French Open and Wimbledon 2008

As usual there isn't much I can say about the French Open because I don't get it on free TV.
On the female side, with Justine Henin retiring, it was all open and Ana Ivanovich won.

She became a favourite for Wimbledon but clearly the pressure was too much for her.

I saw an amazing final between the William's sisters and there is no way that they could ever be accused of colluding in who won matches. It must be difficult for Serena at the moment though, with Venus winning Wimbledon, because who does she get her support from? It was a fantastic match with psychology playing a part. Venus drew a line in the sand and would not stand behind the back line for Serena's serve. It was also a match where both of them had to play their best and great it was too.

The much anticipated final between Nadal and Federer was one of the greatest Wimbledon finals ever witnessed. Nadal had smashed Federer in the French final as he was expected to, but Federer was expected to win on grass. Not this time. I couldn't see the whole match as in Australia it went until something like 5am. After the second rain delay I went to bed.

I wasn't surprised to see that Nadal had won in the morning though. His play was almost faultless while Federer was clearly nervous and tense with all that historical weight on his shoulders. I wanted him to beat records, but that's what makes tennis so exciting. You can never be sure who will win. There are so many factors to consider. According to all reports the 5 set match went down to last point in practical darkness too.

I'm pleased for Spain having won the world football and then to win Wimbledon after many many years. I was impressed that Nadal had continued to learn on grass and not given the idea away. His shots were sometimes the most impossibly angled I'd ever seen. I only wished I could have seen the whole match. I might one day get a DVD of it out.

Despite not writing here as much, I try to keep up my winners and statistics still. The reason for not writing is that I cannot see many of the Grand Slams now, let alone the men's Masters or the Women's events.

Tennis injuries

Tennis players like all elite athletes can succumb to illness and injury more frequently than the rest of us. This is because they can lower their immune system by over-training and when it comes to injuries they use their muscles, joints and ligaments so much more then the rest of us.

They also have to contend with the surface of the court causing many twisted ankles.
Most players play through injuries almost all the time. The only player who never had an injury was Todd Woodbridge and Australian doubles specialist.


Alicia Molik's injury was unusual, but many players, though they will play through a virus can be so ill that they have to stop playing. This happened to Justine Henin-Hardenne in the final of the Australian Open 2006. She had been taking anti-inflammatories to combat a shoulder injury and those anti-inflammatories caused extreme pain in the stomach.
Many succumb to heat stroke too as happens often at the Australian Open held in very hot weather sometimes.
Cramp too is not technically an injury and used to be one which could not be treated during a game, but now can be. Baghdatis suffered obvious cramp in the final of the Australian Open 2006, but commentators thought this was not from lack of condition, but nerves. Many players use cramp as a reason to have a massage too.
The worst injuries for tennis players are knee reconstructions. Australia's once brilliant player Philippoussis has had 3 of those. Each time players who have these reconstruction of joints are out of the game for months.
Other common joint injuries are shoulders, wrists and ankles. Kim Klijsters was out for almost a year with a wrist injury.
There are countless muscle injuries also.
Other unique things can happen on the court like James Blake running slap bang into the umpires chair. That injury took him out of the game for some time.

Other big tennis events for women and men

Other major events are the Olympics, the Davis Cup (for men) and the Federation Cup (for women)
In all of these events the players are playing for their country.


* American,
* Euro-African, and
* Asia-Pacific.

Within each zone countries play each other to advance to the World Group.

The World Group consists of the 16 top countries which compete in a single-elimination draw to determine the Cup winner. Around September, each of the 8 first round losers play the top 8 finishers in the Zone competitions in a "relegation tie." The winner of each tie advances to the World Group for the next year, while the loser is relegated to Zone competition.

Australia has dominated the Davis Cup in the past and it is a very important event for the players. But Australia is now out of the world group because we do not have top players anymore.
Australia has won the Cup 28 times as of 2004. American has won it 31 times.

The Federation Cup is for women. The first Cup was played in 1963. America won that year.
The format is very similar to the Davis Cup with zones and world groups. This year in September the final is between Russia and France. Russia won. Read about the 2005 final . The USA and Australia have won most of the finals in the past but Russia is an up and coming team with many great Russian woman players to choose from.

For men there is also the Masters Cup at the end of each year, which is a competition between the best ranked 8 players.

For women it is the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships final.

The grand slams in tennis

There are four grand slams a year for tennis players.
Grand slams involve about 128 players in singles for both men and women.
No other events are held at that time.
Matches for men are the best of 5 sets and for women the best of 3 sets.
Many of the other tournaments are only the best of 3 sets for the men.

The first grand slam of the year is in Melbourne, Australia around mid January, our summer. The court has a rebound ace surface. It is called the Australian Open. The tournament was first played in 1905 as The Australasian Championships, became the Australian Championships in 1927 and the Australian Open in 1969. Since 1905, The Championships have been staged at six different venues as follows: Melbourne [46 times], Sydney [17 times] Adelaide [14 times], Brisbane [eight times], Perth [three times] and New Zealand [twice] in 1906 & 1912. In 1972, it was decided to stage the Tournament in the one city each year, as opposed to visiting various states across the nation, and the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club was selected due to Melbourne attracting the biggest patronage. Until 1987 it used to be on grass during December and I spent many a match at courtside at Kooyong before it was moved to Melbourne Park. As tennis became more popular and commercial, the Kooyong court became too small. The event moved to Melbourne Park and is now in January. It is the only Grand Slam event where the stadium has a roof so it can be shut if it rains or the temperatures get too high. It is played on a slow rebound ace surface.
Australian Open 2006


The French Open dates back to 1891 and has been played on clay at Roland Garros since 1921. It is in late May to early June. The ball bounces higher on this sort of court and suits baseline players. Rallies can be very long. The player can reach further because of the ability to slide.

Wimbledon is next on the calendar and is held in late June to early July, making it difficult for players to adjust to grass after clay in a short time. It has been held since 1877. Winning Wimbledon is considered the pinnacle of tennis. The surface is fast and the ball bounces low and unevenly so it suits serve volleyers, or used to, as this form of the game is disappearing.

The US Open is held at Flushing Meadows, Queens,NY in early September and has been played there since 1978. Before that it was in Rhode Island. It can be very noisy being just near La Guardia airport. It can also be very hot and very humid. The surface is a hard court made of Decoturf. It is considered the second most important tournament to win.

Review of 'Great sporting rivals'

Great Sporting Rivals available from Amazon USA


Great Sporting Rivals available from Amazon UK

As regards tennis there are three chapters on great tennis rivals: Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, Margaret Court and Billie Jean King and Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.



Each chapter gives you a wealth of information and personal detail as well as reasons why they were such rivals. The author has researched each of their lives extensively. He has also made their great matches come alive.



There are 12 other great sporting rivalries written about. The sports include athletics, basketball, boxing, Formula One car racing, football, ice skating, golf and rugby. Most of the athletes are household names and my edition is up to date as of the end of 2004. You can buy later editions by clicking on the links to the right.



Great sporting rivals are characterized by their differences and their similarities. They competed many times with each other and the results were rarely one-sided. Each rival generally ended up respecting the other even if they were very different people. Some became great friends.



There are photos included and a summary of all the career achievements of each competitor. Some were just amateurs, others professional. All were great in their own fields. The country origins though are mainly , and .

They were selected though for their rivalry rather than their solitary achievements.

The author says what he thinks makes for great rivalry: top level sport, length in the sport, a contrast of styles, and a contrast of temperaments and a fluctuation of fortune. That is, one or the other is on top of the other.



It’s an easy read and if you love sport you will learn something from this book.

Review of 'Wimbledon' DVD

Wimbledon, 1924 Buy From Art.com

The'Wimbledon'DVD

 Wimbledon is really just a romantic comedy set on the tennis court . If you want to see great tennis you don't see it in this film despite the fact that the main characters, played by Kirsten Dunst and Paul Bettany, did have tennis lessons for the film. There are a lot of strange angle shots and special effects to disguise their lack of skill. But the metaphor of tennis as a love match rings true.

The tennis itself is quite good. You can tell that the ball is computer generated most of the time but this doesn’t distract us from the action. Filming the movie at Wimbledon also works very well but there are a few inaccuracies that tennis fans will instantly pick up on, like the fact that they play the semi-finals on No.2 Court. The final is on Centre Court however, making the final all that more exciting. These inaccuracies did annoy me, being a tennis fan.
Peter Colt (Bettany) is a quickly fading tennis star, who was once ranked 11th in the world, but is now ranked 119th. At the age of 32 and realizing that he may be past his prime, Colt has decided to retire after playing at one last Wimbledon, and become a tennis pro at a country club. After accidentally meeting young and upcoming talent Lizzie Bradbury (Dunst), Colt’s game suddenly begins to improve and he begins to win. The dilemma comes when Lizzie’s game begins to grow worse as their relationship grows. Then there is the realistic father coach who controls his daughter’s game and life and the plot is complete..

Dunst is very convincing as the young and talented tennis player with a reputation for losing her temper on the court. She has such a passion in her acting that it is easily believable to see her as a passionate tennis player.

