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ACE A serve that lands in the service box and is untouched by the receiver, winning the point immediately. Aces are often strategic, targeting the corners (wide/T-serve) or body. AD COURT Short for "advantage court," it refers to the left side of the court from the perspective of the server. It's called this because points ending in an odd number are played from this side, and these are the points where a player can gain or lose the "advantage" during a deuce. ADVANTAGE This is used when the game score goes to deuce (40-40). The player who scores the next point has "advantage". If the same player scores again, they win the game ALL COURT PLAYER A player who is comfortable playing from all parts of the court, including the baseline, mid-court, and at the net. ALLEY The extra area of the side court used for doubles play. These are also known as the tramlines in some regions. APPROACH SHOT A shot that a player hits as they move forward towards the net. ATP An acronym for the Association of Tennis Professionals, which is the main governing body of men's professional tennis. ATTACK A strategy where a player aggressively takes control of a point, often by moving to the net or hitting powerful groundstrokes. AUSTRALIAN DOUBLES A doubles formation where the server and their partner stand on the same side of the court before the serve. AUSTRALIAN OPEN One of the four Grand Slam tournaments, it is held annually in Melbourne, Australia, in January.

BACKCOURT The area of the tennis court between the service line and the baseline. BACKHAND A stroke hit by swinging the racket away from the body on the non-dominant side. The back of the hand precedes the palm and often the shot is hit with two hands. BACKHAND SLICE A shot hit on the backhand (non-dominant) side of the body. A high to low action that impacts backspin or slice on the ball. BACKSPIN Spin applied to the ball where the top of the ball rotates toward the source of the shot. It's the same as underspin and slice. BAGEL Slang for winning or losing a set 6-0. BALK When a server begins their service motion but decides not to hit the ball. BALL BOY/GIRL Individuals, often young people, who retrieve loose balls from the court during a match. BASELINE The line at each end of the court representing the outer limits of the length. BASELINE PLAYER A player who prefers to play from the baseline, often with strong groundstrokes. BLOCK A type of volley where the player does not swing but simply places the racket in the path of the ball. BREADSTICK Slang for winning/losing a set 6-1 (resembling the shape of a "1"). BREAK POINT A situation where the receiver can win the game by winning the next point. BREAK SERVE To win a game as the receiving player or team. This is considered a significant event as the server typically has an advantage. BUGGY WHIP A type of forehand shot where the follow-through ends up over the player's head, resembling the motion of cracking a whip. BYE In tournament play, a player who automatically advances to the next round without having to play a match. Byes are typically given to top-seeded players in the first round.

CALL The verbal announcement by a line judge or chair umpire describing the result of a point. CAREER GOLDEN SLAM Winning all four Grand Slams and an Olympic gold medal in singles. CARPET COURT A court surface that is made from a type of indoor carpet material. It's one of the fastest types of tennis courts. CHALLENGE When a player disagrees with an official's call, they can issue a challenge to have the call reviewed with electronic replay technology. CHAMPIONSHIP POINT Another term for match point in the final match of a tournament. CHANGEOVER The time when players switch sides of the court, which happens after the first game and then after every two games, and at the end of each set in a tiebreak match. CHIP A Shot where a player blocks or slices the ball back, often used to return serves or to charge the net. CHIP AND CHARGE A strategy where a player hits a slice shot (the chip) and then rushes the net (the charge). CHOP A type of spin (SLICE) where the player brushes down the back of the ball with a chopping action. CLAY COURT A slow surface made of crushed stone/brick, favoring baseline players (e.g., Rafael Nadal). CLOSED STANCE A way of standing to hit the ball where the player is sideways and generally steps into the ball with their front foot. CODE VIOLATION A penalty given by the chair umpire for violations of conduct such as audible obscenities or racquet abuse. CONTINENTAL GRIP A type of grip used to hold the racket, often used for volleys and serves. CROSSCOURT A shot that is hit diagonally from one side of the court to the other.

