Question
1
While playing doubles, whose responsibility is
it to call a service fault? The receiver's
partner or the receiver?
Answer:
Either one may call a fault. It is usually
easier for the receiver's partner to determine
whether or not a ball is long, but either player
may call a fault. Similarly, it is usually
easier for the receiver to determine whether or
not the ball is wide, but either player can make
the call.
Question
2
How many lets are allowed on a second serve?
Answer:
Infinite. On both the first and second serve, a
player can let an infinite number of times and
it remains first (or second) serve.
Question
3
In doubles, may the receiving team change sides
before each game?
Answer:
No. In the first game in which the team receives
serve, they must decide who will receive the
first serve of the game (play on the deuce
side). That player must receive the first serve
of each game (play on the deuce side) for the
remainder of the set.
Question
4
Has the U.S. Open always been played in New
York?
Answer:
In 1968 five major U.S. tennis championships
were consolidated into the U.S. Open. Before
1968 these championships were held in various
locations. From 1968 to 1977 the U.S. Open was
played at the West Side Tennis Club in Queens.
Ever since then it has been played in Flushing
Meadows.
Question
5
What's a walkover?
Answer:
It's when a player is allowed to skip a round in
a tournament (for example, if their scheduled
opponent cannot play due to injury).
Question
6
At a recent practice I was serving to the
receiver on the deuce side of the court. His
partner stood with one foot inside the service
box on the deuce side. He told me that it was
legal to do this and if my serve hit him his
team would win the point. Is he correct?
Answer:
No. The partner may stand in the middle of the
service box if he wants to, but as soon as the
ball hits him he loses the point. (ITF Rule
18.a)
Question
7
Is it legal to hit some balls left handed and
others right handed (during a single point)?
Answer:
Yes. As long as the ball is struck with the
racquet you can use either or both hands to hold
it.
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Q:
How do different tennis court surfaces affect the
bounce of a tennis balls?
A:
First, I should start by saying that there are four
different types of tennis court surfaces: hard, clay,
carpet, and grass. And tennis balls certainly bounce
differently on each.
Hard Court - This is the most common
type of tennis court, since it's relatively cheap to
build and easy maintain (although it will crack after
awhile). The surface is usually concrete and is very
flat, smooth, and, well...hard. It's the 'fastest' type
of court, which means that the balls bounce up very
quickly after they hit the ground. It's also an easy
surface to run on so the players don't have to worry
about losing their footing much. Also, since the court
is so flat, the ball will always bounce how you expect
it too, unlike on grass courts.
Clay Court - Clay courts are very
hard packed clay or sand covered by some loose clay or
sand. The ball won't bounce as fast off of these courts
since the ground is softer than hard court. And once in
awhile, the ball can bounce off a rock or soft place in
the packed clay which will cause it to bounce up at an
unanticipated angle, making it difficult to hit. Also,
since the players are running on loose sand, they tend
to slide around a lot.
Carpet Court - Not like you're
living room carpet, this carpet is tough and thin,
usually placed over cement, and is a little like 'astro
turf' in a football stadium. Generally, either carpet or
hard court is used for indoor tennis courts, and carpet
is never used outdoors. The ball will bounce
predictably, like on hard court, but the friction
between ball and the carpet will slow the ball down when
it bounces.
Grass Court - The grass court
is the most difficult type to play on. The grass is very
short, tough grass, growing on hard packed dirt, not
unlike the grass on a golf course green. If the dirt is
packed very well, then the ball can bounce almost as
fast as it would on hard court. However, the courts can
also have very unpredictable bounces, especially after
the players have been playing a long time. The ground
under the grass is never as perfectly level as hard
court is, so there are always places that will cause the
ball to bounce unpredictably.
The choice of court material
also affects the shock forces on the feet, ankles,
knees, and backs of the tennis players as they run back
and forth. Playing continuously on a concrete surface
can make these joints hurt. A variety of new, high-tech
synthetic materials are also available for tennis court
surfaces, keeping an eye to consistent, springy bounces,
cushioning for the players' comfort, and quickness of
drying so the players can get back to their game after
the rain.
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