As much as I enjoyed the film, it must be noted that the sports/romantic comedy film has been done many times before, and many better. There's many a boxing film and one I really enjoyed was 'Million Dollar Baby'.

The supporting cast is good. Bernard Hill is as excellent as Peter’s father, as is Eleanor Bron as Peter’s mother. James McAvoy provides many of the laughs as Peter’s brother Carl. John McEnroe and Chris Evert bring some realism to the TV coverage on the movie but both of them shouldn’t give up their day jobs for acting.

Overall, I enjoyed the DVD, but not so that I could watch good tennis. I liked the special effects and the insight into tour life. The romance wasn't that convincing, but if I imagine that there must be much sex that occurs on tours it was another insight into tour life. The features sections were good though.

Picture and sound

Presented in 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen with a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround soundtrack, this is an excellent transfer. The picture quality captures the colour of the famous Lawn Tennis Club superbly and the sound engulfs you, taking you into centre court.

Bonus features

Feature Commentary with Director Richard Loncraine and Paul Bettany
This chatty and informative track from the man at the helm and his star is good fun to listen to. They outline how they wanted to distance themselves from the ‘Richard Curtis’ mould and make their own sports/rom-com. Paul Bettany reveals the many injuries he sustained during tennis training and filming and they talk about working with the cast. The pair has a great affinity for the film and each other, making this a commentary track that is very easy to listen to and enjoy.

Welcome to the Club (3.01 mins)

Director Richard Loncraine, AELTCC chairman Tim Philips and stars Kirsten Dunst, Paul Bettany, Austin Nichols, Sam Neill and Mary Carillo take you behind the scenes of filming at Wimbledon itself.

Ball Control (4.48 mins)

Director Richard Loncraine, visual effects supervisor Richard Stammers and visual effect producer Stefan Drury show you the different techniques used to make the tennis match look real. We get to see how they used CG tennis balls, time slice photography and motion control camera to make Paul Bettany and Kirsten Dunst into tennis pros.

Coaching a Rising Star (2.52 mins)

Director Richard Loncraine, tennis advisor Pat Cash, tennis pro Murphy Jensen and stars Paul Bettany, Kirsten Dunst, Chris Evert and John McEnroe talk about making the tennis look real. With six months of training, five days a week Pat Cash and Paul Bettany reveal what they went through to make the stars look like tennis pros and not actors with a racket.

Wimbledon – An Inside Look (9.45 mins)

Director Richard Loncraine, producer Eric Fellner, writer Adam Brooks, tennis advisor Pat Cash, tennis pro Murphy Jensen and stars Kirsten Dunst, Paul Bettany, Sam Neill, Jon Favreau, Chris Evert and John McEnroe take you behind the scenes of the filming of ‘Wimbledon’. The cast and crew talk about the story, characters, cameos, the tennis and what is was like filming at the most famous tennis venue in the world.

Review of 'Play better tennis' by Billie Jean King

Although this is another 'how to play tennis book' it is written by someone with enormous experience. It also has a lot to say about doubles play. It is directed too towards the competent player, not the beginner. It covers the basic strokes, a little about Billie Jean King and the psychological aspect of the game. Tennis was more than just a sport to Billie Jean King, it was a way of life. She was also the most influential female at the time in terms of proving that tennis was just as much a skilled game for women as it was for men.
Billie Jean King certainly conveys her love for the game in this book, calling herself a tennis junkie. She is honest and follows the advice of Dr. Maxwell Maltz, a plastic surgeon. He recommends what is called psycho-cybernetics. It is about living in the moment and having positive thoughts. Billie Jean talks of how tennis can help people mature and how tennis, being one of the only one on one sports where you can be in such a spotlight, the best and worst can come out of you on court. She gives advise as to how to deal with that.

Billie Jean King talks of herself and other players, and many players are quoted in their praise of her. Chris Evert said," I admire Billie Jean for the battles she fought for women's tennis. She helped to pave the way for me and other women tennis players. I also admire her personally for her guts and determination on the tennis court. She has an incomparable passion for the game".

I admired Billie Jean for her contributions to the women's movement in general. I wasn't such a tennis tragic as I am now when she was playing, so I didn't see her play. But everyone knew about her match with Bobby Riggs. She felt she had to take up his challenge or the cause of women's tennis would be set back 50 years.

This "Battle of the Sexes" captured the imagination of the world, not just tennis enthusiasts. It was played on Sept. 20, 1973 in Houston. Billie Jean King, then 29, ran Bobby Riggs ragged, winning 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in a match the London Sunday Times called "the drop shot and volley heard around the world."

She also writes about practice, fitness, exercise, health and diet. She often had to watch her weight. She writes also about the problems and solutions involved with wearing glasses.

This is a great book with many great tips for the tennis player.

Billie Jean King won six Wimbledon singles championships and four U.S. Open titles. She was ranked No. 1 in the world five years. She defeated such magnificent players as Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert and Margaret Court.

Other books by or about Billie Jean King

A Necessary Spectacle : Billie Jean King, Bobby Riggs, and the Tennis Match That Leveled the Game
Superwomen : 100 Women-100 Sports
Billie Jean King : Tennis Trailblazer (Lerner Biographies)
King!
The autobiography of Billie Jean King

Review of 'Serious' by John McEnroe

John McEnroe was a great tennis player of both singles and doubles. He won 77 career singles titles, including 7 Grand Slams. He also won 77 doubles titles. He joined the tour in 1978 and it took him only three years to attain the No.1 ranking. In this autobiography he talks about his career, his marriage and what's next.

Billie Jean King certainly conveys her love for the game in this book, calling herself a tennis junkie. She is honest and follows the advice of Dr. Maxwell Maltz, a plastic surgeon. He recommends what is called psycho-cybernetics. It is about living in the moment and having positive thoughts. Billie Jean talks of how tennis can help people mature and how tennis, being one of the only one on one sports where you can be in such a spotlight, the best and worst can come out of you on court. She gives advise as to how to deal with that.

Billie Jean King talks of herself and other players, and many players are quoted in their praise of her. Chris Evert said," I admire Billie Jean for the battles she fought for women's tennis. She helped to pave the way for me and other women tennis players. I also admire her personally for her guts and determination on the tennis court. She has an incomparable passion for the game".

I admired Billie Jean for her contributions to the women's movement in general. I wasn't such a tennis tragic as I am now when she was playing, so I didn't see her play. But everyone knew about her match with Bobby Riggs. She felt she had to take up his challenge or the cause of women's tennis would be set back 50 years.

This "Battle of the Sexes" captured the imagination of the world, not just tennis enthusiasts. It was played on Sept. 20, 1973 in Houston. Billie Jean King, then 29, ran Bobby Riggs ragged, winning 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in a match the London Sunday Times called "the drop shot and volley heard around the world."

She also writes about practice, fitness, exercise, health and diet. She often had to watch her weight. She writes also about the problems and solutions involved with wearing glasses.

This is a great book with many great tips for the tennis player.

Billie Jean King won six Wimbledon singles championships and four U.S. Open titles. She was ranked No. 1 in the world five years. She defeated such magnificent players as Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert and Margaret Court.

Other books by McEnroe or about him

Bad News for McEnroe : Blood, Sweat, and Backhands with John, Jimmy, Ilie, Ivan, Bjorn, and Vitas
On Being John McEnroe
You Cannot Be Serious
McEnroe: Taming the Talent
John McEnroe (Sports star)
Mac Enroe, est-il génial?: Réflexions techniques, jouer simple pour jouer juste
Please Play On: a Biography of John McEnroe
McEnroe: A Rage for Perfection

Does Hawk-eye work in tennis

The Hawk-eye system in tennis is very similar in its technology to the 3rd umpire in cricket. In cricket it will determine whether or not a player is run out or not. It is used for more purposes in tennis however.

What is Hawk-eye?

Hawk-Eye uses six or more television cameras situated around the ground, linked to a computer system. The computer reads in the video in real time, and tracks the path of the ball on each camera. These six separate views are then combined together to produce an accurate 3D representation of the path of the ball, which can be viewed in a virtual reality simulation.

This technology was first used in Australia for a lead up event to the Australian Open at the Hopman Cup 2006. The first grand slam to use it was the US Open.

It is being used with player challenges at the Australian Open, 2007. Players are allowed to challenge a line call as often as they like as long as the hawk-eye system verfiies their challenge. Players cannot challenge in a set beyond 2 incorrect challenges. They get one more incorrect challenge in a tie-break, meaning they can still challenge as often as they like in the tie-break as long as they are correct. In a third set for women and the fifth set for men when no tie-breaks are being played, players get 2 more incorrect challenges after 6 all games.

There was one strange glitch to the system when Mauresmo challenged. The graphic, which everyone can see on a large screen, showed the ball out when it was recognised by everyone as being in. The explanation was that the graphic had been enlarged too much which had shown a minute gap between the line and the outside of the court. Now, the technicians do not enlarge the graphic that much anymore.

Another thing to note is that this technology only applies to players on centre court.