DAVIS CUP An international men's tennis competition. As of 2021, it's structured as an annual week-long tournament featuring 18 countries. DEAD BALL A ball that is not in play. DEFAULT Automatic loss of a match due to a rule violation or injury. DEUCE A term for when the score is tied at 40-40 in a game. From this point, a player must win by two points. DEUCE COURT The right side of the court from the perspective of the server. The term comes from the fact that all points that can bring the game back to deuce are played from this side. DOUBLE BAGEL Slang for winning or losing a match without winning a game (6-0, 6-0). DOUBLE FAULT A point lost by the server for failing to put the ball into play on both a first and second serve. DOUBLES A type of match where two teams of two players each compete against each other. DOWN THE LINE A shot that is hit straight down the sidelines, closest to the player. DRAW The schedule or bracket of matches in a tournament. DROP SHOT A softly hit shot that is designed to just clear the net and then drop sharply. DROPSHOT VOLLEY A soft volley played close to the net, dropping sharply into the opponent’s forecourt. DUCK Slang term for an easy ball to hit, often a weak lob. DUMMY A feint or fake shot intended to deceive an opponent.

EASTERN GRIP A way of holding the racket where the base knuckle of the index finger is on the third bevel. This grip is often used for forehand shots. ERROR A shot that is missed or hit out, causing the player to lose the point. EXHIBITION MATCH A non-tournament match that is not part of the regular professional tour, usually for the purpose of raising money for charity or for promotional purposes. EYE FORMATION In doubles, a formation where the server's partner crouches at the net near the center service line, resembling the shape of an 'I'. This is used to confuse the receivers about which way the net player will move after the serve. EYEGUARDS Protective eyewear worn by some players to prevent injury. This is more common in racquetball and squash than in tennis.

FAULT An unsuccessful serve that does not start the point because the ball does not land in the opponent's designated service box. FIFTEEN The term for the first point won in a game. In tennis, scoring is played by increments of fifteen (15, 30, 40) until the game is won. FLAT Describes a ball that is hit with a minimal amount of spin. FLAT SERVE A serve with minimal spin, prioritising speed. Common on first serves. FOLLOW THROUGH The continuation of the swing after the ball has been hit. A proper follow-through is critical for control and power. FOOT FAULT A violation that occurs when the server's foot crosses the baseline or touches the wrong side of the center mark before the ball is struck on the serve. FORECOURT The area of the court between the net and the service line. FOREHAND A stroke hit from the same side of the body as the racket hand (the right side for a right-handed player). FORTY The term for the third point won in a game. FRAMING Hitting the ball with the frame of the racket rather than the strings. FRENCH OPEN One of the four Grand Slam tournaments, held annually in Paris, France, from late May to early June. Also known as Roland-Garros. FULL STRETCH When a player has to extend their body to the maximum to reach the ball.

GAME The smallest unit of scoring in tennis, consisting of a sequence of points played with the same player serving. GAME POINT A point which, if won by the server, would result in them winning the game. GOLDEN SET Winning a set without losing a single point. GRAND SLAM Refers to either the act of winning all four major tennis tournaments (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open) in a single calendar year, or the tournaments themselves. GRASS COURT A type of court surface made of grass. It's the fastest type of surface, and the bounce of the ball can be affected by the unevenness of the grass. GRIP Refers to both the handle of the tennis racket and the way a player holds the racket. Different grips are used for different types of shots. GROUNDSTROKE A forehand or backhand shot that is executed after the ball bounces once on the court. GUARD The top strip of a tennis net, usually white and made of canvas.

HALF VOLLEY A shot that is hit immediately after the ball bounces, when it is still close to the ground. HANDICAP In social or club play, a system of scoring that gives an advantage to less skilled players in the interests of fairness. HARD COURT A type of court surface that is typically made of rigid materials such as asphalt or concrete, and covered with acrylic material to seal the surface and provide some cushioning. HAWK EYE A computer system used in tennis and other sports to visually track the trajectory of the ball and display a profile of its statistically most likely path. HEAD The top part of a racket where the strings are located. HEAT RULE A rule that allows for additional breaks or even suspension of play when temperatures become dangerously high. The specifics of the rule vary between tournaments. HEAVY BALL A ball that is hit with a lot of topspin, causing it to feel "heavy" or hard to return when it hits the opponent's racket. HIGH BALL A shot that is hit with a high trajectory. HIT AND RUN A strategy where a player rushes forward to hit a quick groundstroke, and then continues forward to the net. HOLD In match play, to win the game when serving. HOPPER A basket or cart used to hold and transport tennis balls on the court. HYBRID A basket or cart used to hold and transport tennis balls on the court.

