Tennis is a game played between two players (singles) or between two teams of two players (doubles). A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function The International Tennis Federation (ITF is the governing body of world Tennis, made up of 205 national tennis associations Racquet sports are those where players use Racquets (or rackets to hit a Ball or other object BALL ( Biochemical Algorithms Library) is a C++ library containing common algorithms used in Biochemistry and Bioinformatics. A tennis ball is a ball designed for the sport of Tennis, approximately 2 The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games Traditionally Tennis is played between two people in a Singles match or four players in a Doubles match Traditionally Tennis is played between two people in a Singles match or four players in a Doubles match Each player uses a strung racquet to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt (most of the time yellow,^[1] but can be any color or even two-tone) over a net into the opponent's court. A racquet (or racket) is a sports implement consisting of a handled frame with an open hoop across which a network of cord is stretched tightly A tennis ball is a ball designed for the sport of Tennis, approximately 2 A tennis court is where the game of Tennis is played It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the center

The modern game of tennis originated in the United Kingdom in the late 19th century as "lawn tennis" and had heavy connections to the ancient game of real tennis. Real tennis is the original racquet sport from which the modern game of lawn tennis or Tennis, is descended After its creation, tennis spread throughout the upper-class English-speaking population before spreading around the world. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all ages. The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games The sport can be played by anyone who can hold a racket, including people in wheelchairs. In the United States, there is a collegiate circuit organized by the National Collegiate Athletics Association.

Except for the adoption of the tie-breaker in the 1970s, the rules of tennis have changed very little since the 1890s. A Tennis match is composed of sets. The winner of a specified number of sets (typically two or three wins the match A recent addition to tennis has been the adoption of "instant replay" technology coupled with a point challenge system which allows a player to challenge the official call of a point.

Along with its millions of players, millions of people worldwide follow tennis as a spectator sport, especially the four Grand Slam tournaments (sometimes referred to as the "majors"): Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. The four Grand Slam tournaments are the most important Tennis events of the year The Australian Open is one of the four Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments held each year The French Open ( Les Internationaux de France de Roland Garros or Tournoi de Roland-Garros) is a major Tennis tournament held over The Championships Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon, is the oldest Tennis tournament in the world and is widely considered as the most prestigious The US Open Tennis tournament is one of the oldest tennis championships in the world first contested in 1881 The growth of tennis in Eastern Europe and the Far East has been especially notable in recent years.

History

Main article: History of tennis

Tennis as the modern sport can be dated to two separate roots. This article describes the History Between 1859 and 1865, Major Harry Gem and his friend Augurio Perera developed a game that combined elements of rackets and the Basque ball game pelota, which they played on Perera's croquet lawn in Birmingham, England. Major Thomas Henry Gem ( 21 May 1819 – 4 November 1881) known as Harry Gem, was an English Lawyer, Soldier Juan Bautista Augurio Perera was a Spanish -born English -based merchant and sportsman credited alongside his friend Major Harry Gem as the earliest inventor Rackets ( British English) or Racquets ( American English) is an indoor Racquet sport played in the United Kingdom, United States Croquet is a Game played both as a recreational Pastime and as a competitive Sport which involves hitting wooden or plastic balls with a mallet through Birmingham ( ˈbɜːmɪŋəm Ber -ming-um England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland ^{[2] [3]} In 1872, along with two local doctors, they founded the world's first tennis club in Leamington Spa. Leamington Spa, properly Royal Leamington Spa, commonly Leamington (ˈlɛmɪŋtən and "Leam" to locals is a Spa town in central ^[4] The Courier of 23 July 1884 recorded one of the first tennis tournaments, held in the grounds of Shrubland Hall. Events 1632 - Three hundred colonists bound for New France depart from Dieppe France. Year 1884 ( MDCCCLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year ^[5]

In December 1873, Major Walter Clopton Wingfield designed a similar game — which he called sphairistike (Greek σφάίρίστική, skill at playing at ball), and was soon known simply as "sticky" — for the amusement of his guests at a garden party on his estate of Nantclwyd, in Llanelidan, Wales. Major Walter Clopton Wingfield (October 1833 – April 18, 1912) was a Welsh inventor of lawn tennis (1874 Stické (also sticke tennis) is a racquet sport invented in the late 19th century merging aspects of Real tennis, racquets, and lawn tennis ^[6] He based the game on the older sport of indoor tennis or real tennis. Real tennis is the original racquet sport from which the modern game of lawn tennis or Tennis, is descended According to most tennis historians, modern tennis terminology also derives from this period, as Wingfield borrowed both the name and much of the French vocabulary of real tennis and applied them to his new game.

Lawn tennis in the U. S. , 1887

The first championships at Wimbledon, in London were played in 1877. The Championships Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon, is the oldest Tennis tournament in the world and is widely considered as the most prestigious London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. ^[7] On May 21, 1881, the United States National Lawn Tennis Association (now the United States Tennis Association) was formed to standardize the rules and organize competitions. Events 878 - Syracuse Italy is captured by the Muslim sultan of Sicily. Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common ^[8] The U. S. National Men's Singles Championship, now the U.S. Open, was first held in 1881 at Newport, Rhode Island. The US Open Tennis tournament is one of the oldest tennis championships in the world first contested in 1881 Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about 30 miles (48 km south of Providence Rhode Island ( officially named the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, is a state in the New England region of the United States ^[9] The U. S. National Women's Singles Championships were first held in 1887. ^[10] Tennis was also popular in France, where the French Open dates to 1891. The French Open ( Les Internationaux de France de Roland Garros or Tournoi de Roland-Garros) is a major Tennis tournament held over ^[11] Thus, Wimbledon, the U. S. Open, the French Open, and the Australian Open (dating to 1905) became and have remained the most prestigious events in tennis. The Australian Open is one of the four Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments held each year ^[12][13] Together these four events are called the Grand Slam (a term borrowed from bridge). Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking Card game of skill and chance (the relative proportions depending ^[14] The comprehensive International Lawn Tennis Federation rules promulgated in 1924 have remained remarkably stable in the ensuing eighty years, the one major change being the addition of the tie-breaker system designed by James Van Alen. A Tennis match is composed of sets. The winner of a specified number of sets (typically two or three wins the match James Henry Van Alen (September 19 1902 &ndash July 3 1991 is best known for being the founder of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the largest tennis museum in the ^[15] The Davis Cup, an annual competition between national teams, dates to 1900. The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's Tennis. ^[16]

In 1926, promoter C. C. Pyle established the first professional tennis tour with a group of American and French tennis players playing exhibition matches to paying audiences. ^{[13] [17]} The most notable of these early professionals were the American Vinnie Richards and the Frenchwoman Suzanne Lenglen. Vincent ("Vinnie" Richards ( 30 March 1903 &mdash 28 September 1959) was a top American Tennis player in the early Suzanne Rachel Flore Lenglen ( 24 May 1899 &ndash 4 July, 1938) was a French Tennis player who won 31 Grand Slam ^{[13] [18]} Once a player turned pro he or she could not compete in the major (amateur) tournaments. ^[13]

In 1968, commercial pressures and rumors of some amateurs taking money under the table led to the abandonment of this distinction, inaugurating the open era, in which all players could compete in all tournaments, and top players were able to make their living from tennis. This article describes the History ^[19] With the beginning of the open era, the establishment of an international professional tennis circuit, and revenues from the sale of television rights, tennis has spread all over the world and has lost its upper-class English-speaking image.