Pros for the system

* Most players like it
* The audience seems to enjoy it.
* It may take pressure off umpires and linescallers.
* Players can not blame line calls for losing a match.
* Players can challenge a line call or an overrule or a correction.
* It does prove that many line calls are incorrect, but we always knew that.


Cons for the system

* Federer doesn't like it.
* It is only used on centre court so benefits (or disadvantages) the players who get to play on centre court.
* If it was meant to diminish clashes between umpires and players: it has failed.
* It is very expensive to set up and the courts have to have roofs to install it.
* Players can abuse the system and use it to get back at an umpire or to upset the other player.
* There is a 7 second wait, but this is much faster than the cricket 3rd umpire decisions.
* In time we might learn that the players perceptions of what is an incorrect line call will be quite low.
* Incorrect line calls are part of the game. We are all human.

My conclusion:
If hawk-eye is used at all, all players should be able to take advantage of it.
I like it as a visual aid. It does show how many and sometimes how few calls are wrong.
For the big important points when an correct line call is crucial to the outcome, I think hawk-eye is essential.

HIstory of the US tennis Open

The first US tennis event was held in August 1881 at the Newport Casino, Newport, Rhode Island. It was for men only. The championships were known as the US National Singles Championship for men.
Only clubs that were members of the United States National Lawn Tennis Association were permitted to enter.
In 1900, the US National Men's Doubles Championship was held for the first time. Tournaments were held in the east and the west of the country in order to determine the best two teams. These two teams would then compete in a play-off: the winner would play the defending champions in the challenge round.
Six years after the men's nationals were held, the first official US Women's National Singles Championship was held at the Philadelphia Cricket Club in 1887, followed by the US Women's National Doubles Championship in 1889.
The first US Mixed Doubles Championship was held alongside the Women's Singles and Doubles.
Only American amateurs could compete in all these preceding events.
The Open Era began in 1968 when all five events were merged into the newly named US Open at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, Queens. This 1968 combined tournament was opened to professionals.
That year, 96 men and 63 women entered the event with prize money amounting to $100,000. British tennis player, Virginia Wade won the first woman's US Open final, five months after she turned professional and Arthur Ashe won the first US men’s Open.
The US Open was originally played on grass until Forest Hills switched to hard courts in the mid '70s.
In 1978, the event moved from Forest Hills to its current home at Flushing Meadows.
The main court is located at the 23,000 seat Arthur Ashe Stadium, named after Arthur Ashe, the great African American tennis player who won the inaugural men's final of the U.S. Ashe died in 1993 of AIDS, which he contracted from a blood transfusion during heart surgery. Court Number 2 is Louis Armstrong Stadium, which stood as the main stadium until the completion of Ashe stadium.
The surfaces of all its courts are hard, so the US Open always provides tennis at a very high speed.

How to play tennis on grass

Some tennis players simply cannot play on grass, like some can’t play on clay. Both surfaces need different skills and different tactics.

There are always exceptions though. Bjorn Borg won 5 Wimbledon’s in a row and he was a baseliner. Lleyton Hewitt has also won at Wimbledon and he also has a baseline game.



But look at the and you will see that most winners were serve volley players. Australian tennis players feature quite prominently because until recently they learned on grass. Female winners like Evonne Goolagong and Margaret Court also learnt on grass. Martina Navratilova was also a serve volleyer in the women’s draw and she won 6 Wimbledon’s in a row and 3 others. Venus and Serena Williams have been recent winners due to their power game and serves. They can also play from anywhere in the court.


Why does it make a difference?



Grass courts are the fastest tennis courts. They consist of grass grown on very hard-packed soil, similar to golf greens which mean that bounces of the ball depend on how healthy the grass is, how recently it has been mowed, and the wear and tear of recent play.
Points are usually very short and the serve plays a more important role. Grass courts tend to favor serve-and-volley tennis players.
The most famous grass tennis court in the world is Centre Court at Wimbledon. The surface is less firm than hard courts, causing the ball to bounce less high, and so players must reach the ball faster.
Serve and volley players take advantage of the surface by serving the ball and then running to the net to cut off the return of serve, leaving their opponent with little time to reach the low-bouncing, fast-moving ball.

Due to high maintenance costs however, grass courts are now rare as they must be watered and mowed often, and take a longer time to dry after rain than hard courts.
What are the skills required for playing on clay?
Here we see a different story with people like Pete Sampras never winning at the French Open (clay) but winning many Wimbledon's. It always raises the question of what makes for the best player ever. Must they be able to win on every surface? They certainly have to play on every surface to win the Grand Slam. Roger Federer, for example, will probably win Wimbledon but he lost to Rafael Nadal in the French Final, thus losing the opportunity to win a Grand Slam in a non-calendar year (he only had to win the French to do that and only 2 other players have ever done that) and he won't win the Grand Slam in the one calendar year this year now either.

How to play tennis on clay

Clay courts are slower than other surfaces which means that the ball does not fly through the air after the bounce as fast. Therefore players who can run a lot and are very fit are most suited to clay. Rafael Nadal is currently the best player on clay having a winning streak on that surface since April 2005. He surpassed Guillermo Vilas’s record a few games ago (as I write). If you watch Nadal play you will see how he can slide sideways in the back of the court and chase almost any ball down. Combine that with a good serve, a great whipped forehand and tremendous athletic capability he should retain his French Open crown of 2005.



Clay courts can be red or green but are usually made of crushed brick, covered with rough red brick dust. On hard courts the ball skids faster off the ground making the opponent hit between the waist and knees, but on clay the ball slides. It makes a ridge where it hits and thus bounces higher and slower. Players use a lot of top-spin to offset these ball heights.



So one’s pattern of play or strategy must be much better than on a court which rewards pace.



Clay was mostly thought of as a court for older players as it is softer on the knees. The French Open has been the only grand slam to retain this surface all of its history and the only grand slam event to have clay. The European and Latin American players have been the ones to learn on clay and be good at it. They get used to the higher bounces and longer rallies.



The faster and more aggressive approaches of the serve volleyers do not suit clay as well. It is much more difficult to hit a winner. The baseline game is much more suited. It has been calculated that every year at Wimbledon, players hit an average over the past 10 years of 2,500 aces a year, but at the French Open it is only 1,450 on average. That is because the serve volleyers and the players who rely on rocket like serves to gain many of their points do not last out until the semis and finals of the French Open.



At Wimbledon, the statistics show that the 128 men who start the event make about 4,700 unforced errors. At the French they make 16,500 unforced errors, showing that one of the ways clay courters win points is to wait until their opponent makes an error.



Pete Sampras, said to be the best ever player of his generation, never won the French Open. Nor did Jimmy Connors or John McEnroe. The last time an Australian won the French was Rod Laver in 1969. In the preceding years before him it was Tony Roche in 1966, Roy Emerson in 1967 and Ken Rosewall in 1968.

Women, not from the Latin American and European clay courts have a better record however. Chris Evert won it seven times, but in the last few years the only non-European players to win are Jennifer Capriati in 2001 and Serena Williams in 2002.

Tennis umpiring

Call the score.

* Fill in scorecard.
* Ensure that players change ends and that play is continuous.
* Time 25 seconds between points.
* Time 90 second odd game changeovers. Start your stopwatch at end of last point of odd game. When 60 seconds have elapsed, announce "time". The server has 30 seconds to put the ball into play.
* Ensure that a maximum pause of 120 seconds is allowed at the end of each set.
* Ensure that play is resumed promptly after an authorized rest period.
* Watch for foot faults.
* Listen for let serves. Announce "let, first serve" or "let, second serve."
* Enforce the Point Penalty System with immediate action when a violation occurs.
* When game is finished, announce "game", then player's name, and score.
* At the end of each set, record the time in the "time finished" space on the scorecard.
* During the tie-break, announce the leader's score first, opponent's score, then leader's name, i.e. "3-zero, Yin".


More tips

* Remember to appear confident and in control of the match.
* In order to be as accurate as possible on the serve, watch the server strike the ball and track the ball until it lands.
* Always check the receiver just before the server hits the ball to make sure he/she is ready.
* Try to be aware of all that is happening on and around the court.
* Remember to watch the loser of the point. Usually problems and misconduct arise with the point loser.
* Train yourself to look at the scorecard as little as possible.
* Just mark the score, then keep your eyes and attention on the court and the players.
* Always look up from the scorecard when announcing the score.
* If you give a penalty for a code violation, the player may ask for and must be given a short explanation.

Tennis umpire preparation

Before going on court
1. Read The Rules of Tennis. .
2. Make sure you have the necessary equipment:

* A hand-held stopwatch
* Measuring tape
* At least two pencils with erasers
* A coin to toss - the size of a quarter or larger
* A clipboard to hold the scorecard
* A copy of The Rules of Tennis
* Optional items - a hat or visor, sunglasses, sun screen, seat cushion.


3. Arrive at least 20 minutes before the match is to start. Pick up the scorecard from the referee or tournament desk and check the conditions for the match:

* Name of the tournament
* Division (men's/women's, singles/doubles, etc.)
* Round number
* Best of how many sets
* Names and residences of players, including pronunciation
* Court number
* Tie-break to be used
* Number of balls (and if ball change)

4. Fill in this information on the front of the scorecard.
5. Begin filling in the inside of the scorecard by printing names of players.
6. Check the court.