I-FORMATION In doubles, a formation in which the server's partner crouches near the center service line. This formation is used to disrupt the receiver's rhythm and is typically employed at crucial points in the match. It's called the "I-Formation" because the server and the server's partner line up in a straight line, resembling the shape of an 'I'. IMPACT POINT The spot where the ball makes contact with the racket. IN A call by a line judge or umpire that a shot landed within the boundaries of the court. INSIDE-OUT SHOT A shot where a player runs around their backhand side to hit a forehand shot, aiming the ball to the opposite side of the court. INSTANT REPLAY The use of video replay technology to review close or contested line calls. In professional tennis, Hawk-Eye is the most common system used for instant replay. INTERFERENCE Any action that hinders a player from making a shot, such as a player or doubles partner getting in the way. Depending on the situation, interference can result in a point penalty. ITF An acronym for the International Tennis Federation, the governing body of world tennis.

JAMMING The tactic of hitting the ball towards a player's body, making it hard for them to execute a comfortable shot. JUICE A slang term for deuce, which is when the score is 40-40 in a game. JUMP SMASH An overhead hit while jumping, often in response to a high lob. JUNIOR Term referring to players who are 18 and under and typically play in junior tournaments.

KICK SERVE A serve that is hit with heavy topspin, causing the ball to bounce high. KILL A shot that is hit with so much force it's virtually unreturnable. KNOCK-UP Another term for the warm-up session before a match begins.

LET A call by the umpire halting play due to an unforeseen or accidental circumstance. For instance, if a serve hits the net but still lands in the service box, it is a let and the server gets to serve again. LINE JUDGE An official who watches a specific line on the tennis court and makes calls on whether balls land in or out. LOB A high, arching shot often used to send the ball over the opponent's head and push them back towards the baseline. LOVE The term for zero points in tennis scoring. For example, a score of 40-love means that the server has scored three points and the receiver has scored none. LUCKY LOSER A player who loses in the final round of qualifying for a tournament, but still gets to enter the main draw because of a withdrawal or retirement. LUNGE A quick movement to reach a ball, typically involving a large step or a dive.

MAINDRAW The main part of a tournament where the top players compete, as distinguished from the qualifying rounds. The players in the main draw have either been accepted directly on the basis of their ranking, received wildcards, or passed through the qualifying rounds. MATCH A contest between two players (singles) or two teams of two players (doubles). A match is made up of sets, which are in turn made up of games. MATCH POINT A point which, if won by the player (or team) in the lead, will result in them winning the match. MATCH TIE-BREAK In some competitions, instead of playing a full final set, a tie-break game is played to decide the winner of the match. The first player/team to score at least 10 points, leading by at least two points, wins the "Match Tie-Break" and thus the match. MIDCOURT The area of the court between the service line and the baseline. MINI BREAK A point won by the receiver during a tiebreak. MIXED DOUBLES A type of doubles match where each team is made up of one man and one woman. MOON BALL A high, slow lob that is often used defensively to give the player time to recover position. MOVE IN To approach the net from the baseline in order to hit a volley or an overhead smash.

NET The central barrier on the court, over which the ball must pass to be in play. NET CORD The top of the net where a cord or metal cable runs through to hold it up. When a ball hits the net cord and still lands in the opponent's court, it's usually referred to as a "let" in a serve or a "net cord" in a rally. NET POINT A point that is won or lost at the net, often by a volley or a smash. NET POINT The posts on either side of the net that support it. NET RUSH The act of moving towards the net to hit a volley after a strong groundstroke, in an attempt to end the point quickly. NO LET RULE A rule in certain competitions where play continues even if the ball clips the net during a serve (as long as the serve is otherwise legal). This differs from traditional rules where this would be considered a let and the serve replayed. NO MAN'S LAND The area of the court between the baseline and the service boxes. It is often referred to as "no-man's land" because it's a risky position - too close to the net for baseline shots but too far for effective volleys. NO-AD SCORING A scoring system in which the first player to win four points wins the game. This method eliminates the need for a player to win by two points. NTRP Stands for National Tennis Rating Program. It's a classification system used in America to rate players based on skill level, ranging from 1.0 (beginner) to 7.0 (world-class level).

