Tennis

Guide Note

Tennis is an athletic sport that can be played professionally or for recreation. Requiring a high level of stamina and alertness, the game can be played as a singles game, between two people, or a doubles game, between four people. The action of the players is to hit a small sized ball with a tennis racquet across a net. Played on a rectangular surface, the game requires that the players stay within certain boundary lines while the ball is in play.

Fast Facts

1. Tennis courts are made from grass, clay or concrete
2. There is no physical contact in tennis
3. Regulation court size is 78 feet long and 27 feet wide (for singles)
4. Doubles play uses the alleys on the sides of the court making the width 36 feet¹
5. First Wimbledon Championship took place in 1877
6. An official Olympic sport

Scoring

Tennis scoring is not a typical 1, 2, 3 add up method. The game uses set numerical units. The first point that is scored is 15. If the same scorer makes another point it is 30 and if they score again consecutively it is 40. The player serving has their score announced first. If the player scored three points in a row and has a 40 and the other player has scored no points, the word "love" is used. On a scoreboard the game would appear as 40 - 0, but is pronounced "Forty love." If the second player tied on the first point, also scoring a 15, then the two players would both have 15 and this would be announced as "15 All." The same would occur if the players tied at 30. The first game in the set ends when a player scores a point past 40. If the players tie at 40 the score is considered "deuce" and the players will need to win by two points to finish the game. The first player to win six games wins the set.²

Benefits of Playing

According to studies, tennis can offer several health benefits. People who play the sport at least three hours per week with moderate intensity can cut their risk of death by most causes in half, and due to the required alertness of the game, new connections between nerves in the brain may create greater learning development. Also, playing tennis can relieve depression, anger and anxiety, as well as help burn more calories than aerobics.³

Legendary Tennis Players

• John McEnroe
• Chris Evert
• Jimmy Connors
• Bjorn Borg
• Martina Navratilova
• Pete Sampras
• Andre Agassi
• Steffi Graf
• Monica Seles

Disclaimer

The content on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before beginning any FITNESS program.