In 1954, Van Alen founded the International Tennis Hall of Fame, a non-profit museum in Newport, Rhode Island. The International Tennis Hall of Fame is a non-profit Tennis Hall of fame and Museum at the Newport Casino in Newport Rhode Island Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about 30 miles (48 km south of Providence ^[20] The building contains a large collection of tennis memorabilia as well as a hall of fame honoring prominent members and tennis players from all over the world. Each year, a grass-court tournament and an induction ceremony honoring new Hall of Fame members are hosted on its grounds. A tennis court is where the game of Tennis is played It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the center

Manner of play

For individual terms see: Tennis terminology

The court

Main article: Tennis court

The dimensions of a tennis court, in metric units. The following is a list of Tennis terms sorted alphabetically A tennis court is where the game of Tennis is played It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the center (See imperial version).

Two players before a serve.

Tennis is played on a rectangular, flat surface, usually grass, clay, or a hardcourt of concrete and/or asphalt. A lawn is an area of recreational or amenity land planted with grass, and sometimes Clover and other plants which are maintained at a low even height A clay court is one of the four different types of Tennis court. Hardcourt or hard court describes a form of surface or floor on which a Sport is played The court is 78 feet (23. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit 77 m) long, and its width is 27 feet (8. The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International 23 m) for singles matches and 36 ft (10. 97 m) for doubles matches. ^[21] Additional clear space around the court is required in order for players to reach overrun balls. A net is stretched across the full width of the court, parallel with the baselines, dividing it into two equal ends. The net is 3 feet 6 inches (1. 07 m) high at the posts and 3 feet (91. 4 cm) high in the center. ^[21]

Lines

The lines that delineate the width of the court are called the baseline (furthest back) and the service line (middle of the court). The short mark in the center of each baseline is referred to as either the hash mark or the center mark. The outermost lines that make up the length are both called the doubles sideline. These are the boundaries used when doubles is being played. The area between the doubles sideline and the lines next to them is called the doubles alley, which is considered playable in doubles play. These lines next to the doubles sideline are the singles sidelines, and used as boundaries in singles play. The line that runs across the center of a player's side of the court is called the service line because the serve must be delivered into the area between the service line and the net on the receiving side. Despite its name, this is not where a player legally stands when making a serve. The line dividing the service line in two is called the center line or center service line. The boxes this center line creates are called the service boxes; depending on a player's position, he will have to hit the ball into one of these when serving. A ball is out only if none of it has hit the line upon its first bounce. All the lines are required to be 2 inches (51 mm) in width. The baseline can be up to 5 inches (130 mm) wide if so desired.

Play of a single point

Main article: Point (tennis)

The players (or teams) start on opposite sides of the net. A point is the smallest unit of scoring in Tennis. Play of a single point The players (or teams stand on opposite sides of the net One player is designated the server, and the opposing player, or in doubles one of the opposing players, is the receiver. Service alternates between the two halves of the court. For each point, the server starts behind his baseline, between the center mark and the sideline. The receiver may start anywhere on their side of the net. When the receiver is ready, the server will serve, although the receiver must play to the pace of the server. A serve (or more formally a service) in Tennis is a shot to start a point.

In a legal service, the ball travels over the net (without touching it) and into the diagonally opposite service box. If the ball hits the net but lands in the service box, this is a let service, which is void, and the server gets to retake that serve. The player can serve any number of let services in a point and they are always treated as voids and not as faults. Let services are somewhat unusual at recreational level and frequent at professional level. However, placing more than one let service in a single point takes a considerable amount of skill or luck. If the first service is otherwise faulty in any way, wide, long or not over the net, the serving player has a second attempt at service. There is also a "foot fault," which occurs when a player's foot touches the baseline or an extension of the center mark^[22] before the ball is hit. If the second service is also faulty, this is a double fault, and the receiver wins the point. However, if the serve is in, it is considered a legal service.

A legal service starts a rally, in which the players alternate hitting the ball across the net. A legal return consists of the player or team hitting the ball exactly once before it has bounced twice or hit any fixtures except the net, provided that it still falls in the server's court. The ball then travels back over the net and bounces in the court on the opposite side. The first player or team to fail to make a legal return loses the point.

Scoring

Main article: Tennis score

A tennis match comprises a number of sets, typically three for both men's and women's matches, the exception being at the major events (Wimbledon and the Australian, French and US Opens) where the men play best of five sets. A Tennis match is composed of sets. The winner of a specified number of sets (typically two or three wins the match ^[23] A set consists of a number of games, and games, in turn, consist of points.

A game consists of a sequence of points played with the same player serving, and is won by the first player to have won at least four points and at least two points more than his opponent. A Tennis match is composed of sets. The winner of a specified number of sets (typically two or three wins the match A point is the smallest unit of scoring in Tennis. Play of a single point The players (or teams stand on opposite sides of the net The running score of each game is described in a manner particular to tennis: scores of zero to three points are described as "love" (or zero), "fifteen," "thirty," and "forty" respectively. When at least three points have been scored by each side and the players have the same number of points, the score is "deuce. " When at least three points have been scored by each side and a player has one more point than his opponent, the score of the game is "advantage" for the player in the lead. During informal games, "advantage" can also be called "ad in" or "ad out", depending on whether the serving player or receiving player is ahead, respectively. In tournament play, the chair umpire calls the point count (e. g. , "fifteen-love") after each point. At the end of a game, the chair umpire also announces the winner of the game and the overall score.

A game point occurs in tennis whenever the player who is in the lead in the game needs only one more point to win the game. The terminology is extended to sets (set point), matches (match point), and even championships (championship point). For example, if the player who is serving has a score of 40-love, he has a triple game point (triple set point, etc. ). Game points, set points, and match points are not part of official scoring and are not announced by the chair umpire in tournament play.

A break point occurs if the receiver, not the server, has a game point. A serve (or more formally a service) in Tennis is a shot to start a point. It is of importance in professional tennis, since service breaks are rare enough to create a substantial advantage for the receiver in the men's game. A serve (or more formally a service) in Tennis is a shot to start a point. The advantage to the server is much less in the women's game, but match analysts like to keep track of service breaks anyway. It may happen that the player who is in the lead in the game has more than one chance to score the winning point, even if his opponent should take the next point(s). For example, if the player who is serving has a score of 15-40, the receiver has a double break point. If the player in the lead wins any of the next two points, that player wins the game. Break points are not announced either.

A set consists of a sequence of games played with service alternating between games, ending when the count of games won meets certain criteria. A Tennis match is composed of sets. The winner of a specified number of sets (typically two or three wins the match Typically, a player wins a set when he wins at least six games and at least two games more than his opponent. When each player has won six games a tiebreaker is played. A Tennis match is composed of sets. The winner of a specified number of sets (typically two or three wins the match A tiebreaker, played under a separate set of rules, allows one player to win one more game and thus the set, to give a final set score of 7-6. Only in the final sets of matches at the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, Davis Cup, and Fed Cup are tie-breaks not played. The Australian Open is one of the four Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments held each year The French Open ( Les Internationaux de France de Roland Garros or Tournoi de Roland-Garros) is a major Tennis tournament held over The Championships Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon, is the oldest Tennis tournament in the world and is widely considered as the most prestigious The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's Tennis. A "love" set means that the loser of the set won zero games. For example if the score was 6 to 0, it would be 6 love. (See "tennis terminology" below for names given to unusual endings like the example here. ) In tournament play, the chair umpire announces the winner of the set and the overall score.

Matches consist of an odd number of sets, the match winner being the player who wins more than half of the sets. A Tennis match is composed of sets. The winner of a specified number of sets (typically two or three wins the match The match ends as soon as this winning condition is met. Some matches may consist of five sets (the winner being the first to win three sets), while most matches are three sets (the winner being the first to win two sets). In tournament play, the chair umpire announces the end of the match with the well-known phrase "Game, set, match" followed by the winning team's name.