OFFICIAL A person who ensures that a match is conducted according to the rules. This includes the chair umpire, line judges, and ball boys/girls. OLYMPICS Tennis has been an Olympic sport since 1988, with competitions in men's and women's singles and doubles. Mixed doubles were added in 2012. OPEN STANCE A way of hitting a groundstroke where the player's front foot is not stepped toward the net but remains to the side or even slightly back. OUT A call made when the ball lands outside the boundaries of the court. OUT BALL A ball that lands outside the valid area of play. OUT WIDE Refers to a ball that is directed towards the sidelines of the court. It is often used to describe serves that are aimed at the edges of the service box to pull the receiver out of court. OVERGRIP A soft, padded material that players wrap around the handle of their racket for added comfort and better grip. OVERHEAD SMASH A powerful shot that is hit above the head in a motion similar to the serve, often in response to a lob from the opponent. OVERRULE The act of a chair umpire correcting a line judge's call.

PACE The speed at which the ball is hit. High-pace shots are hit hard and travel fast, while low-pace shots are softer and slower. PAINTING THE LINES A phrase used when a player hits a shot that lands very close to, or on, the line. PASSING SHOT A shot that is hit out of reach of the opponent, typically aimed down the sidelines when the opponent is at the net. POACH In doubles, when a player crosses the court to volley a ball intended for their partner. POINT The smallest unit of scoring in tennis. Points accumulate to win games, games accumulate to win sets, and sets accumulate to win matches. PRESSURELESS BALL A type of tennis ball that doesn't have a pressurized core. They're less bouncy than regular balls, but they maintain their bounce for a long time since they don't rely on internal pressure. PUSHER A derogatory term for a player who does not try to hit winners, but simply returns the ball safely to make the opponent play as many shots as possible, in hopes that they will make an error. PUTAWAY A shot that is easily hit for a winner, typically because the opponent is out of position or has delivered a weak return.

QUADRANT One of four sections on a player's side of the tennis court. In strategy discussions, the court may be divided into quadrants to discuss where shots are or should be directed. QUALIFIER A player who earns a spot in the main draw of a tournament by winning matches in the qualifying rounds. QUALIFYING ROUNDS The rounds in a tournament that precede the main draw. Players who are not ranked high enough to get direct entry into the main draw can compete in the qualifying rounds for a chance to qualify. QUIET PLEASE A phrase often used by umpires to request silence from the crowd.

RALLY An extended exchange of shots between players. RANKING The position of a player in the global list issued by the relevant tennis authority (like the ATP or WTA). The ranking is determined based on a player's results over a rolling 52-week period. RECEIVER The player who is returning the serve. RETIREMENT When a player withdraws from a match due to injury or other reasons. The match is awarded to their opponent. RETURN The stroke made by the receiver of a serve. ROUND ROBIN A tournament format in which each contestant meets all other contestants in turn. It contrasts with an elimination tournament. RUNNING SHOT A forehand or backhand shot hit while a player is running towards the ball. RUSH THE NET A strategy where a player quickly advances to the net after hitting a groundstroke, in order to put pressure on the opponent.

SECOND SERVE If a player's first serve is faulted, they get another chance to serve, known as the second serve. This is typically more conservative, as a fault on the second serve results in the loss of the point. SERVE The shot that begins each point, hit by one player standing behind the baseline into the service box diagonally opposite. SERVE AND VOLLEY A style of play where the player serves and then quickly moves forward to the net in order to hit a volley from the return. SERVER The player who initiates the point by serving the ball. SERVICE BOX The area of the court that the serve must land in. It's the area on the same side of the court as the server, bounded by the net, the singles sideline, the service line, and the center line. SET A subset of a match, consisting of a number of games. In most matches, the player who wins the most out of a specified number of sets wins the match. SHOT A term for any stroke or hit of the ball. SHOT CLOCK A timer (25 seconds) enforcing pace of play, introduced to reduce delays. SLICE A type of hit where the player imparts underspin on the ball by striking it with a high-to-low motion. SLICE SERVE A serve with sidespin, curving away from the receiver (common on grass courts). SMASH An overhead shot that is hit forcefully, typically putting an end to the point. SPIN The rotation of the ball as it moves through the air, affecting its trajectory and bounce. Common types of spin include topspin, backspin (or slice), and sidespin. STRAIGHT SETS When a match is won without the losing player or team winning a single set. For example, a score of 6-3, 6-2 is a straight-set win. STRING TENSION The tightness or looseness of a racket's strings, which affects the power and control of the player's shots. STROKE A term for a player's swing – the motion of hitting the ball. SWEET SPOT The optimal spot on the racket face for hitting the ball, usually located in the center of the strings. SWING VOLLEY A type of volley where the player takes a full swing at the ball, as opposed to the usual short punching motion of a volley.