* Remove any rubbish and loose balls.
* Measure net. It should be 36 inches at the centre strap and 42 inches at each end. Adjust the strap if necessary.
* Check for adequate number of new balls, used balls of different degrees of wear (to replace lost balls), and water.
* Open balls for beginning of match. Check for pressure by squeezing and shake to check for breakage. Note the number the balls and record on scorecard at top of set 1.


Pre-Match Conference With Players

When the match has been called, go on to the assigned court. Meet the players for a pre-match conference. Be brief but informative.

1. Bring players together at the net.
2. Check if you have a question regarding pronunciation of their names or residences.
3. Tell them the number of balls in play and if the balls will be changed.
4. Tell them anything unusual such as extended warm-up period. (The normal length of warm-up is five minutes, and sometimes ten minutes if there are no ball persons.)
5. Ask if they have any questions.
6. Ask one player or team to call the coin toss (heads or tails). The player or team winning the toss may choose to serve, to receive, choose end, or defer choice to opponent(s).
7. Give the balls to the players and prepare to time the warm-up.
8. Note on the scorecard who won the toss and the players' choices.

The Warm-Up
1. Start your stopwatch when both players have struck their first warm-up shot.
2. Climb into the umpire chair. If there is none, stand at the net post or on a chair at the net post.
3. Finish preparing your scorecard.

* Open the scorecard and fold the front to the back so only Set 1 is showing.
* Print the last name initial of the server for game 1 in the left-hand space if the server is to the left of the chair umpire, or in the right-hand space if the server is to the right of the chair umpire.
* Fill in last name initial of server for game 2 under that of game 1. Change sides for games 3 and 4, again for 5 and 6 , continuing on through game 12.
* Fill in last name initial of players in part of scorecard under "Tie Break".
* In the first set of this match between Yin and Yan, Yin will be serving first to the right of the chair umpire.


4. When two minutes remains in the warm-up, announce "two minutes".

The players should begin making their practise serves. When one minute remains, announce "one minute". Begin the pre-match announcement:
Let's pretend this is a ladies' semi-final match between Yin and Yan.
This is how the announcement would go:
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a semi-final round match, best of three tie-break sets. To the left of the chair from the USA, Yan. To the right of the chair from China, Yin. Yin has won the toss and chose to serve."

5. When time is up announce: "Time, prepare to play." Then direct the balls to the server's end. Mark on the scorecard time started.
6. Look to see that the players are ready. Announce "Yin to serve ... play!"

What to eat before and after a match

We have already discussed what to do to hydrate. So what should a tennis player eat?

We assume that players generally eat healthy meals, but it is also important to eat correctly before and after matches.

Pre-match meals

The pre-match meal should include foods with a low glycemic index to avoid the "sugar rush" effect of high GI foods. (The glycemic index (GI) is a method of classifying foods based on their acute glycemic impact.) Foods that have a high GI are digested quickly, appear in the bloodstream quickly and raise blood sugar and insulin concentrations quickly. Foods that take longer to digest have a low GI. Foods with a low GI include: all-bran cereal, oats, barley, rye, wheat, pasta, milk, yogurt, fructose, lactose, apples, cherries, grapefruit, pears, plums, beans, and peanuts.
Example pre-match meals

* Yogurt, whole wheat or rye bagel, cream cheese
* Granola bar, peanuts, unsweetened juice
* Apple slices with peanut butter, unsweetened juice
* Spaghetti with butter, orange or pear, unsweetened juice, plums or cherries, unsweetened juice
* Cottage cheese, grapes or peaches, unsweetened juice


Post-match

is the most important task after a match.

* Electrolytes such as potassium and sodium must be replaced. After exercise, try foods rich in sodium (pretzels, crackers, cheese) and potassium (potatoes, bananas, orange juice).
* The third essential nutrient to replenish is carbohydrate and research indicates that consumption should be within the first hour after exercise. Current recommendations are to consume 0.5 grams of carbohydrate per pound of body weight.
* Post-exercise foods should have a high GI in order to replenish muscle glycogen faster. These include: bread, crackers, corn chips, carrots, potatoes, rice or rice cakes, waffles, plain bagels, and watermelon.
* Protein should also be consumed post-exercise at the rate of 40% of the carbohydrate dose.

How to hydrate for tennis

We all know we must drink fluids while exercising and when it is hot, but what sort of fluids and how much is enough?

Many experienced tennis players continue to have hydration problems. They might feel a little “off” and not quite playing their best to having painful cramps or heat exhaustion. You often see players at the Australian Open suffer cramps or heat exhaustion because it is a dry heat in Melbourne during January.

The three factors in fluids for a player to stay fit on and off court are

Water, electrolytes, and carbohydrates.

Hydration tips before players hit the court:

Avoid caffeinated beverages (iced teas, coffee, colas) especially right before and after match play. These may cause additional fluid loss as urine.
The night before, fill and chill squeeze bottles or sports jugs and bring to each practice or match. Each player should have a minimum of 2 litres available courtside.
Consume enough fluids throughout the day so urine is a light or pale yellow color before starting a match.
Drink 17 to 20 oz of fluid within 2 hours pre-match.
Factors to be aware of:
• Many players begin play dehydrated.
• On-court sweat losses can be extensive – 1-2.5 litres (~35-88 ounces) per hour is typical.
• Any water deficit can have a negative effect on a player’s performance and well being. The effects of a progressive water deficit due to inadequate fluid intake and/or excessive sweat losses include
• Increased cardiovascular strain – your heart has to work harder.
• Decreased capacity for temperature regulation – you heat up more.
• Decreased strength, endurance, and mental capacity – your intensity is lower, you tend to lose control, and you make inappropriate shot selections.
• Increased rate of carbohydrate metabolism – you fatigue faster.
• Many players do not adequately rehydrate after play.

Fluid Needs During Play

Thirst is not a good indicator of hydration level. Adequate fluid consumption is a player’s best bet for beating dehydration and heat illness. To keep tennis players performing at their best, encourage fluid consumption every 15 minutes and especially at changeovers.
Players should consume 5-10 oz. of fluid (sports drinks containing 14g/8oz carbohydrate and electrolytes are ideal) every 15-20 minutes for optimal hydration and performance.
Favour sports drinks to enhance rehydration. Sports drinks contain carbohydrate and electrolytes, like sodium. Consuming carbohydrate during play has been shown to help players maintain more power and accuracy with serving and groundstrokes in long-match play. Gatorade contains 14 g carbohydrate per 8 oz, which is quickly absorbed and used by working muscles. Sodium replacement is also important since a significant amount of sodium can be lost through sweat during long tennis matches.

Electrolytes
• When you play in a hot environment (or any time you sweat a lot), add some salt to your diet (or eat certain high-salt foods) before and after you play. Good sodium and chloride sources include
• salt: ¼ teaspoon (or 1.5 grams) has 590 mg of sodium
• salted pretzels
• many types of soups
• cheese
• salted sport drinks (or Pedialyte)
• tomato sauce (pizza!)
• tomato juice

Carbohydrates
What you should do:
• Generally, 7-10 grams of carbohydrate per kilogram of body weight (~500-700 grams per day for a 155-lb player) is recommended for periods of intense training or competition.
• During play, 30-60 grams per hour is most effective. Choose a sport drink whose primary carbohydrate is sucrose, glucose, or a glucose polymer (e.g., maltodextrin).

History of the French Open

The first French National Championships were held in 1891 for men and in 1897 for women. This was only a one-day championship.
It became international in 1925.
In 1928, the tournament was moved to its current home, Roland Garros.
Roland Garros was a French war hero.
Today the French Open is one of the four grand slams.

After the First World War, French tennis was very successful, with Suzanne Lenglen winning six times between 1920 and 1926.The male stars were Jean Borotra, René Lacoste, Henri Cochet, and Jacques Brugnon.
From 1912 to 1927, the tennis championships were hosted alternately at the Racing Club de France and at the Stade Français, based in La Faisanderie in the park Saint-Cloud.
When France  had to hold the Davis Cup after winning it in 1927 the French built a new stadium at Porte D'Auteuil, in Paris, called Roland Garros.

After the Second World War, France's domination decreased and the Americans and Australians started to dominate, with new young stars such as Ken Rosewall of Australia and America's Maureen Connolly. In 1956 Althea Gibson, the first African-American was the French Grand Slam winner.

The Open era

The Open era started when professionals were  permitted to enter. The now established Ken Rosewall claimed the men's prize money, 15 years after his first title. Nancy Richey won the women's prize. The French Open was the first to offer prize money to the competitors.

Stars of the sport took trophy after trophy in the 70's and 80's, with Bjorn Borg winning six titles and Chris Evert winning seven. The 80's also saw the return of French success, with Yannick Noah winning France's first title for 37 years.