Rules variations

See also: Types of tennis match

• No-ad: The first player or doubles team to four points wins the game. Traditionally Tennis is played between two people in a Singles match or four players in a Doubles match One side does not have to win by two points. When the game score reaches three points each, the receiver chooses which side of the court (advantage court or deuce court) the service is to be delivered on the seventh and game-deciding point.
• Pro set: Instead of playing multiple sets, players may play one "pro set". A pro set is first to 8 (or 10) games by a margin of two games, instead of first to 6. A 12-point tiebreaker is usually played when the score is 8-8 (or 10-10). These are often played with no-ad scoring.
• Match tie-break: This is sometimes played instead of a third set. This is played like a regular tie-break, but the winner must win ten points instead of seven. Match tie-breaks are used on the ATP and WTA tours for doubles and as a player's choice in USTA league play. The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP was formed in 1972 to protect the interests of male professional Tennis players

Another, however informal, tennis format is called "Kiwi doubles", "Canadian doubles" or "cut-throat"[1]. This involves three players, with one person playing a doubles team. The single player gets to utilize the alleys normally reserved only for a doubles team. Conversely, the doubles team does *not* use the alleys when executing a shot. The scoring is the same as a regular game. This format is not sanctioned by any official body and is only played when a fourth player is not available for normal doubles.

"Australian doubles," another informal and unsanctioned form of tennis, is played with similar rules to the "Kiwi" style, only in this version, players rotate court position after each game. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. As such, each player plays doubles and singles over the course of a match, with the singles player always serving. Scoring styles vary, but one popular method is to assign a value of 2 points to each game, with the server taking both points if he or she holds serve, and the doubles team each taking one if they break.

Wheelchair tennis can be played by able-bodied players as well as people who require a wheelchair for mobility. Wheelchair tennis is a sport that is played on a regulation Tennis court, by people using specially designed Wheelchairs All pedestrian variations of An extra bounce is permitted. This rule makes it possible to have mixed wheelchair and able-bodied matches. It is possible for a doubles team to consist of a wheelchair player and an able-bodied player (referred to as "one-up, one-down"), or for a wheelchair player to play against an able-bodied player. In such cases, the extra bounce is permitted for the wheelchair users only.

Surface

There are three main types of court surfaces, with one less common surface. Depending on the materials used, each surface provides a difference in the speed and bounce of the ball, which in turn can affect the level of play of individual players. The three most common surfaces are:

• Clay – red clay (used at the French Open), green clay (an example of which is Har-Tru and used mainly in the U. A clay court is one of the four different types of Tennis court. The French Open ( Les Internationaux de France de Roland Garros or Tournoi de Roland-Garros) is a major Tennis tournament held over A clay court is one of the four different types of Tennis court. S. )
• Hard – examples are concrete, Plexicushion (used at the Australian Open), coated asphalt (used at the U.S. Open)
• Grass – used at Wimbledon

Indoor courts are also used so play can continue year-round. A tennis court is where the game of Tennis is played It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the center Plexicushion is a tennis surface system made by Plexipave, a company based in Massachusetts, USA. The Australian Open is one of the four Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments held each year The US Open Tennis tournament is one of the oldest tennis championships in the world first contested in 1881 A tennis court is where the game of Tennis is played It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the center The Championships Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon, is the oldest Tennis tournament in the world and is widely considered as the most prestigious A tennis court is where the game of Tennis is played It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the center Common indoor surfaces are hard, carpet, and clay. Some players are more successful on certain surfaces and are known as "specialists" for that particular court.

Clay courts are considered a "slow" surface because the loose surface causes the ball to lose speed rapidly and bounce higher. This makes it more difficult for a player to hit an unreturnable shot (a "winner") because the opponent has more time to reach and return the ball. Line calls are easily reviewable on this type of court because the ball generally leaves a visible mark. Courts are swept between sets, and at the end of every match, to erase any marks from the previous set or match.

Hardcourts are generally considered to be a "fast" surface. However, there are many different types of hardcourts, and depending on the court's construction, the speed of the court can also be relatively slow. The typical hardcourt is characterised by low bounces and high ball speed, giving fast-serving and hard-hitting players an advantage.

Grass is considered to be a very "fast" surface. For many years, three of the four Grand Slam tournaments were held on grass. The four Grand Slam tournaments are the most important Tennis events of the year This changed when the Australian Open and the U.S. Open changed to hardcourts. The Australian Open is one of the four Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments held each year The US Open Tennis tournament is one of the oldest tennis championships in the world first contested in 1881 Grass courts cause the ball to bounce low, or even skid, which generally keeps rallies short. This gives hard-serving and hard-hitting players an advantage because their shots are amplified on this surface. Grass also can cause unpredictable ball bounces. The bounce of the ball on grass courts can be altered by the health of the grass, the type of grass used, and how recently it has been mown. For that reason and low, fast bounces, a player's net game becomes more vital. This is because volleying a ball before it bounds avoids the need to deal with unpredictable bounces.

Carpet is usually found only indoors though some synthetic grass types are used both indoors and outdoors. It is made from a surface layer of "carpet" placed on top of a hard surface such as asphalt. The surface layer is thin and resilient. Shots on carpet vary with the composition. The ball can bounce like shots on an average hard court or be even faster and slicker than grass.

Professional and recreational players often wear different types of shoes depending on the playing surface. Shoes must have soles that grip the ground securely so that players can start and stop quickly. Where the shoes differ is how they grip the surface. For example, clay court shoes need to provide grip and traction while allowing the player to slide. Hardcourt shoes should emphasize grip, traction, and ankle support.

Officials

Main article: Official (tennis)

In most professional play and some amateur competition, there is an officiating head judge or chair umpire (usually referred to as the umpire), who sits in a raised chair to one side of the court. In Tennis, an official is a person who insures that a match or tournament is conducted according to the International Tennis Federation Rules of Tennis and other competition The umpire has absolute authority to make factual determinations. The umpire may be assisted by line judges, who determine whether the ball has landed within the required part of the court and who also call foot faults. There also may be a net judge who determines whether the ball has touched the net during service. In some tournaments, certain line judges, usually those who would be calling the serve, are replaced by electronic sensors that beep when an out call would have been made. In some open-tournament matches, players are allowed to challenge a limited number of close calls by means of instant replay. For other uses of the term "Instant replay" see Instant replay (disambiguation. The U.S. Open, the Miami Masters, U.S. Open Series, and World Team Tennis started using a "challenge" system in 2006 and the Australian Open and Wimbledon introduced the system in 2007. The US Open Tennis tournament is one of the oldest tennis championships in the world first contested in 1881 The Miami Masters is an annual Tennis tournament for men and women held at Key Biscayne, in Miami, Florida. The US Open Series is the six-week summer Tennis "season" linking 10 ATP Tour and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour tournaments together World TeamTennis is a league of team Tennis in the United States. The Australian Open is one of the four Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments held each year The Championships Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon, is the oldest Tennis tournament in the world and is widely considered as the most prestigious This used the Hawk-Eye system and the rules were similar to those used in the NFL, where a player gets a limited number of instant-replay challenges per match/set. Hawk-Eye is a computer system used in Cricket, Tennis and other sports to visually track the path of the Ball and display a record of its actual The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league. In clay-court matches, such as at the French Open, a call may be questioned by reference to the mark left by the ball's impact on the court surface. The French Open ( Les Internationaux de France de Roland Garros or Tournoi de Roland-Garros) is a major Tennis tournament held over

The referee, who is usually located off the court, is the final authority about tennis rules. When called to the court by a player or team captain, the referee may overrule the umpire's decision if the tennis rules were violated (question of law) but may not change the umpire's decision on a question of fact. If, however, the referee is on the court during play, the referee may overrule the umpire's decision.

