TENNIS

   

   1.      THE GAME

   -         played with a racket and a ball by two (singles) or four (doubles) competitors

   -         indoors or outdoors

   -         originally called lawn tennis

   

   2.      COURT AND EQUIPMENT

   -         marked with white lines to indicate areas

   -         net

   -         grass, clay, concrete

   -         racket: head strung with nylon, handle covered with leather grip

   -         lightweight clothing

   

   3.      SERVICE (delivery) AND PLAY

   -         server – receiver

   -         serve: from behind the baseline, toss the ball into the air, strike, hit the service
   box, two tries permitted

   -         fault: outside the service box, into the net; double fault

   -         foot fault

   -         let: serve touches the net

   -         ace: a valid serve not reached by the opponent

   

   4.      SCORING

   -         4 points designated by 15, 30, 40 and game, zero – love

   -         tie – deuce

   -         after reaching deuce – advantage

   -         players must win 6 games by at least two games: 5-5 – 7 game victory, 6-6 –
   tiebreaker played to seven points but may be extended

   

   5.      OFFICIALS

   -         umpire, line judges

   

   6.      STROKES

   -         forehand: shoulder of the nonracket-bearing arm faces the net

   -         backhand: shoulder of the racket-bearing arm faces the net

   -         grips: two-handed etc.

   -         Lob: high, high, soft return behind an opponent who has approached the net, used to
   force him/her to retreat

   -         Overhead smash – similar to the serve

   -         Drop shot: drops softly over the net, forcing the opponent to approach the net

   -         Volley: a player strikes the ball before it bounces