In the late 80's and early 90's we also saw the rise of the teenage stars. Michael Chang won the 1989 Championships at the age of 17 years and 3 months. Monica Seles brought her unique style to the tournament in 1990 and won the title when still only 16.

The French woman Mary Pierce won it in 2000.

The French Open is unique in terms of its surface, that of clay (terre battue). This surface favours long points and rallies from the baseline. Some rallies extend up to fifty strokes.
There have been many great tennis players who have won all the other Grand Slams but never the French.

Playing doubles

Today (4 Oct 2005) I heard Todd Woodbridge being interviewed on radio. He is promoting his new book called 'Todd Woodbridge'. He has now retired, but was one of the best doubles players ever. He won 83 doubles titles, more than any other player, and he won 16 Grand Slam doubles titles. He played mostly with Mark Woodford and they were known as the Woodies. They are both Australians.

He came across as articulate and very confident on radio. He talked of various players on the tour and his personal life. Unbeknown to me was the revelation that his older brother was a heroin addict and his father was a policeman. His brother's addiction put his father in an invidious position. Eventually the father did arrange for his own son's arrest, mainly so that he would have to be rehabilitated that way. His brother is now "clean", but has many illnesses. His kidneys and liver do not function very well.

It was for this reason that Todd said he vowed to make a success of his own life. He picked up a racquet very early and used it like a security blanket. He played with his mother and started winning older age tournaments very early. That meant he had to run away a lot, for fear of being bashed up!
He won seven Grand Slam doubles titles as a junior and was the number one player in juniors in 1987.

He never did too well in singles but strangely enough he was the first player to beat Pete Sampras at Wimbledon. This is of course because the Australians were very good on grass. Todd's serve was always unsteady. He could double fault a lot. His first serve was also reasonably weak compared with other heavy servers. He was excellent at the net though and had a great sense of doubles play.

He married young and has two children.

The other interesting thing about Todd is that the took part in the ATP Council and has spoken out against the proposed doubles changes.


In June 2005, the ATP proposed a trial of doubles' rules. This would occur at 6 tournaments. Grand Slams and the Tennis Masters Cup would not be effected because they are ruled by the ITF, not the ATP. The idea is that shortened doubles matches will encourage singles' players to participate in the doubles as well.

The changes mean that there will be no more advantage points. It will be the first to 4 points to win the game. There will be a tie-break at 4 all. If the sets are 2 all then a super tie-break will take place. As so many players expressed outrage at these changes, the tie break will now occur at 5 all in a set.
The ATP has long term ideas also. To play doubles the players will have to be eligible for singles also. The doubles' rankings will be based 50% on singles' play and 50% on doubles' play.

The world's top doubles players (not Todd in this case because he has retired) took the matter to the US District court in Houston. This suit has not been heard yet.

Todd called for the resignation of the ATP's Board of Directors. He said they didn't consult the players at all and the directors want more power. He also says that the changes discriminate against the doubles specialist. The players also do not participate much in the politics of the game, but many cannot do so because of language barriers.

Todd says in Australian tennis October 2005, "What they need to be careful of is that this doesn't bring the entire game down because one less skill set is gone. You could end up a circuit of clones. Tennis is about contrasts and they're taking away one important contrast between singles and doubles, between the baseline and serve-volley game. The ATP has a responsibility to take care of tennis, and it's not. They've gone ahead and totally changed something that doesn't need to be changed and it's against the players. If the tournament representatives don't resign, our player reps definitely should".

I couldn't agree more. Although my preference is to watch singles, many club players only play doubles and want to see how the game is played at the highest level.

Racquets top tennis players use

Men
As of 19 June 2006
1. Federer, Roger(SUI) Wilson nSix-One Tour 90
2. Nadal, Rafael(ESP) Babolat AeroPro Drive
3. Ljubicic, Ivan(CRO Babolat Pure Drive Team Plus
4 Nalbandian, David(ARG) Yonex RDS 001
5. Davydenko, Nikolay(RUS) Prince O3 Tour
6. Robredo, Tommy(ESP) Dunlop M-Fil 300
7. Blake, James(USA) Prince Experimental
8. Ancic, Mario (CRO) Yonex Ultimum RD Ti-80
9 Stepanek, Radek (CZE) Völkl Tour 10 V-Engine
10. Haas, Tommy (GER) Dunlop M-Fil 200
11. Baghdatis, Marcos (CYP) Fischer M-Speed Pro No. One
12. Nieminen, Jarkko (FIN) Wilson nCode nSix-One 95
13. Ferrer, David (ESP) Prince Shark DB
14. Kiefer, Nicolas(GER) Wilson N Six One 95 18x20
15. Roddick, Andy (USA) Babolat Pure Drive Roddick Plus
16. Hewitt, Lleyton(AUS) Yonex RDS 001
17. Gaudio, Gaston (ARG) Wilson nSix-One 95
18. Rochus, Olivier (BEL) Prince Tour Graphite
19. Monfils, Gael (FRA) HEAD Flexpoint Prestige
19. Vliegen, Kristof (BEL) no info
as of 25 June in top 20
Gonzalez, Fernando Babolat Pure Storm Team 25
June Berdych, Tomas Dunlop M-Fil 200
Ginepri, Robby Babolat Pure Control
Agassi, Andre Head Flexpoint Radical
Johansson, Thomas Dunlop M-Fil 200
Hrbaty, Dominik Fischer Pro Tour Extreme FT


Women
1. Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) Dunlop M-Fil 300
2. Kim Clijsters (BEL) Babolat Pure Drive
3. Justine Henin_Hardenne (BEL) Wilson nCode nTour Two
4. Maria Sharapova (RUS) Prince O3 White
5. Nadia Petrova (RUS) Babolat Pure Storm MP
6. Lindsay Davenport (USA) Wilson nCode nTour Two
7. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) HEAD Flexpoint Instinct
8. Elena Dementieva (RUS) Yonex RDS 001
9. Mary Pierce (FRA) Yonex Ultimum RD Ti-80
10. Patty Schnyder (SUI) HEAD Flexpoint Prestige
11. Anastasia Myskina (RUS) HEAD Flexpoint Instinct
12. Venus Williams (USA) Wilson nCode n4
13. Nicole Vaidisova (CZE) Yonex RDS 003
14. Francesca Schiavone (ITA) Babolat Aero Pro Drive
15. Martina Hingis (SUI) Yonex NanoSpeed RQ 7
16. Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) Fischer M-Speed Pro Number One
17. Dinara Safina (CRO) Babolat Pure Storm MP
18. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) Yonex Nanospeed RQ-7
19. Flavia Pennetta (ITA) Wilson nBlade
20. Maria Kirilenko (RUS) Yonex RDS 003

Tennis racquets

We will start with the tennis racquet, the size and make of which has changed over the years. There were no rules about the racquet for the first hundred years of the game, but players used to use a wooden racquet with a much smaller head strung with gut. The newer racquets are made of graphite and the head is strung with nylon more often than the old gut. The rules for senior professionals now are that the racquet must be not more than 32" in length and not more than 12 1/2" in width. Obviously the hitting area must be flat and the stringing must be uniform. The string section of the head must not be more than 15 1/2" in length and not more than 11 1/2" wide. The racquet can vary in weight.

Most tennis players wind some sort of synthetic round the handle but some use leather.
This information is for senior players only. Juniors can play with smaller racquets.

There are dozens of factors to consider when buying a tennis racquet. It is difficult to know how to choose which sort of racquet you should use. The professionals bring about 5-10 racquets on court, maybe strung differently or all the same depending on the conditions of the day and the court surface. Here are some definitions of the factors you should consider.

The racquet grip
The first thing to consider is the grip. Different grip sizes can make a big difference to how a racquet feels, and an incorrect grip size can effect your game and/or cause tennis elbow. A grip that is too small is usually not a problem, because a shrink sleeve can be used to increase the grip by one size without losing the bevels or substantially changing the weight/balance of the racquet. However, when increasing a grip by more than one size you will usually end up with a round or oval (rather than the intended octagonal) grip shape. Also, building up a grip adds weight to the grip which effects the racquet's balance, stationary weight, and swing weight. If your grip is too large, then you can't do much about it. Most of today's racquet handles cannot be reduced in size.

The racquet string

The next thing to consider is the string in your racquet, and the tension at which it is strung. The string in all tennis racquets is pulled to a certain tension, usually between 45 and 70 pounds (most racquets have a recommended tension range printed on the inside of the throat). Generally, the club player will use a lower tension. The professional players will probably use an increased string tension. Lower string tensions are easier on the arm (reducing/preventing injuries) and provide more power than a tighter string. So why would anyone want to tighten their string at, say 70 pounds. Well, the extra power you get with loose strings can become difficult to control. With tight strings, the ball may only travel a foot further than intended. With a loose string, however, the ball could sail well past the baseline.

The type of string you use is also important.

The head of the racquet

This is the area of the hitting plane inside the head of the racquet.