Ball boys or girls may be employed to retrieve balls, pass them to the players, and hand players their towels. They have no adjudicative role. Adjudication is the legal process by which an arbiter or Judge reviews evidence and argumentation including legal Reasoning In rare events (e. g. , if they are hurt or if they have caused a hindrance), the umpire may ask them for a statement of what actually happened. The umpire may consider their statements when making a decision. In some leagues, especially junior leagues, players make their own calls, trusting each other to be honest. This is the case for many school and university level matches. However, the referee or referee's assistant can be called on court at a player's request, and the referee or assistant may change a player's call. In unofficiated matches, a ball is out only if the player entitled to make the call is sure that the ball is out.

Juniors

Main article: Junior tennis

In tennis, a junior is a player under the age of 18 who is still legally protected by a parent or guardian. Junior Tennis refers to Tennis games where the participants are under the age of 18 and under the care of a parent or guardian Players on the main adult tour who are under 18 must have documents signed by a parent or guardian. These players, however, are still eligible to play in junior tournaments.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) conducts a junior tour that allows juniors to establish a world ranking and an Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) or Women's Tennis Association (WTA) ranking. The International Tennis Federation (ITF is the governing body of world Tennis, made up of 205 national tennis associations The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP was formed in 1972 to protect the interests of male professional Tennis players Most juniors who enter the international circuit do so by progressing through ITF, Satellite, Future, and Challenger tournaments before entering the main circuit. The latter three circuits also have adults competing in them. Some juniors, however, such as Australian Lleyton Hewitt and Frenchman Gael Monfils, have catapulted directly from the junior tour to the ATP tour by dominating the junior scene or by taking advantage of opportunities given to them to participate in professional tournaments. Lleyton Glynn Hewitt ( IPA: /ˈleɪtʌn ˈhjuːʌt/ (born 24 February 1981 is a former World No Gaël Monfils (ɡaɛl mɔ̃'fis (born on September 1, 1986 in Bobigny (near Paris) France) is a professional male Tennis

In 2004, the ITF implemented a new rankings scheme to encourage greater participation in doubles, by combining two rankings (singles and doubles) into one combined tally. Junior tournaments do not offer prize money except for the Grand Slams, which are the most prestigious junior events. The four Grand Slam tournaments are the most important Tennis events of the year Juniors may earn income from tennis by participating in the Future, Satellite, or Challenger tours. Tournaments are broken up into different tiers offering different amounts of ranking points, culminating with Grade A.

Leading juniors are also allowed to participate for their nation in the Junior Fed Cup and Davis Cup competitions as well. To succeed in tennis often means having to begin playing at a young age. To facilitate and nurture a junior's growth in tennis, almost all tennis playing nations have developed a junior development system. Juniors develop their play through a range of tournaments on all surfaces, accommodating all different standards of play. Talented juniors may also receive sponsorships from governing bodies or private institutions.

Match play

A tennis match is intended to be continuous. ^[24] Stamina is a relevant factor, so arbitrary delays are not permitted. In most cases, service is required to occur no more than 20 (ITF events)^[24] or 25 (ATP and WTA events) seconds after the end of the previous point. The International Tennis Federation (ITF is the governing body of world Tennis, made up of 205 national tennis associations This is increased to 90 seconds when the players change ends (after every odd-numbered games), and a 120 second break is permitted between sets. Other than this, breaks are permitted only when forced by events beyond the players' control, such as rain, damaged footwear, damaged racquet, or the need to retrieve an errant ball. Should a player be determined to be stalling repeatedly, the chair umpire may initially give a warning followed by subsequent penalties of "point," "game," and default of the match for the player who is consistently taking longer than the allowed time limit.

In the event of a rain delay or other such proponent, the match must be resumed at a later time. On junior professional circuits the matches are to be resumed at the score which was at the time of the delay. However, as per new revisions beginning with the 2006 Australian Open, the ATP and WTA govern different regulations regarding delays; in the event of a rain delay, the match will resume while only the end of the previously completed set before the delay is official.

Balls wear out quickly in serious play and, therefore, in ATP and WTA tournaments, they are changed after every nine games with the first change occurring after only seven games, because the first set of balls is also used for the pre-match warm-up. ^[25] However, in ITF serious tournaments like Fed Cup the balls are changed in a 9-11 style. The International Tennis Federation (ITF is the governing body of world Tennis, made up of 205 national tennis associations Continuity of the balls' condition is considered part of the game, so if a re-warm-up is required after an extended break in play (usually due to rain), then the re-warm-up is done using a separate set of balls, and use of the match balls is resumed only when play resumes.

It has recently been proposed to allow coaching on court during a match on a limited basis. Also, technological review of official calls made its debut in a major tournament at the 2006 U. S. Open.

Shots

Main article: Tennis shots

A competent tennis player has eight basic shots in his or her repertoire: the serve, forehand, backhand, volley, half-volley, overhead smash, drop shot, and lob. There are eight basic shots in the game of Tennis: the serve, Forehand, Backhand, volley, Half volley (pick-up ball

Serve

Main article: Serve (tennis)

Tim Henman preparing to hit a serve. A serve (or more formally a service) in Tennis is a shot to start a point. Timothy Henry "Tim" Henman OBE (born 6 September 1974) is a retired English Tennis player

A serve (or, more formally, a "service") in tennis is a shot to start a point. The serve is initiated by tossing the ball into the air and hitting it (usually near the apex of its trajectory) into the diagonally opposite service box without touching the net. The serve may be hit under- or overhand.

Experienced players strive to master the conventional overhand serve to maximize its power and placement. The server may employ different types of serve including flat serve, topspin serve, slice serve and kick (American twist) serve. A reverse type of spin serve is hit in a manner that spins the ball opposite the natural spin of the server, the spin direction depending upon right- or left-handedness. If the ball is spinning counterclockwise, it will curve right from the hitter's point of view and curve left if spinning clockwise.

Some servers are content to use the serve simply to initiate the point; however, advanced players often try to hit a winning shot with their serve. A winning serve that is not touched by the opponent is called an "ace. " If the receiver manages to touch it but fails to successfully return it, it is called a "service winner. "

Grips

Main article: Grip (Tennis)

Players may use the continental, eastern, semi-western, or western grips during play. In Tennis, a grip is a way of holding the Racquet in order to hit shots during a match Different grips generally are used for different types of spin and shots.

Forehand

Main article: Forehand

Roger Federer preparing to hit a forehand. For information on the forehand of a horse see Forehand (horse The forehand in Tennis is a shot made by swinging the racquet across one's body Roger Federer (ˈrɒdʒə ˈfɛdərər born August 8 1981 is a Swiss professional Tennis player who is currently ranked World No Much can be learned from this photograph. Note how he is "loading" his body weight on his back (right) foot and coiling his shoulders with the help of his left hand. From this position, he will "uncoil" his body beginning with his legs, progressing to his hips and then on to his arms. This is how the "modern" forehand utilizing the open stance is executed.

