Game, set, match
- POSTED ON: 31 Jan, 2024
- TOTAL VIEWS: 523 Views
- POSTED BY: Archana Subramanian
- ARTICLE POINTS: 100 Points
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka… these are a few of the great sportspersons of modern times. Which game do they play? Tennis, of course. Let’s learn more about this sport and how it works.
Scoring System: Tennis uses a unique scoring system with points progressing from 15 to 30 to 40. A game is won by scoring four points and winning two consecutive points after reaching deuce (40-40). The aim of tennis is to win enough points to win a game, enough games to win a set, and enough sets to win a match.
Deuce and Advantage: When the score reaches 40-40, it’s called deuce. From deuce, a player must win two consecutive points to secure the game. The first point won after deuce is called advantage and, if the same player wins the next point, they win the game.
Tiebreakers: If a set reaches 6-6, a tiebreaker is played. The first player to reach seven points with a margin of two wins the tiebreaker, securing the set.
Love: In tennis, “love” means zero. So, a score of 15-0 is called 15-love.
Court Dimensions: Tennis can be played on different surfaces like grass, clay, and hard courts. The dimensions of the court vary slightly for singles and doubles matches.
Serve and Return: The game begins with a serve, and players alternate service after each game. The receiver must return the serve within the lines, initiating a point. The server aims to win the point by making a shot the opponent can’t return.
Grand Slam Tournaments: Tennis has four major tournaments known as Grand Slam events: Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Winning all four titles in a calendar year is a Grand Slam.
Strategy and Tactics: Tennis involves a mix of powerful serves, accurate groundstrokes, volleys at the net, and strategic play to outsmart opponents.
Now that you know how the game is played, try your hand at this puzzle. Can you put the pieces together to form the full image?