Headsizes can be midsize / midplus: 85 to 104 square inches, oversize: 105 to 117 square inches or super oversize: 118 to 135 square inches

Racquets with larger headsizes give more power, a larger sweet spot, and are more secure for off center shots. So why would anyone want to use a racquet with a smaller headsize? If you have a big swing and generate a lot of power, then you might have trouble keeping the ball in play with a larger head racquet. A racquet with a smaller head will take some pace off the ball and improve depth control. For example, most professional tennis players have long, powerful swings and thus rarely use racquets with more than 100 square inch heads.

However, there are many other factors that contribute to a racquet's power level. Some of these factors include stiffness, string tension, and balance.

Balance is measured by the distance between the midpoint of a racquet's length and the point at which the racquet would balance if you were to support it in a single spot (balance point). A racquet is "head heavy" if the balance point is closer to the tip of the head, and it is "head light" if the balance point is closer to the bottom of the handle. If the balance point and midpoint are the same, the racquet is "evenly balanced". Compared with a head light racquet, a head heavy racquet generates more power, but feels heavier to swing. Head heavy racquets are generally best suited for beginners, while head light racquets are used by professional players.

Flexibility of the racquet

Stiffness of the racquet is the amount that the racquet bends or deforms upon contact with the ball. The bending and deformation of a racquet reduces power. Stiffer racquets are more powerful. More flexible racquets are in contact with the ball for a greater amount of time and thus allow you to put more spin on the ball. Flexible racquets are generally more comfortable as they generate less shock to the hand, arm, and shoulder. Beginners benefit most from stiff racquets, while professional players prefer more flexible racquets.

The pattern of the strings

More mains and crosses give a denser string pattern, while fewer mains and crosses give a more open string pattern. When the number of mains and crosses is the same, the racquet with a larger head size usually has a more open string pattern because there are fewer strings per unit area. It is, however, possible for the larger racquet to have strings closer together around the sweet spot and much farther apart along the frame when compared to the smaller racquet. In this case the smaller racquet could have a more open string pattern in the sweet spot.

Open string patterns "bite" into the ball more, providing better spin opportuniy. Because the strings deform more upon contact with the ball, open string patterns provide extra power at the cost of decreased depth control. An important downside of the enhanced string movement generated by open string patterns is that it will shorten the life of your strings.

Dense string patterns provide more control and longer string life, at the cost of less spin and power.

Clothing top tennis players wear

As of Monday,7 August 2006

Men

1 Federer, Roger (SUI) Nike


2 Nadal, Rafael (ESP) Nike



3 Nalbandian, David (ARG) Yonex



4 Ljubicic, Ivan (CRO) Diadora


5 Davydenko, Nikolay (RUS) Prince



6 Blake, James (USA) Nike


7 Robredo, Tommy (ESP) Sergio Tacchini


8 Ancic, Mario (CRO) Nike


9 Stepanek, Radek (CZE) No information



10 Baghdatis, Marcos (CYP) adidas



11 Roddick, Andy (USA) Lacoste



12 Hewitt, Lleyton (AUS) Yonex



13 Ferrer, David (ESP) Diadora



14 Berdych, Tomas (CZE) Nike



15 Nieminen, Jarkko (FIN) Asics



16 Gonzalez, Fernando (CHI) adidas



17 Haas, Tommy (GER) Limited Sports



18 Kiefer, Nicolas (GER) Diadora



19 Ginepri, Robby (USA) Under Armour



20 Gaudio, Gaston (ARG) Diadora



Women
As of 7 August 2006

1 MAURESMO, AMELIE FRA Reebok

2 CLIJSTERS, KIM BEL FILA

3 HENIN-HARDENNE, JUSTINE BEL adidas

4 SHARAPOVA, MARIA RUS Nike

5 PETROVA, NADIA RUS adidas

6 DEMENTIEVA, ELENA RUS Yonex

7 KUZNETSOVA, SVETLANA RUS FILA

8 SCHNYDER, PATTY SUI adidas

9 VAIDISOVA, NICOLE CZE Reebok

10 DAVENPORT, LINDSAY USA Nike

11 MYSKINA, ANASTASIA RUS Nike

12 HINGIS, MARTINA SUI adidas

13 PIERCE, MARY FRA No information

14 SCHIAVONE, FRANCESCA ITA Diadora

15 SAFINA, DINARA RUS adidas

16 GROENEFELD, ANNA-LENA GER adidas

17 HANTUCHOVA, DANIELA SVK Nike

18 PENNETTA, FLAVIA ITA Sergio Tacchini

19 IVANOVIC, ANA SCG adidas

20 SREBOTNIK, KATARINA SLO No information

Shoes the top tennis players use

Top 20 as of 29th July 2006

Men

1 Federer, Roger (SUI) Nike Air Zoom Vapor Speed

2 Nadal, Rafael (ESP) Nike Air Max Breathe 3

3 Nalbandian, David (ARG) No information

4 Ljubicic, Ivan (CRO) Diadora Attax DA 2

5 Blake, James (USA) Nike Air Zoom Vapor 3

6 Davydenko, Nikolay (RUS) Prince T-9 Roadster

7 Robredo, Tommy (ESP) Sergio Tacchini

8 Ancic, Mario (CRO) Nike Air Zoom Vapor 3

9 Stepanek, Radek (CZE) Nike Breathe 3

10 Roddick, Andy (USA) Babolat Team All Court

11 Baghdatis, Marcos (CYP) adidas Barricade IV

12 Hewitt, Lleyton (AUS) Yonex SHT 305

13 Ferrer, David (ESP) Diadora Kynetech S DA

14 Berdych, Tomas (CZE) Nike Air Max Breathe 3

15 Nieminen, Jarkko (FIN) Asics Gel Rebound

16 Gonzalez, Fernando (CHI) adidas Barricade IV

17 Haas, Tommy (GER) Nike Air Max Breathe Free II

18 Kiefer, Nicolas (GER) Diadora Attax DA 2

19 Ginepri, Robby (USA) Nike Air Max Breathe 3

20 Gaudio, Gaston (ARG) Diadora Attax DA2

Babolat Pure All Court Men's Shoes

Women
Top women players as of 31 July

1 MAURESMO, AMELIE FRA Reebok Upset DMX

2 CLIJSTERS, KIM BEL FILA Torneo

3 HENIN-HARDENNE, JUSTINE BEL adidas Barricade IV

4 SHARAPOVA, MARIA RUS Nike Air Zoom Mystify

5 PETROVA, NADIA RUS adidas Barricade IV

6 DEMENTIEVA, ELENA RUS Yonex SHT 305

7 KUZNETSOVA, SVETLANA RUS FILA Torneo

8 SCHNYDER, PATTY SUI adidas Barricade IV

9 PIERCE, MARY FRA No information

10 DAVENPORT, LINDSAY USA Nike Air Max Breathe 3

11 MYSKINA, ANASTASIA RUS Nike Air Zoom Mystify

12 VAIDISOVA, NICOLE CZE Reebok Upset DMX

13 HINGIS, MARTINA SUI adidas ClimaCool Feather II

14 SCHIAVONE, FRANCESCA ITA Diadora Kynetech DA 2

15 SAFINA, DINARA RUS adidas Barricade IV

16 GROENEFELD, ANNA-LENA GER adidas Barricade IV

17 HANTUCHOVA, DANIELA SVK Nike Air Zoom Mystify

18 PENNETTA, FLAVIA ITA Nike Air Max Breathe Free II

19 SUGIYAMA, AI JPN Nike Air Max Breathe Free

20 IVANOVIC, ANA SCG adidas Barricade IV

Tennis equipment

Tennis equipment has changed a lot over the years.
It used to be that one put on a pair of Dunlops and picked up an old wooden racquet and played.
Not so today. Graphite racquets, with all sorts of different stringing formats and string tensions as well as width, are what all professional players use now.
Even the balls are checked continuously for compression and are different for altitude.
As for the dresses and men's shorts and tops, everything has changed.
Shoes are a minefield when it comes to choosing the best ones for you, but socks are pretty standard.
There is a lot more in the way of equipment you need to know.

You can play tennis in any kind of runners but if you want to preserve your feet, it is best to have shoes especially made for tennis.

They have some special features, which are different from the usual runner.

The shoe should have a herringbone style tread. This pattern wears more slowly and provides more traction than multipurpose shoes. The shoe will also last longer if you get reinforced toe-caps.
If you drag your toe on the serve follow-through, this is especially important.
Proper tennis shoes also allow for side-to-side sliding. They have cushioning in the sole.
Additional side-support is important to keep your foot stable even when hitting shots on the run.
Some players like to have extra ankle support, so mid-cut shoes are a good idea. Breathable mesh insets in the leather will also make the shoes less sweaty. Note too that Lleyton Hewitt wears ankle supports regularly.
Women tend to have higher arches in their feet than men so female players should look for extra support underneath the arch.

Socks
Socks should be cushioned cotton or toweling to give extra protection to the parts of your feet that take all the impact - the ball and the heel.
This cushioning effect also absorbs sweat, making blisters and conditions such as tinea less likely, but some players still wear two pairs of socks to avoid blistering. They can be any colour except at Wimbledon where they must be white. Many female players use the short sock.