For a right-handed player, the forehand is a stroke that begins on the right side of the body, continues across the body as contact is made with the ball, and ends on the left side of the body. There are various grips for executing the forehand and their popularity has fluctuated over the years. In Tennis, a grip is a way of holding the Racquet in order to hit shots during a match The most important ones are the continental, the eastern, the semi-western, and the western. For a number of years the small, apparently frail 1920s player Bill Johnston was considered by many to have had the best forehand of all time, a stroke that he hit shoulder-high using a western grip. William ("Little Bill" Johnston ( November 2, 1894 in San Francisco California – May 1, 1946 in San Francisco California Few top players used the western grip after the 1920s, but in the latter part of the 20th century, as shot-making techniques and equipment changed radically, the western forehand made a strong comeback and is now used by many modern players. No matter which grip is used, most forehands are generally executed with one hand holding the racquet, but there have been fine players with two-handed forehands. In the 1940s and 50s, the Ecuadorian/American player Pancho Segura used a two-handed forehand to devastating effect against larger, more powerful players. Pancho Segura, born Francisco Olegario Segura ( June 20, 1921, known as "Segoo") was a leading Currently, France's Fabrice Santoro uses a two-handed forehand. Fabrice Vetea Santoro (born December 9, 1972) is a French professional male tennis player known for using both hands for every possible shot Some females such as Monica Seles and France's Marion Bartoli also use a two-handed forehand. Monica Seles (Szeles Mónika Serbian: Моника Селеш Monika Seleš, /sɛlɛʃ/ born December 2 1973 is a former World No Marion Bartoli (born October 2 1984 a French professional Tennis player

Backhand

Main article: Backhand

Li Na hitting a two-handed backhand. The backhand in Tennis is a stroke hit by swinging the racquet away from one's body in the direction of where the player wants the ball to go This is a Chinese name; the family name is Li. Li Na ( born February 26, 1982 in Wuhan

For right-handed players, the backhand is a stroke that begins on the left side of their body, continues across their body as contact is made with the ball, and ends on the right side of their body. It can be executed with either one hand or with both and is generally considered more difficult to master than the forehand. For most of the 20th century, the backhand was performed with one hand, using either an eastern or a continental grip. The first notable players to use two hands were the 1930s Australians Vivian McGrath and John Bromwich, but they were lonely exceptions. Vivian Erzerum Bede "Viv" McGrath ( 17 February 1916 &ndash 9 April 1978) was an Australian Tennis champion of John Edward Bromwich (born November 14, 1918 in Sydney NSW &ndash died October 21, 1999 in The two-handed grip gained popularity in the 1970s as Björn Borg, Chris Evert, Jimmy Connors, and later Mats Wilander used it to great effect, and it is now used by a large number of the world's best players, including Andre Agassi and Venus Williams. (bjœɳ bɔrj born 6 June 1956) is a former World No 1 Tennis player from Sweden who is widely regarded by observers and tennis players Christine Marie "Chris" Evert (Evert-Lloyd 1979–1987 (born December 21, 1954) is a former World No James Scott "Jimmy" Connors (born September 2 1952 in East St Mats Wilander (born August 22 1964, in Växjö, Sweden) is a former World No Andre Kirk Agassi (born April 29 1970 is a former World No 1 professional American Tennis player who won eight Grand Slam singles tournaments Venus Ebony Starr Williams (born June 17 1980 is a former World No Andy Roddick uses the extreme western grip to create massive amounts of top spin. Andrew Stephen "Andy" Roddick (born August 30 1982 is an American professional Tennis player and a former World No It is difficult to do this and could possibly cause injury if done incorrectly. Two hands give the player more power, while one hand can generate a slice shot, applying backspin on the ball to produce a low trajectory bounce. The player long considered to have had the best backhand of all time, Don Budge, had a powerful one-handed stroke in the 1930s and 1940s that imparted topspin onto the ball. John Donald ("Don" or "Donnie" Budge ( June 13 1915 &ndash January 26 2000) was an American Tennis Ken Rosewall, another player noted for his one-handed backhand, used a deadly accurate slice backhand through the 1950s and 1960s. Kenneth Robert ("Ken" Rosewall AM MBE (born 2 November 1934, in Sydney, Australia) is a former amateur A small number of players, notably Monica Seles, use two hands on both the backhand and forehand sides. Monica Seles (Szeles Mónika Serbian: Моника Селеш Monika Seleš, /sɛlɛʃ/ born December 2 1973 is a former World No

Other shots

Justine Henin performing a backhand volley. The backhand in Tennis is a stroke hit by swinging the racquet away from one's body in the direction of where the player wants the ball to go

A volley is made in the air before the ball bounces, generally near the net, and is usually made with a stiff-wristed punching motion to hit the ball into an open area of the opponent's court. A volley in Tennis is a shot that is hit before the ball bounces on the ground The half volley is made by hitting the ball on the rise just after it has bounced, once again generally in the vicinity of the net. A half volley in Tennis is a shot that is hit immediately after the ball bounces The swinging volley is hit out of the air as the player approaches the net. It is an offensive shot used to take preparation time away from the opponent. From a poor defensive position on the baseline, the lob can be used as either an offensive or defensive weapon, hitting the ball high and deep into the opponent's court to either enable the lobber to get into better defensive position or to win the point outright by hitting it over the opponent's head. A lob in Tennis is hitting the ball high and deep into the opponent's court. If the lob is not hit deeply enough into the other court, however, the opponent may then hit an overhead smash, a hard, serve-like shot, to try to end the point. An overhead smash in Tennis is a shot that is hit above the head with a serve -like motion Finally, if an opponent is deep in his court, a player may suddenly employ an unexpected drop shot, softly tapping the ball just over the net so that the opponent is unable to run in fast enough to retrieve it. A drop shot in Tennis is tapping the ball just over the net A good drop shot travels such that the opponent is unable to run fast enough to retrieve it

Tournaments

See also: List of tennis tournaments

Tournaments are often organized by gender and number of players. List of Tennis Tournaments ITF Grand Slam tournaments See also Grand Slam (tennis Team Cups Common tournament configurations include men's singles, women's singles, and doubles, where two players play on each side of net. Tournaments may be arranged for specific age groups, with upper age limits for youth and lower age limits for senior players. Example of this include the Orange Bowl and Les Petits As. The Orange Bowl is an ITF World Junior championships event and is widely recognized as one of the most important junior tennis championships in the world The Petits As (English Small champions) is a premier junior Tennis tournament for players aged 12-14 There are also tournaments for players with disabilities, such as wheelchair tennis and deaf tennis. Wheelchair tennis is a sport that is played on a regulation Tennis court, by people using specially designed Wheelchairs All pedestrian variations of ^[26] In the four Grand Slam tournaments, the singles draws are limited to 128 people for each gender. The four Grand Slam tournaments are the most important Tennis events of the year

Players may also be matched by their skill level. According to how well a person does in sanctioned play, a player is given a rating that is adjusted periodically to maintain competitive matches. For example, the United States Tennis Association administers the National Tennis Rating Program, which rates players between 1. 0 and 7. 0 in 1/2 point increments. Average club players under this system would rate 3. 0-4. 5 while world class players would be 7. 0 on this scale.