TENNIS ELBOW A common injury among tennis players, caused by overuse of the arm, forearm, and hand muscles, resulting in elbow pain. TIEBREAK A special game played when the score in a set is 6-6, to determine who wins the set. TOPSPIN A type of spin where the top of the ball is rotating forward as it's moving. Topspin shots dip down onto the court and bounce high. TOUCH A player's ability to hit the ball with just the right amount of force and direction. TOUCH VOLLEY A softly hit volley, often played as a drop shot. TOURNAMENT A competition involving a relatively large number of players or teams, all participating in a sport or game. TRAMLINES The additional areas of the court used in doubles, which extend the width of the court. They are called tramlines because they look like tram or train tracks. TRANSITION GAME The part of a player's game that involves moving from the baseline to the net, typically involving approach shots and finishing volleys. TRIPLE BAGEL Slang term referring to a match in which one player does not win a single game, resulting in a score like 6-0, 6-0, 6-0. TWEENER Short for "between the legs", a tweener is a shot that a player hits by passing the racket between their legs. TWO HANDED-BACKHAND A backhand shot in which a player uses both hands to swing the racket. This provides more power and control but less reach than a one-handed backhand.

UMPIRE The official who sits in a high chair at the side of the court to judge the match. They make decisions about whether balls are in or out, monitor for rule infractions, and control the score and flow of the match. UNDERHAND SERVE A serve hit from below the waist, as opposed to the typical overhand serve. Although legal, it is relatively rare in professional tennis. UNDERSPIN Also known as backspin or slice, it is spin where the top of the ball rotates toward the source of impact. It is the opposite of topspin. UNFORCED ERROR A mistake in play, such as hitting the ball into the net or out of bounds, which cannot be attributed to any action by the opponent. UNSEEDED PLAYER A player who does not have a seeding in a tournament. This usually means that the player's ranking is not high enough to be among the top players in the tournament, who are seeded to avoid meeting each other until the later rounds. UPSET When a lower-ranked player defeats a higher-ranked player in a match. US OPEN One of the four Grand Slam tournaments, held annually in New York City. UTR Universal Tennis Rating. A rating system that provides a single, unifying language and standard for tennis players across ages, geographies, genders, and levels of play.

VAMOS Spanish for "let's go," often shouted by Spanish-speaking players to pump themselves up during a match. VARSITY The main team representing a high school or college in sports, including tennis. VIBRATION DAMPENER A small piece of rubber placed on the strings of the racket to reduce vibration and the resulting sound when the ball is struck. VOLLEY A shot where the ball is struck before it bounces on the ground, usually done near the net. VOLLEYER A player who prefers to play at the net and hit volleys, as opposed to staying at the baseline.

WALKOVER In tournament play, a walkover occurs when one player advances to the next round due to their opponent's inability to play, often because of injury or other personal reasons. WESTERN GRIP A grip in which the base knuckle of the index finger is on the bottom right bevel (for right-handed players), or the bottom left bevel (for left-handed players), of the racket handle. This grip allows for strong topspin but can make flat shots or slices more difficult. WHIFF A complete miss of the ball during an attempted stroke. WILDCARD A player who is allowed to participate in a tournament even though their ranking is too low to qualify. Wildcards are chosen by the tournament organizers. WIMBLEDON One of the four Grand Slam tournaments, held annually in London, England. It's the oldest tennis tournament in the world and is traditionally played on grass courts. WINNER A shot that is not touched by the opponent and wins the point. WOOD RACKET A type of racket that was common until the 1980s, when it was largely replaced by rackets made from composite materials. Some traditional tournaments still require the use of wood rackets. WORLD NUMBER ONE The player ranked first in the world by the ATP (men) or WTA (women). WORLD TOUR FINALS The season-ending championships of the ATP and WTA tours, featuring the top-ranked singles players and doubles teams. WTA Women's Tennis Association. The main organization governing professional women's tennis.

YELLOW BALL The standard color of a tennis ball in most professional and amateur play. The bright yellow color, which replaced white, was adopted to make the balls more visible for players and spectators, especially on television. YIPS A sudden, unexplained loss of basic motor skills. In tennis, this can happen on a particular stroke or shot and can be very frustrating for players. YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS A famous phrase by John McEnroe, often shouted in anger at officials. While not a term, it's part of tennis lore and often quoted or referenced.

ZONE A term often used to describe a state where a player is performing at their peak ability. When in the zone, players often feel as though they cannot miss a shot.