Sweat bands
Sweatbands are used to soak up sweat especially on the serving arm wrist. Some players also wear them around their foreheads, like Blake. Federer wears a cloth looking wide band on his forehead. Caps or visors are very useful in the heat. I think Lleyton Hewitt began the habit of players wearing caps back to front. Now I notice that many of them do. Most players are sponsored for their gear so hats are usually by brand.

In professionals bags are also have your drinks, food, extra racquets and an extra shirt or dress. Professional tennis players will have sports drinks usually made by a nutritionist, bananas, warm tracksuit top if play stops for some reason and up to maybe 10 racquets, the reason for which is described here.


Players cannot go off court for reasons connected with getting any other equipment. That's why we see them with such heavy bags.


Towels are provided by the tournament sponsors.

Tennis balls


Tennis balls comprise a hollow rubber core and a wool or nylon shell known as the nap.
It must not have stitched seams.
In tournaments they must be white or yellow, but these days they are mostly yellow. They are kept refrigerated for major tournament play.
The rubber core is usually filled with pressurized air so the ball will bounce.
The rules concerning are described here

Tennis equipment

Tennis equipment has changed a lot over the years.
It used to be that one put on a pair of Dunlops and picked up an old wooden racquet and played.
Not so today. Graphite racquets, with all sorts of different stringing formats and string tensions as well as width, are what all professional players use now.
Even the balls are checked continuously for compression and are different for altitude.
As for the dresses and men's shorts and tops, everything has changed.
Shoes are a minefield when it comes to choosing the best ones for you, but socks are pretty standard.
There is a lot more in the way of equipment you need to know.

You can play tennis in any kind of runners but if you want to preserve your feet, it is best to have shoes especially made for tennis.

They have some special features, which are different from the usual runner.

The shoe should have a herringbone style tread. This pattern wears more slowly and provides more traction than multipurpose shoes. The shoe will also last longer if you get reinforced toe-caps.
If you drag your toe on the serve follow-through, this is especially important.
Proper tennis shoes also allow for side-to-side sliding. They have cushioning in the sole.
Additional side-support is important to keep your foot stable even when hitting shots on the run.
Some players like to have extra ankle support, so mid-cut shoes are a good idea. Breathable mesh insets in the leather will also make the shoes less sweaty. Note too that Lleyton Hewitt wears ankle supports regularly.
Women tend to have higher arches in their feet than men so female players should look for extra support underneath the arch.

Socks
Socks should be cushioned cotton or toweling to give extra protection to the parts of your feet that take all the impact - the ball and the heel.
This cushioning effect also absorbs sweat, making blisters and conditions such as tinea less likely, but some players still wear two pairs of socks to avoid blistering. They can be any colour except at Wimbledon where they must be white. Many female players use the short sock.

Sweat bands
Sweatbands are used to soak up sweat especially on the serving arm wrist. Some players also wear them around their foreheads, like Blake. Federer wears a cloth looking wide band on his forehead. Caps or visors are very useful in the heat. I think Lleyton Hewitt began the habit of players wearing caps back to front. Now I notice that many of them do. Most players are sponsored for their gear so hats are usually by brand.

In professionals bags are also have your drinks, food, extra racquets and an extra shirt or dress. Professional tennis players will have sports drinks usually made by a nutritionist, bananas, warm tracksuit top if play stops for some reason and up to maybe 10 racquets, the reason for which is described here.


Players cannot go off court for reasons connected with getting any other equipment. That's why we see them with such heavy bags.


Towels are provided by the tournament sponsors.

Tennis balls


Tennis balls comprise a hollow rubber core and a wool or nylon shell known as the nap.
It must not have stitched seams.
In tournaments they must be white or yellow, but these days they are mostly yellow. They are kept refrigerated for major tournament play.
The rubber core is usually filled with pressurized air so the ball will bounce.
The rules concerning are described here

Serving and receiving rules in tennis

Players will stand at opposite sides of the net. The player who delivers the ball is the server and the other is the receiver.

The choice of ends and the right to serve or receive is determined by a toss of the coin. The winner of the toss chooses to serve or receive but can also require the other player to choose to serve or receive. The winner of the toss can decide the end or require the other player to choose. Should the winner of the toss decide on the serve, the other player decides the end. Should the winner of the toss decide the end, the other player decides to serve or receive.
The serve

You can . The rules are that the server has to project the ball to the correct court with a racquet with one bounce. The server must stand behind the correct court’s baseline.
Foot fault

The server cannot change position by walking or running while serving.

The server cannot touch with either foot any area but behind the baseline of the court the serve is delivered from.
Delivery of serve


The server serves alternatively from the right and left courts. If an error of procedure occurs without detection the points stand, but must immediately revert to the correct procedure once an error has been discovered.


The ball, once served, must pass over the net and land on the court diagonally opposite or on the line of the correct court, before the receiver can hit it.
Service fault

The serve is a fault if it doesn’t meet the rules of what has proceeded, or if the ball is missed while attempting to hit it or if the ball touches a permanent fixture before it hits the ground.

The server can catch the ball before hitting it.
Second serve

The server gets 2 serves if necessary.
When to serve

The server cannot serve until the other player is ready. If the receiver attempts to hit the ball then that player is deemed ready to play.
The let

Should the server serve such that the ball hits the net but falls correctly into play a let shall be called. One service can be played in place of this.

Should the umpire call a let for another reason the point will be replayed.
Order of play

At the end of the first game the receiver becomes the server and so on alternatively.

The players change ends at games 1, 3 and every subsequent alternate game of each set and at the end of the set unless the total number of games in the set is even. If that is the case, the players change ends at the end of the first game of the second set.

Scoring in tennis

Game scoring.
tennis umpireThe first point won is called 15; the second point won is called 30; the third point won is called 40 and the fourth point won is called game.
If both players have won 3 points the score is called deuce and the next point won is called an advantage. If the same player wins the next point it is called game. If the other player wins the next point it is deuce again. The winner of the game must score 2 points to nil after deuce.

Set scoring.
Whoever wins the first 6 games wins the set, but it must be won by 2 games more than the opponent. The set will continue until this is the case. This is called the advantage set and usually only applies now in the last set of the match for both men and women.
Most sets are determined if the score is 6 all by a tiebreak, but this must be understood before the match commences.

The tie break
Each player has 6 games all. The player who wins the first 7 points wins the set, but this lead must be 2 more points than that of the opponent. If the score is 6 points all the game continues until one player has a 2 point advantage.
Numerical scoring is used in the tie break.
The player whose turn it is to serve, serves the first point. The opponent serves the next 2 points and thereafter the players will serve 2 points until the tie break has been decided. From the first point, each serve shall be delivered alternatively from the right and left courts, with the right court being the first serving position. If a serve is delivered form the wrong side and goes undetected the play resulting shall stand until the mistake is corrected, whereupon the correct side will be the place to serve from.

Players change ends after each 6 points and at the conclusion of the game.

The tiebreak shall count as one game for the purposes of ball changes, except that if the balls are due to be changed at the beginning of the tie break the change of balls will be delayed until the second game of the next set.
Doubles scoring in a tie break
The same procedures apply for doubles play. The player or pair who served first in the tie break shall receive serve in the first game of the next set.

In the case of undetected errors in procedure points will stand until detected at which point the play will revert to how it should have been.
The maximum number of sets will be 5 for men and 3 for women.

Rules of tennis balls

Tennis balls comprise a hollow rubber core and a wool or nylon shell known as the nap. It must not have stitched seams and must be uniform on the outside. In tournaments they must be white or yellow, but these days they are mostly yellow. They are kept refrigerated for major tournament play.
The rubber core is usually filled with pressurized air so the ball will bounce. The ball must be between 2.5 inches (6.25 cms) and 2.63 inches (6.57cms) in diameter and must weigh at least 56 grammes but no more than 59.4 grammes. The rules of tennis say that the ball must bounce between 53 and 58 inches after being dropped onto concrete from a height of 100 inches. They must have atennis balls forward deformation of more than 0.22 inches and less than 0.29 and a return deformation of more than 0.315 inches and less than 0.425 inches at 18lb load, whatever that means! At altitude, more than 4,000 feet, the ball can be bound more than 48 inches and less than 53 inches.
The internal pressure must be greater than the external pressure. Alternatively, the ball must be bound more than 53 inches and less than 58 inches, but must have an equal internal and external pressure and must have been acclimatized for 60 days or more at the altitude that the tournament is being played. This ball, as opposed to the others, is called a zero-pressure ball or a non-pressurised ball. Balls are changed during tournaments because they begin to lose their bounce after about three hours of play.
At all major tournaments they are changed after the warm up and the first seven games, and after that, every nine games. Studies have shown the fluffier a ball gets, the slower it flies which is why you often see most players check several balls to find the least fluffy before serving. When not in use, tennis balls should be stored in the can they came in. This won't prevent them from losing pressure, but can slow it down.
The ball in play
As soon as the server serves, the ball is in play. It remains in play unless a let or fault is called. In that case it returns to play until the point is finished. The ball is in if it falls on any part of the line. To see how the lines are made you can see the court measurements here. If the ball touches a permanent fixture other than the net, posts, cord or cable, strap or band after it has hit the ground, the player who hit it wins the point. If it hits a permanentt fixture before it touches the ground then the opponent wins the point. If the balls are not changed when they should be, the mistake is corrected when the player who should have served with new balls is next due to serve. Thereafter, the change of balls should follow the correct sequence.