Grand Slam tournaments

The four Grand Slam tournaments are considered to be the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world. The four Grand Slam tournaments are the most important Tennis events of the year They are held annually and include, in chronological order, the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. The Australian Open is one of the four Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments held each year The French Open ( Les Internationaux de France de Roland Garros or Tournoi de Roland-Garros) is a major Tennis tournament held over The Championships Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon, is the oldest Tennis tournament in the world and is widely considered as the most prestigious The US Open Tennis tournament is one of the oldest tennis championships in the world first contested in 1881 Apart from Davis Cup, Fed Cup, and Hopman Cup, they are the only tournaments regulated by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's Tennis. The Hopman Cup is an annual international team Tennis Tournament founded by Paul McNamee and Charlie Fancutt, and held in Perth The International Tennis Federation (ITF is the governing body of world Tennis, made up of 205 national tennis associations ^[27] The ITF's national associations, Tennis Australia (Australian Open), the French Tennis Federation (French Open), the United States Tennis Association (US Open), and the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club and Lawn Tennis Association (Wimbledon), are delegated the responsibility to organize these events. Tennis Australia is the governing body for the sport of Tennis in Australia. The Fédération Française de Tennis (" French Tennis Federation " in English also known as the FFT is an organisation The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club is based at Wimbledon in London, England, at grid reference. The Lawn Tennis Association ( LTA) is the governing body of Tennis in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. ^[27]

Aside from the historical significance of these events, they also carry larger prize funds than any other tour event and are worth double the number of ranking points to the champion than in the next echelon of tournaments, the Tennis Masters Series (men) and Tier I events (women). The ATP Masters Series is a series of nine Tennis tournaments that are part of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP tour held annually throughout the year The WTA Tier I tournaments are ten Women's Tennis Association (WTA Tennis tournaments held throughout the year in various locations around the world chiefly in ^{[28] [29]} Another distinguishing feature is the number of players in the singles draw, 128, more than any other professional tennis tournament. This draw is composed of 32 seeded players, other players ranked in the world's top 100, qualifiers, and players who receive invitations through wild cards. The term wild card refers broadly to a Tournament or Playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play Grand Slam men's tournaments have best-of-five set matches throughout. Grand Slam tournaments are among the small number of events that last two weeks, the others being the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, California and the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Florida. The Indian Wells Masters is an annual Tennis tournament held in the small city of Indian Wells, California. Indian Wells is a city in Riverside County, California, in the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs area in between Palm Desert and La Quinta The Miami Masters is an annual Tennis tournament for men and women held at Key Biscayne, in Miami, Florida. Key Biscayne is a village in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States on the island of Key Biscayne. Currently, the Grand Slam tournaments are the only tour events that have mixed doubles contests. Traditionally Tennis is played between two people in a Singles match or four players in a Doubles match Grand Slam tournaments are held in conjunction with wheelchair tennis tournaments (with the exception being Wimbledon, where the grass surface prevents this) and junior tennis competitions. A tennis court is where the game of Tennis is played It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the center Junior Tennis refers to Tennis games where the participants are under the age of 18 and under the care of a parent or guardian Grand Slam tournaments are often seen as the culmination of a particular season, such as the US Open Series. The US Open Series is the six-week summer Tennis "season" linking 10 ATP Tour and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour tournaments together These tournaments also contain their own idiosyncrasies. For example, players at Wimbledon are required to wear predominantly white, a rule that has made certain players, such as Andre Agassi, skip the tournament. Andre Kirk Agassi (born April 29 1970 is a former World No 1 professional American Tennis player who won eight Grand Slam singles tournaments ^[30]

Tennis Masters Series

The ATP Masters Series logo

The Tennis Masters Series is a group of nine tournaments that form the second-highest echelon in men's tennis. The Australian Open is one of the four Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments held each year Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 A tennis court is where the game of Tennis is played It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the center Plexicushion is a tennis surface system made by Plexipave, a company based in Massachusetts, USA. The French Open ( Les Internationaux de France de Roland Garros or Tournoi de Roland-Garros) is a major Tennis tournament held over Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city A clay court is one of the four different types of Tennis court. The Championships Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon, is the oldest Tennis tournament in the world and is widely considered as the most prestigious London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. A tennis court is where the game of Tennis is played It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the center The US Open Tennis tournament is one of the oldest tennis championships in the world first contested in 1881 The City of New York DecoTurf is a Tennis hardcourt comprising layers of acrylic, Rubber, Silica, and other materials on top of an Asphalt or The ATP Masters Series is a series of nine Tennis tournaments that are part of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP tour held annually throughout the year Each event is held annually, and a win at one of these events is worth 500 ranking points. When the Association of Tennis Professionals, led by Hamilton Jordan, began running the men's tour in 1990, the directors designated the top nine tournaments, outside of the Grand Slam events, as "Super Nine" events. The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP was formed in 1972 to protect the interests of male professional Tennis players William Hamilton McWhorter Jordan ( September 21 1944 &ndash May 20 2008) was Chief of Staff to President of the United States Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) The four Grand Slam tournaments are the most important Tennis events of the year ^[31] These eventually became the Tennis Masters Series. In November at the end of the tennis year, the world's top eight players compete in the Tennis Masters Cup, a tournament with a rotating locale. The Tennis Masters Cup is a Tennis tournament played at the end of each year involving the top eight players in the men's tennis world rankings It is currently held in Shanghai, China, and will move to London in 2009. Shanghai ( 上[[wikt 海|海]] is the largest city in China in terms of population and one of the largest urban areas in the world with over 20 million Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. This article is about the year For the film see 2009 Lost Memories. ^[32]

In 2009, the Tennis Masters Series will undergo several changes. The series will be renamed again, this time as the "1,000 Series," a reference to the number of points the champion of each event will garner. (All other tournaments will have their ranking points adjusted proportionately. )^[33] The Tennis Masters Cup, in addition to its relocation, will be renamed the ATP World Tour Final. However, Shanghai will host a new 1,000 Series event. The Monte Carlo and Hamburg events were originally downgraded; however, the Monte Carlo tournament was eventually granted 1,000 Series status, with the exception being that the event would not be mandatory. The Monte Carlo Masters is an annual Tennis tournament for male professional players held in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France, a commune that The Hamburg Masters, established in 1892 is an annual Tennis tournament for male professional players held in Hamburg, Germany. ^[33] The ATP also plans to be more stringent in its examination of players who withdraw from 1,000 Series events. Each player who withdraws will be examined by a medical panel. The ATP plans to fine, and even suspend, players who disregard these rules. ^[34]

Current Tennis Masters Series tournaments

International Series

The International Series for men is split in to two categories, both run by the ATP: the International Series and International Series Gold. The Mutua Madrileña Masters Madrid is an annual Tennis tournament for male professional players Madrid (pronounced in English in Spanish and colloquially in Spain) is the Capital and largest city of Spain. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The BNP Paribas Masters is an annual Tennis tournament for male professional players held in Paris, France. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP was formed in 1972 to protect the interests of male professional Tennis players The International Series (previously known as the World Series) is a series of professional Tennis tournaments held internationally that are part of the ATP Tour International Series Gold (previously known as the Championship Series) is a series of professional Tennis tournaments held internationally that are part of the Like the Tennis Masters Series, these events offer various amounts of prize money, and some regular International Series events offer larger prize monies than International Series Gold tournaments. The ATP Masters Series is a series of nine Tennis tournaments that are part of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP tour held annually throughout the year ^[28] The Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships offer the largest financial incentive to players, with total prize money of US$1,426,000. The Dubai Tennis Championships is a professional Tennis Tournament held in Dubai, U The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been

Challenger Series and Futures Tournaments

The Challenger Series logo

The Challenger Series for men is the lowest level of tournament administered by the ATP. The ATP Challenger Series is a series of international men's professional Tennis tournaments that allow players to win enough ranking points to earn an entry into an ATP-level The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP was formed in 1972 to protect the interests of male professional Tennis players It is composed of roughly 160 events and, as a result, features a more diverse range of countries hosting events. ^[35] The majority of players use the Challenger Series to work their way up the rankings, including World No. 1s Pete Sampras, Marcelo Ríos, Patrick Rafter, and Gustavo Kuerten. Petros “Pete” Sampras (born August 12, 1971) is a former World No Marcelo Andrés Ríos Mayorga (born December 26, 1975) is a former world number one Tennis player from Chile. Patrick "Pat" Michael Rafter (born 28 December 1972 is a retired Australian former World No Gustavo Kuerten (born September 10 1976 in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina) is a former World No Andre Agassi, between winning Grand Slam titles, plummeted to World No. Andre Kirk Agassi (born April 29 1970 is a former World No 1 professional American Tennis player who won eight Grand Slam singles tournaments 141 and used Challenger Series events for match experience and to progress back up the rankings. ^[36] The Challenger Series offers prize funds of between US$25,000 to US$150,000. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been

Below the Challenger Series are the Futures Tournaments, the main events on the ITF Men's Circuit. Futures tournaments are tennis tournaments held by the ITF Men's Circuit. THe ITF Men's Circuit is a series of professional Tennis tournaments held around the world that are organized by the International Tennis Federation. These tournaments also contribute towards a player's ATP rankings points. The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP was formed in 1972 to protect the interests of male professional Tennis players Futures Tournaments offer prize funds of between US$10,000 and US$15,000; however, futures status is granted only to events offering a total of US$30,000, meaning that two or three tournaments are played. ^[37] Approximately 400 Futures Tournaments are played each year.

