Tennis is a sport with a long history and a global following, but that doesn’t mean that tennis terminology and tennis rules are understood by everyone. The sport does, after all, have a diverse and varied lexicon which can seem baffling to a casual observer.
Because of that, we've designed this post exactly for that casual tennis observer who may go to a tournament largely for the tennis hospitality, but who doesn’t want their limited tennis knowledge to be exposed.
The Basics of Tennis and Tennis Rules
When getting started explaining tennis terminology, it’s best to begin with the basics of tennis. The following are some of the most straightforward tennis terms, which apply to all contests at all levels of the game. After reading this section, you'll know much more about the rules of tennis, including how many games are in a set, how many sets are in a tennis match, and even what constitutes a rally!
Point – The smallest unit of scoring in tennis. A point lasts from a successful serve to when the ball next goes out of play.
Game – A game consists of a sequence of points during which the same player continues to serve. Games are usually won when a player wins four points, except when the game reaches deuce (see main scoring section below).
Set – The next unit of tennis scoring above a game. A player wins a set when they have won six games and are at least two games clear of their opponent. If a set reaches 6-6, it is usually decided by a tiebreak (see tiebreak in the scoring section below).
Match – Match is the term used to describe an entire tennis contest. Matches are usually played as best of five or three sets and the call ‘game, set and match’ is made when a player is victorious.
Service – In each game, one player has the service. That means they start each point by tossing the ball into the air and then hitting it to their opponent. Service passes from one player to the other after each completed game.
Rally – The name given to the collection of shots which make up a point. A rally always begins with a serve and ends when one player wins the point.
Tennis Shots
Forehand - a shot hit with the player's dominant hand and arm
Backhand - a shot hit with both hands holding the racket, however can be hit with one hand, known as a one handed backhand.
Groundstroke- consist of forehands or backhands which are hit when a player is standing a few feet from the baseline of the court.
Serve - the serve is the shot that begins the point, whereby players throw the ball up in the air and hit it overarm to the other side of the net. Players have a first and second serve, if their first serve goes outside of the service box on the opposite side of the court or hits the net. Can be flat, kick or spin serves.
Flat Serve - hit with little or no spin, allowing for pace and speed behind the ball giving the opponent little time to react.
Kick Serve - a large amount of topspin is applied to this serve by hitting up on the ball and snapping the wrist when making contact with the ball. This allows it to travel high over the net but drop into the service box with topspin.
Spin Serve - the outer edge of the ball is striked to produce a spin that skids when it makes contact with the court, bouncing in the direction of the spin making it difficult to return.
Return of Serve - this is the returning shot of the opponent to the player who served the ball, usually in a forehand or backhand style shot.
Volley - when a shot is hit without it bouncing on their side of the court. This is usually shot when the player is at the tennis net or approaching it when they hit the ball, allowing them to take greater control of the point and hit with greater power at an angle. These can also be hit as a forehand or backhand.
Half-Volley- when a player can't reach the ball in time to stop it bouncing, but doesn't have enough time to perform a groundstroke. The ball bounces and quickly deflected to the opponent in the same manner as a volley.
Topspin - typically performed on forehand and backhanded shots, where the player brushes up and over the ball with their racket to generate spin, making the shot more aggressive.
Flat Shot - when a forehand or backhand is hit with no or little topspin, giving their opponent less time to react.
Drop Shot - an advanced shot that players hit when their opponent is positioned at the baseline and the ball lands just at the other side of the net, leaving little time for the opponent to run towards the ball to return before it bounces twice.
Slice - a shot hit by brushing underneath the tennis ball and creating a backspin, the opposite of a topspin.
Smash - this is generated when the player hits the ball as hard s they can, from a forehand or backhand strike from mid-court before the ball bounces. This shot is often used to end the point if its powerful enough for the opponent to miss the shot or hit the ball out upon its return.
Lob - this is a forehand or backhand shot that travels over the opponents head and lands deep in the court near the baseline, making it hard to return as the player has to run back quickly to return, if they simply can't reach the shot as it goes over there head or if they believe it is going out of the court and decide to avoid hitting a return to gain a point.
Tweener- a shot that is hit between the legs of the player. This is certainly more of an entertainment shot that gets great cheers from the crowds and is a great talent to perform, but is rarely done well under pressure!
What are the areas of the Tennis court called?
Now that we’ve covered the most basic tennis terminology, it makes sense to turn our attention to where the game is played. The following batch of tennis terms will ensure that you can find your way around any tennis court.
Ad Court – The name given to the left-hand side of the forecourt for each player.
Baseline – The two-inch-wide (5 centimetres) line which marks the very end of a tennis court. Each baseline is 39 feet (11.8 metres) from the net.
Backcourt – The area of the court between the service line and the baseline.
Centre Mark – A small mark at the centre of the baseline, parallel to the line dividing the ad court and the deuce court.
Deuce Court – The right-hand side of the forecourt for each player.
Forecourt – The area between the service line and the net, which is divided vertically between the ad court and the deuce court. A legal serve must bounce in the forecourt.
Service Line – The line 21 feet (6.4 metres) from the net which divides the forecourt from the backcourt.
Tramlines – 4ft 6” (1.37 metres) channels at each side of a tennis court. The tramlines form part of the court for doubles play but are out in singles play.