Tennis court dimensions

Court surfaces vary but the dimensions do not. There are grass, clay, cement, asphalt and rebound ace courts all of which require different skills to play on. There are also indoor courts made of carpet or cement. Some players, depending on where they are brought up, can never play well on all surfaces. Clay courters find it most difficult to adapt to other surfaces, especially grass. There are great players who have won on every other surface except clay, like Pete Sampras.

The dimensions are shown here. Some aspects need further explanation though.



In singles, the area described as the alley line is considered out if a player hits there, but they are in in doubles.

The net length differs for singles and doubles but it must be 3' 6" high at the posts (different for singles and doubles) and 3' at the centre. The posts must be positioned at least 3' outside the playing area. The net is supported by a cord and while serving, if the serve hits the net cord but goes into the correct service court a let is called and the server gets a replacement serve. Otherwise, the player takes his or her chances with the net cord.

The areas marked left and right service courts are where the ball must land after the serve, changing from where the server serves. The server cannot move his or her feet over the centre line or over the service line while serving. That would be called a foot fault.

All the lines must be drawn in the same colour but the lines sizes differ. The centre service line is 2' wide, all other lines are between 1-2" except the baseline which is 4" wide. The ball is in if it hits any part of any of those lines. Mostly the lines are white. This year I note that the courts are blue and the background green for the US Open. This is a change as all areas used to be green. It looks better.

Ads cannot be white or yellow as the ball can be these colours and the players vision could be effected.

Top 40 players in last 40 years

Tennis.com is celebrating its 40th year by selecting who they think are the 40 best players in the last 4 decades. Males and females are rated together.

What does make a champion? Is it the number of singles titles won? Grand slam titles? Prize money? Types of surface? Length of time rated as number 1?

Tennis.com will rate their first 4 best players in the November/December issue. Let's see if we can work that out.

Our survey revealed that our number 1 was Steffi, our number 2 was Pete, our number 3 was Martina N and our number 4 was Evert. We were wrong! But I did guess who the top 4 would be, just not what order they would be.

Tennis.com' top 4
1-4
1. Pete Sampras
2. Martina Navratilova
3. Steffi Graf
4. Chris Evert
5-10
5. Bjorn Borg
6. Margaret Court
7. Jimmy Connors
8. Rod Laver
9. Billie Jean King
10. Ivan Lendl
11. John McEnroe
12. Andre Agassi

13-20
13. Monica Seles
14. Stefan Edberg
15. Mats Wilander
16. John Newcombe
17. Serena Williams
18. Boris Becker
19. Roger Federer
20. Ken Rosewall

21-30
21. Roy Emerson
22. Martina Hingis
23. Evonne Goolagong
24. Guillermo Vilas
25. Venus Williams
26. Jim Courier
27. Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario
28. Ilie Nastase
29. Lindsay Davenport
30. Arthur Ashe

31-40
31. Justine Henin-Hardenne
32. Tracy Austin
33. Hana Mandlikova
34. Lleyton Hewitt
35. Stan Smith
36. Jennifer Capriati
37. Gustavo Kuerten
38. Virginia Wade
39. Patrick Rafter
40. Gabriela Sabatini

Carlos Moya

I'm just watching Carlos Moya, real name Carlos Moya Llompart, from Spain play at Sydney 2006. It reminds me how much of a fan I was of him in his prime. He is now 31 but has won 1 grand slam event: Roland Garros in 1988 and was a finalist at the Australian Open in 1997. He also had a singles ranking of 1 in March 15, 1999, becoming the first Spaniard to rank No. 1 in the history of the ATP rankings (since 1973). He has been voted one of the 50 most beautiful people by People magazine. At the moment 10 Jan 2006, he is playing with jet lag in high humidity, having just lost in the final at Chennai. He is currently ranked 35.

He was born in 1976 at Palma de Mallorca, Spain. He turned pro in 1995. He consistently plays outstanding tennis and is still one of the best players in the world and has maintained a top position. He lives in Switzerland now. Carlos has won at least one title almost every year of his career earning him $11,627,379 in prize money. In the years he didn't win a title he was usually injured. He spent a week of mandatory military reserves duty in July 1997. He has a 20-7 career Davis Cup singles record in 15 ties.

Singles career titles: 18

1995: Buenos Aires;

1996: Umag;

1997: Long Island;

1998: Monte Carlo, Roland Garros;

2000: Estoril; 2001--Umag;

2002: Acapulco, Bastad, Cincinnati TMS, Umag;

2003: Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Umag;

2004: Acapulco, Chennai, Rome AMS;

2005: Chennai

Finalist in

1996: Bucharest, Munich;

1997: Amsterdam, Australian Open, Bournemouth, Indianapolis, Sydney Outdoor;

1998: Mallorca, Singles Championship;

1999: Indian Wells;

2000: Toulouse;

2001: Barcelona;

2002: Hong Kong, Monte Carlo TMS;

2003: Miami TMS, Vienna;

2004: Buenos Aires, Sydney;

2005: Umag;

2006: Chennai

Personal biography

Carlos began playing tennis at the age of six. He likes video games and travels with his Play Station and Minidisc and also enjoys music of U2, Bon Jovi and Queen. He is a big fan of the RCD Mallorca soccer team and friends with Spanish music group 'Cafe’ Quijano', who often watch his matches live. He went on stage with them in Barcelona and sang his favorite song ôLa Lola. He respects NBA star Karl Malone. He is involved in local charity efforts in his hometown of Mallorca and he donated all of his $52,000,000 prize money at Chennai 2006 to the Tsunami disaster. During his back rehabilitation in latter part of 1999, he took French, guitar and scuba diving lessons and got a tattoo of a dolphin on his right bicep. He is friends with pro golfer Sergio Garcia and pro basketball player Pau Gasol of Memphis Grizzlies. He is coached by a Spanish pair : Jofre Porta and Joan Bosch.

Return of serve

I don't know about you, but if you are an amateur like me, I find the return of serve from good male players almost impossible. Their serves just seem to whiz by without me being anywhere near in position.

Andre Agassi has always been considered the best return of serve in the professional men's game because he always takes the ball on the rise after it bounces and he hits it from within the baseline. It therefore returns to the server well before the server is really ready for it. The same applies to Lleyton Hewitt who is also a good returner of service. Perhaps the smaller men have to develop that skill earlier in their career to turn around their disadvantage in height to a weapon. Not that either of them are particularly small but male tennis players are getting taller and therefore can produce a serve that comes from on-high.

Return of serve tactics

To counter these servers who are serving at 200kmh, here are a few tactics.

Try to work out where the serve is going to go. Federer is excellent at disguising this, as he use the same ball toss for every serve. But not everyone can do this.

Grip

Use the correct grip for you. There are various controversies over this. Most inexperienced players use the forehand grip expecting that the ball will come to their forehand and if not, they run around a ball to hit with the forehand. But not so in the professional circuit. So the thing to do is use the grip that you can change the most easily if you need to. Hold the racquet with two hands so the non-playing hand can twist the racquet if necessary. Two handed players probably have an advantage here, like Agassi and Hewitt.

Recognise the cues. It is not the speed which causes problems, believe it or not, but the placement. Pete Sampras and Goran Ivanisovic could serve very fast but also anywhere in the square. But some players stand in a particular spot to serve that fast one and hold their racquet in a particular way. Otherwise they can't serve fast all the time. So you must observe the way the server serves. Watch the player play someone else. Try to work out the tactics so you know his/her habits when it comes to serve placement.

Ball toss

The toss of the ball is often a good clue. For example, if your right-handed opponent tosses the ball out to the right, chances are he/she is going to hit a slice ball on the first court and down the middle on the second court. Dementieva, for all her greatness at the moment, has a lot of trouble serving. Her most predictable serve is the slice to the corner to your forehand.

If the server is tossing the ball wide when he/she is serving to the forehand side and you know he/she can't disguise the ball toss, use a forehand grip. Similarly if the opponent can only hit a wide serve to the backhand court then get you backhand ready.

When a player is down break point they will most likely go for the serve that works best for them.

With serves increasing in speed and accuracy, the most the receiver can do often is use a compact swing. They don't wind up for the shot. It is called counter punching also. But the trick is not to hit straight back to the server, but down at their feet, if they are serve volleyers or where the server will have to stretch to get it.

Don't be predictable in where you stand to receive. You may have noticed how Venus Williams sometimes stands almost on the service line to receive. That can be very intimidating. Dance about so the server knows you are ready to move either way. If you know where the serve is going, or have a pretty good idea, stand somewhere that the server doesn't expect you to stand. Tennis is a mind game as much as anything else. Use shots that might not work all the time, but will unsettle your opponent.

Naturally, after you return the serve, you must get back into position pretty quickly as you would after every shot.