Tier I events

Tier I events for women form the most prestigious level of events on the Women's Tennis Association Tour (WTA Tour) after the Grand Slam tournaments. The WTA Tier I tournaments are ten Women's Tennis Association (WTA Tennis tournaments held throughout the year in various locations around the world chiefly in The four Grand Slam tournaments are the most important Tennis events of the year These events offer the largest rewards in terms of points and prize money. The tiering system in women's tennis was introduced in 1988. Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) At the time of its creation, only two tournaments, the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Florida and the Qatar Telecom German Open in Berlin, comprised the Tier I category. The Miami Masters is an annual Tennis tournament for men and women held at Key Biscayne, in Miami, Florida. Key Biscayne is a village in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States on the island of Key Biscayne. The German Open, currently sponsored as the Qatar Telecom German Open, is a WTA Tour affiliated professional Tennis Tournament for women Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. In 1990, the category was expanded to include six tournaments, and subsequent additions to the category have resulted in nine events comprising the category today. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) Currently, two of these events (the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, California and the Sony Ericsson Open) are held concurrently with men's Tennis Masters Series tournaments. The Indian Wells Masters is an annual Tennis tournament held in the small city of Indian Wells, California. Indian Wells is a city in Riverside County, California, in the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs area in between Palm Desert and La Quinta The ATP Masters Series is a series of nine Tennis tournaments that are part of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP tour held annually throughout the year In 2009, six Tennis Masters Series events will be combined with Tier I WTA Tour tournaments. This article is about the year For the film see 2009 Lost Memories. ^[34]

Grand Slam winners

See also: Tennis statistics

Male players who have played at least part of their careers during the open era and who have won at least two Grand Slam singles titles are as follows: Pete Sampras (14), Roger Federer (12), Roy Emerson (12), Rod Laver (11), Björn Borg (11), Ken Rosewall (8), Jimmy Connors (8), Ivan Lendl (8), Andre Agassi (8), John Newcombe (7), John McEnroe (7), Mats Wilander (7), Boris Becker (6), Stefan Edberg (6), Jim Courier (4), Guillermo Vilas (4), Arthur Ashe (3), Jan Kodes (3), Gustavo Kuerten (3), Rafael Nadal (4), Stan Smith (2), Ilie Năstase (2), Johan Kriek (2), Lleyton Hewitt (2), Yevgeny Kafelnikov (2), Patrick Rafter (2), Sergi Bruguera (2), and Marat Safin (2). Statistics play an important role in summarizing Tennis performance and evaluating players in the sport both present and past This article describes the History The four Grand Slam tournaments are the most important Tennis events of the year Petros “Pete” Sampras (born August 12, 1971) is a former World No Roger Federer (ˈrɒdʒə ˈfɛdərər born August 8 1981 is a Swiss professional Tennis player who is currently ranked World No Roy Stanley Emerson (born November 3 1936) is a former Australian Tennis player who won 12 Grand Slam singles titles and 16 Grand Slam For the arena in Melbourne Park used for show matches in the Australian Open, see Rod Laver Arena Rodney George "Rod" Laver (bjœɳ bɔrj born 6 June 1956) is a former World No 1 Tennis player from Sweden who is widely regarded by observers and tennis players Kenneth Robert ("Ken" Rosewall AM MBE (born 2 November 1934, in Sydney, Australia) is a former amateur James Scott "Jimmy" Connors (born September 2 1952 in East St Ivan Lendl (born March 7, 1960) is a former World No 1 professional Tennis player of Czech origin Andre Kirk Agassi (born April 29 1970 is a former World No 1 professional American Tennis player who won eight Grand Slam singles tournaments John David Newcombe AO OBE (born 23 May 1944 in Sydney Australia) is a former World No John Patrick McEnroe Jr (born February 16 1959 is an American former World No Mats Wilander (born August 22 1964, in Växjö, Sweden) is a former World No Boris Franz Becker (born 22 November 1967 in Leimen, West Germany) is a former World No Stefan Bengt Edberg (born 19 January 1966 in Västervik, Sweden) is a former World No James Spencer "Jim" Courier Jr (born August 17 1970 in Sanford Florida) is a former world number one professional Tennis player from the Guillermo Vilas (born August 17 1952 in Buenos Aires, Argentina) is a former Argentine professional Tennis player Arthur Robert Ashe Jr ( July 10, 1943 – February 6, 1993) was an African American Tennis player who was born and raised Jan Kodes ( Czech: Jan Kodeš; born March 1 1946, in Prague, Czechoslovakia) is a right-handed Czech former Gustavo Kuerten (born September 10 1976 in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina) is a former World No Rafael Nadal Parera (rafaˈel naˈðal (born June 3 1986 is a Spanish professional Tennis player who has been ranked World No Stanley Roger Smith (born December 14, 1946 in Pasadena California) is a former American Tennis player who with his partner Bob Lutz Ilie Năstase (born July 19, 1946, in Bucharest, Romania) is a former Romanian professional tennis player and one of the top players Johan Kriek (born April 5, 1958) is a South African / American professional male Tennis player and founder of the Global Lleyton Glynn Hewitt ( IPA: /ˈleɪtʌn ˈhjuːʌt/ (born 24 February 1981 is a former World No Yevgeny Aleksandrovich Kafelnikov (born 18 February 1974 Евгений Александрович Кафельников) is a former World No Patrick "Pat" Michael Rafter (born 28 December 1972 is a retired Australian former World No Sergi Bruguera Torner (born on January 16, 1971, in Barcelona, Spain) is a retired professional Tennis player from Spain Marat Mikhailovich Safin (Марат Мөбин улы Сафин Marat Möbin ulı Safin Мара́т Миха́йлович (Муби́нович Са́фин /mɑ