Tennis Surfaces:
Hard Court - these are made from concrete and asphalt and are the most common tennis surface. They're good because they provide a predictable bounce and offer balance between the speed of grass and consistency of play. However, they have low energy absorption making the ball bounce high and fast so players need to be reactive. The Australian Open and US Open use their surface.
Clay Court- these courts aremade of stones, gravel, limestone and crushed brick that give it a bright red hue. Its advantage is that the ball bounces higher and slower giving players more time to react and hit tactical shots, howeverthey require high physical fitness as players will often slide across the court due to its slippery nature. The French Open, Roland Garros uses this court.
Grass Court - a tennis court made from grass. This is a traditional surface that is fast-playing in nature allowing the ball to bounce low and skid, however its high maintenance to look after and can be slippery when wet, or very dry when hot. This is typically used in British tennis event, including Rothesay International Eastbourne, cinch Championships at The Queen's Club and The Championships, Wimbledon.
How does Tennis scoring work?
‘How does tennis scoring work?’ and ‘what does love mean in tennis?’ are two of the questions most commonly asked about the sport. This next section, devoted to explaining the tennis scoring system, should provide the answers along with a host of other – hopefully useful – information about scoring in tennis.
Ace – A legal serve which the returner does not manage to get their racquet to. An ace always results in the server winning a point.
Advantage – A player’s score is given as ‘advantage’ or ‘ad’ when they win the next point after a game goes to deuce (see below). It means they will win the game if they win the following point.
Break Point – A break point is a point which will lead to a player winning a game against their opponent’s serve, if they win it.
Deuce – Tennis scoring advances in the following sequence; 0-0, 15-0, 15-15, 30-15, 30-30, 40-30, deuce, advantage and game. Deuce, therefore, is the name given to a score of 40-40 in any game.
Double Fault – When a serving player commits two consecutive service faults, awarding a point to their opponent.
Fault – A fault is the name given to an illegal serve. This is usually a serve into the net or one which bounces outside of the required forecourt area.
Foot Fault – A serve which is illegal because the server has stepped over the baseline or across the centre mark before striking the ball.
Let – A point which is ordered to be replayed with no change to a match’s score. Lets are usually called when a serve strikes the net but still bounces in the legal area of the forecourt.
Love – A term used in tennis instead of the word ‘nil’ or ‘zero’. It is used to describe a lack of score in either points, games or sets. i.e. a game score of 30-0 is given as ‘30 love’ and a set score of 6-0 is given as ‘six love’.
Straight Sets – The name given to a win in a tennis match without losing a set. 2-0 or 3-0 score lines, therefore, are straight sets wins in best of three and best of five set matches respectively.
Tiebreak – A tiebreak is a method of deciding a set when the game score reaches 6-6. Players contest a first to seven point game, with the serve changing over after the first point and then every two points. To win a tiebreak, a player must be two clear points ahead of their opponent.
How many games are there in tennis?
To win a game, four points must be won. There are a minimum of six games in one set, and the player must win by two games to win the set.
How many sets are there in tennis?
To win a set in tennis, six games must be won, and two or three sets win a match. Most matches are played as best-of-three or five sets. Players must win a set by two games and a match by two sets.
Tennis Jargon and Slang
As is the case with most sports, basic tennis terminology is also supplemented by some more unusual and colloquial jargon. The following are some of the most common and useful examples of that tennis jargon.
Bagel – The tongue-in-cheek name given to the score of 6-0 in a set, due to zero being shaped like a bagel. Losing a match 6-0, 6-0 or 6-0, 6-0, 6-0 is known as getting a double or a treble bagel.
What is a Grand Slam in Tennis?
Grand Slam –The name given to the four most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
Career Slam – The name given to the achievement of a player winning each of the four Grand Slam tournaments at least once at some point during their career.
Golden Slam – Winning a Golden Slam means to win all four Grand Slam tournaments and an Olympic gold medal in the same season.
Open Era – A term used to describe the era of tennis post 1968, when tournaments were opened up to professional as well as amateur players.
Tennis Seeding
Seeding - this is used to separate the top ranked players in a draw in order that they do not meet in the early stages of a tournament and create a fair draw. The top seed is determined based on current rankings, being the strongest player.
Ranking - used to determine tournament entry and seeding based on rankings. The is split into ATP Rankings for the men's game and WTP Rankings for the women's.
Seeding is useful as the most popular and best performing players are highly demanded to be seen by spectators and fans on TV, therefore the greater chances of the top players making it to the final rounds are higher if they beat players of a lower seed and not as experienced. When top players face each other in the finals, it makes for a more exciting and high profile game. However, this can be seen to be unfair by some as lower-ranked players have to compete against the top in the early rounds, making it harder for them to progress in the tournament. Having said this, when a lower-seeded player defeats a player that is statistically higher in the rankings, then it makes for great tennis and the 'underdog' gets incredible support from the crowd!
The above does not include all of the tennis terms you’re likely to hear when watching a tournament, but it does represent a good selection of the most important. The next time you’re lucky enough to enjoy some tennis hospitality, then, you’ll at least have the tennis scoring system down pat and be able to hold a fair conversation with even the most ardent tennis fan.
Keith Prowse are specialists in tennis hospitality and offer a wide range of packages for you to choose from if you did want to test your new-found knowledge. We’re official hospitality providers for The Championships, Wimbledon, the oldest tennis tournament worldwide, Queen's Club, a tennis club full of history that has some of the greatest tennis players, and Eastbourne International, among other world-renowned events, and have hospitality options to suit all tastes and budgets.
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