INSTRUCTIONS
This Learning Packet has two parts: (1) text to read and (2) questions to answer.
The text describes a particular sport or physical activity, and relates its history, rules,
playing techniques, scoring, notes and news.
The Response Forms (questions and puzzles) check your understanding and appreciation of the sport or physical activity.
INTRODUCTION
Tennis is among the most popular sports in the
United States. It is played by amateurs and professionals, children and adults, women and men. It can
be played for sheer enjoyment or in fiercely competitive tournaments, such as the famous Davis Cup,
Wightman Cup and the Wimbledon tournament.
Like badminton, it requires agility, speed and almost continuous motion on the part of the player. It
is often recommended as a good means of aerobic
exercise.
HISTORY OF TENNIS
The game that we know as tennis today (officially known as
lawn tennis) was created by a British citizen, Major Walter C.
Wingfield, who introduced the game to Britain in 1873. The following year saw the introduction of the already-popular game to America.
However, the real history of tennis apparently goes back far beyond Major Wingfields
day. A version of tennis was played in ancient Greece and in France in the 1400s.
The first tennis tournament was played at Wimbledon in England in 1877. While
Wimbledon is still considered the most famous and prestigious tennis tournament in the
world, the Davis Cup and Wightman Cup tournaments are also important annual events.
HOW THE GAME IS PLAYED
A tennis game always starts with the serve. The
server stands behind the base line on the right
side of the court. The ball is tossed into the air
and hit diagonally across the net into the
opponents court. The opponent then has to hit
the ball after the first bounce, and return it back across the net to the server.
A fault is committed when the server hits the net with the ball or when the ball is hit
outside the service court. The second time a server tries to serve and fails, a double
fault occurs. The opponent automatically gains a point after a double fault.
Faults can also occur when the server touches the base line or any other part of the court
with his/her feet while serving.
A let ball is a serve that touches the net but lands in the correct place. This type of ball
does not count; the server must serve again.
A ball that touches the net during play is called
a net ball. Net balls are legal and must be
played.
Once the first point is made, the server then
serves from behind the left base line. The server
continues until the opponent wins the serve or
until a fault occurs.
The first point in a tennis game is 15, the second
is 30 and the third is 40. The final score (or fourth
point) is the GAME POINT.
A player must score four points in order to win a
game. In a tie game, both sides or players may
score three points, or 40-40 (a DEUCE). If a
player or side wins two more points after a deuce,
the game is won.
The AD or ADVANTAGE is the first point scored after the deuce. When both players
score a point after a deuce, the game returns to 40-40 again.
The score LOVE means zero. If a game
has the score 30-love, it means the score is
30 to zero. Nobody knows why the term
love is used in tennis, but it is generally
believed to have originated from the French
word louve, which means egg. An egg
is round like a circle, hence its association
with a zero.
A SET means that one side or player has won six games. The winner of the set must win
by two games. A MATCH means that two out of three sets have been won.
PLAYING TECHNIQUES
THE SERVE
There are four types of serves in tennis: the flat serve, the slice
serve, the kick serve and the American twist. While the slice is
the most common and effective serve, all four types of serves
demand a controlled toss and good follow-through.
To execute the serve properly, the player raises the racquet back
to a point where it reaches over his or her right shoulder. The
players elbow is kept straight in the air. The proper stance is
straight, not bent at the waist. The ball is then tossed up into
the air. As the ball comes down, the server moves forward and
strikes the ball with the racquet, driving it over the net toward
the other player or players.
FOREHAND DRIVE
This move is one of the two main strokes used for returning the ball after one bounce.
When the ball approaches the players racquet-hand side, the forehand drive is used
basically, as a way of blocking the ball. The wrist maintains a firm position and keeps
the racquet face open. All contact with the ball should take place in front of the players
body.
BACKHAND DRIVE
This move is the other main stroke used to return a ball after
one bounce. In the backhand drive, the ball goes to the opposite side of the racquet hand. The player moves the arm across
the body and, as with the forehand drive, maintains a firm wrist
and elbow. Again, contact with the ball is made in front of the
players body.
VOLLEY
The famous Martina Navratilova once offered this advice about the volley: Keep it
short and simple. The players knees should be bent and legs slightly apart while the
weight of the body is forward. The elbows should be turned in toward the body as the
body pivots and the shoulder turns toward the ball.
The power of the volley comes not from the swing, but from a firm wrist, good timing
and the ability to keep ones body weight forward.
LOB
The lob features a short backswing, an open racquet face and an upward motion. The
follow-through on this shot is shorter than on other shots. The goal of the lob is to hit the
ball over the opponents head in order to drive him/her back in the court.
SLICE
The forehand and backhand slices are used to make
the ball spin and bounce crookedly. In the forehand
slice, the players shoulders should turn as the racquet
is brought back above the level of the ball. The racquet
head is tilted upward at this point, while the players
weight is kept forward. Ideally, the follow-through
on this shot is kept short.
In the backhand slice, the player turns as the racquet
is brought back above the level of the ball. The wrist
is kept stiff as contact with the ball occurs in front of
the players body.
EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING
Tennis is usually played in loose-fitting shorts for men or short skirts for women. Athletic shoes are needed to brace the feet and ankles during violent maneuvers. Light polo
shirts or blouses are worn to provide freedom of movement.
Keep current with the sport of tennis by visiting these tennis websites:
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
