Entertainment / Tennis Glossary

Ace: A serve where the tennis ball served is served in and not touched by the receiver, aces are usually powerful and generally land on or near the one of the corners at the back of the service box.

Action: Another word for spin.

Ad Court: The left side of the court of each player.

Advantage: When one player wins a point from a deuce and needs one more point to win the game.

All-Court: A style of play which is defined as a composite of all of the different playing styles which includes baseline, transition, and serve and volley styles.

Alley: The area of the court between the singles and doubles sidelines, also known as the tramlines.

Alternate: A player or a team that gains acceptance into the main draw of a tournament due to a main draw player or team withdrawing, when there are no qualies with potential lucky losers.

Approach Shot: A shot used as a setup as the player runs up to the net, often using underspin or topspin and being a much faster shot than used during rallies.

ATP: Association of tennis professionals, the men's professional circuit

ATP Champions Race: The atp points ranking system which starts at the beginning of the year and at the end of the year mirrors the atp entry system ranking. The top eight players at the end of the year qualify . . . View Full Definition

Australian Formation: (in doubles) a formation where the server and partner stand on the same side of the court (deuce or advantage court) before starting the point

Backhand: Hitting the ball with the back of the racquet hand facing the ball at the moment of contact.

Backspin: (also known as slice or underspin), is a shot such that the ball rotates backwards after it is hit. The trajectory of the shot involves an upward force that lifts the ball (see magnus effect).

Backswing: The portion of a swing where the racquet is swung backwards in preparation for the forward motion to hit the ball.

Bagel: Winning (or losing) a set 6-0. With the shape of the '0' being evoked supposedly by the round shape of a bagel. See breadstick.

Ball Boy or Girl: A boy (or girl) tasked with retrieving tennis balls from the court that have gone out of play. They also supply the balls to the players before their service so that the server can choose a . . . View Full Definition

Baseline: The chalk line at the farthest ends of the court indicating the boundary of the area of play.

Baseliner: A player who plays around the baseline during play and relies on the quality of his or her ground strokes.

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