and shoes. Tennis balls are specially designed for the sport and come in different types for different surfaces.

Tennis Tournaments Around the World

Ok, now that you understand the rules – it’s time to watch professional tennis players play – where else to watch but the Four Grand Slam tournaments which are considered to be the largest and most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world. These tournaments are:

1. Australian Open: Held annually in Melbourne, Australia, the Australian Open is the first of the four Grand Slam tournaments. It takes place in January and features men’s and women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
2. French Open: Held annually in Paris, France, the French Open is also known as Roland Garros. It takes place in late May and early June and features men’s and women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
3. Wimbledon: Held annually in London, England, Wimbledon is the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament in the world. It takes place in late June and early July and features men’s and women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.
4. US Open: Held annually in New York City, USA, the US Open is the final Grand Slam tournament of the year. It takes place in late August and early September and features men’s and women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.

FUN FACT

The United States is the country that makes the most money in tennis. The US has a very strong tennis culture and is home to the US Open, which is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments and is the richest tennis tournament in the world in terms of prize money. The US also has a large number of tennis players, coaches, and fans, and is home to many of the sport’s top sponsors, including Nike, Wilson, and Head. In addition, many of the top tennis players in the world, both male and female, come from the US or have trained there. Other countries that make significant money from tennis include France, Spain, Australia, and the United Kingdom, all of which are home to Grand Slam tournaments and have strong tennis cultures.