Female players who have played at least part of their careers during the open era and who have won at least two Grand Slam singles titles are as follows: Margaret Court (24), Steffi Graf (22), Chris Evert (18), Martina Navrátilová (18), Billie Jean King (12), Monica Seles (9), Serena Williams (8), Justine Henin (7), Evonne Goolagong Cawley (7), Venus Williams (6), Martina Hingis (5), Hana Mandlíková (4), Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (4), Maria Sharapova (3), Virginia Wade (3), Lindsay Davenport (3), Jennifer Capriati (3), Nancy Richey Gunter (2), Tracy Austin (2), Mary Pierce (2), and Amélie Mauresmo (2). Margaret Jean Court AO MBE (born 16 July 1942 also known as Margaret Smith Court) is a retired former World No Stefanie Maria Graf (born June 14, 1969, in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany) is a former World No Christine Marie "Chris" Evert (Evert-Lloyd 1979–1987 (born December 21, 1954) is a former World No Martina Navratilova ( Czech: Martina Navrátilová; born October 18, 1956, in Prague, Czechoslovakia) is a former World Billie Jean King ( née Moffitt) (born November 22, 1943, in Long Beach, California) is a retired Tennis Monica Seles (Szeles Mónika Serbian: Моника Селеш Monika Seleš, /sɛlɛʃ/ born December 2 1973 is a former World No Serena Jameka Williams (born September 26 1981 is a professional tennis player who is currently ranked World No Evonne Fay Goolagong Cawley, AO, MBE (born 31 July 1951 in Griffith, New South Wales, Australia is a former World No Venus Ebony Starr Williams (born June 17 1980 is a former World No Martina Hingis (born September 30, 1980 in Košice, Czechoslovakia) is a retired professional Tennis player who spent a total of 209 Hana Mandlíková (born February 19 1962 in Prague, Czechoslovakia) is a former professional Tennis player from the Czech Republic Aránzazu (Arantxa Isabel Maria Sanchez Vicario (born December 18 1971 in Barcelona) is a former World No Maria Yuryevna Sharapova ( Mariya Yur’evna Sharapova; born April 19 1987 is a Russian professional Tennis player Sarah Virginia Wade (born July 10 1945 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England is a former professional Tennis player from the United Kingdom Lindsay Ann Davenport (born June 8, 1976 in Palos Verdes, California) is a former World No Jennifer Marie Capriati (born March 29 1976 in New York City is a former World No Nancy Richey (born August 23 1942 in San Angelo, Texas, United States is a former Tennis player from the U Tracy Ann Austin Holt (b December 12 1962, in Palos Verdes, California) is a former World No Mary Pierce (born January 15 1975 in Montreal, Canada is a Tennis professional playing on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA tour. Amélie Simone Mauresmo (ameli simɔn moʀɛsmo in French born July 5 1979 is a French professional Tennis player

The greatest male singles players of all time

Further information: Tennis male players statistics, World number one male tennis player rankings

A frequent topic of discussion among tennis fans and commentators is who was the greatest male singles player of all time. Professional tennis before the start of the open era Before the start of the Open era in 1968 the professional circuit was much less popular than the traditional World number one male tennis player rankings is a year-by-year listing of both the male Tennis player who at the end of a full year of play has generally been considered to No consensus has ever existed, however. By a large margin, an Associated Press poll in 1950 named Bill Tilden as the greatest player of the first half of the 20th century. The Associated Press ( AP) is an American News agency. The AP is a Cooperative owned by its contributing Newspapers radio William Tatem Tilden II ( February 10, 1893 &ndash June 5, 1953) often called "Big Bill", was an American ^[38] From 1920-1930, Tilden won singles titles at Wimbledon three times and the U.S. Championships seven times. The Championships Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon, is the oldest Tennis tournament in the world and is widely considered as the most prestigious The US Open Tennis tournament is one of the oldest tennis championships in the world first contested in 1881 In 1938, however, Donald Budge became the first person to win all four Grand Slam singles titles during the same calendar year and won six consecutive Grand Slam singles titles in 1937 and 1938. John Donald ("Don" or "Donnie" Budge ( June 13 1915 &ndash January 26 2000) was an American Tennis The four Grand Slam tournaments are the most important Tennis events of the year Tilden called Budge "the finest player 365 days a year that ever lived. "^[39] And in his 1979 autobiography, Jack Kramer said that, based on consistent play, Budge was the greatest player ever. John Albert Kramer (born August 1, 1921, in Las Vegas, Nevada) was a champion U ^[40] Some observers, however, also felt that Kramer deserved consideration for the title. Kramer was among the few who dominated amateur and professional tennis during the late 1940s and early 1950s. Tony Trabert has said that of the players he saw before the start of the open era, Kramer was the best male champion. Marion Anthony (Tony Trabert (born August 16 1930 in Cincinnati Ohio) is a retired American Tennis champion and long-time tennis author TV commentator instructor This article describes the History ^[41]

By the latter half of the 1950s and 1960s, Budge and others had added Pancho Gonzales and Lew Hoad to the list of contenders. Ricardo Alonso González or Richard Gonzalez, (May 9 1928 &ndash July 3 1995 who was generally known as Pancho Gonzales or less often as Pancho Gonzalez Lewis Alan ("Lew" Hoad (born November 23, 1934 in Glebe New South Wales, Australia, died July 3, 1994 in Budge reportedly believed that Gonzales was the greatest player ever. ^[42] Gonzales said about Hoad, "When Lew's game was at its peak nobody could touch him.  . . . I think his game was the best game ever. Better than mine. He was capable of making more shots than anybody. His two volleys were great. His overhead was enormous. He had the most natural tennis mind with the most natural tennis physique. "^[43]

During the open era, first Rod Laver and then more recently Björn Borg and Pete Sampras were regarded by many of their contemporaries as among the greatest ever. For the arena in Melbourne Park used for show matches in the Australian Open, see Rod Laver Arena Rodney George "Rod" Laver (bjœɳ bɔrj born 6 June 1956) is a former World No 1 Tennis player from Sweden who is widely regarded by observers and tennis players Petros “Pete” Sampras (born August 12, 1971) is a former World No Cliff Drysdale has said that Laver is the greatest player ever. Cliff Drysdale (born May 26, 1941 in Nelspruit, in the former Transvaal (now in the Mpumalanga province South Africa) ^[44] Mats Wilander said, "The greatest player ever is not necessarily the player who has won the most. Mats Wilander (born August 22 1964, in Växjö, Sweden) is a former World No I would say that Björn Borg is the greatest player ever because he won Wimbledon five times in a row. And out of those five times, he won the French Open all of those five years, plus another year. "^[45] Laver has said that Sampras is "equal to anyone who has ever played the game. "^[46] John McEnroe has said that either Laver or Sampras is the greatest player ever. John Patrick McEnroe Jr (born February 16 1959 is an American former World No ^[47] Roger Federer is now considered by many observers to have the most "complete" game in modern tennis, with the potential to surpass the achievements of these past greats. Roger Federer (ˈrɒdʒə ˈfɛdərər born August 8 1981 is a Swiss professional Tennis player who is currently ranked World No Many experts of tennis, former tennis players and some of his own tennis peers believe Federer may become the greatest player in the history of the game. ^{[48][49][50][51][52]} The tennis historian Raymond Lee did a statistical analysis account of the question, counting tournament wins totals and percentages of career match wins and wins in a 5 year period. His alltime list ranks Laver ahead of Borg and Tilden (tie), Federer, Gonzales, Rosewall, Budge, Lendl, Connors, Sampras in the top ten. ^[53]

See also

General

• Tennis strategy
• Tennis games

Other forms

• Paddle tennis
• Platform tennis
• Real tennis
• Turbo tennis
• Types of tennis match

Statistics

• Tennis statistics
• Tennis male players statistics
• Professional Tennis Championships (1927-1999)
• World number one male tennis player rankings (1913-2007)
• List of ATP number 1 ranked players (1973-2007)
• List of WTA number 1 ranked players (1975-2007)
• Tennis players with most titles (since 1968)
• Male tennis players with most singles major championship wins
• Female tennis players with most singles major championship wins
• Performance timelines of male tennis players with at least one Grand Slam final
• Performance timelines of female tennis players with at least one Grand Slam final

References

Further reading

• We Have Come a Long Way. King, Billie Jean and Starr, Cynthia. (1998) McGraw-Hill ISBN 0-07024-625-9
• http://www.tennis.com - Tennis. com
• http://www.tennis-search-engine.com - Tennis Search Engine