In the traditional sense, tennis is played between two players in a singles game, or two teams in a doubles game. Tennis can be played on various courts, such as clay courts, grass courts courts and hard courts or artificial grass courts.

Matches of all kinds are available.

Singles includes two players competing against one another, typically two females or two males but games played between a man and woman could be played on a more informal basis or in the form of exhibitions.

Doubles is played by two teams consisting of the same number of players. and is most usually all-female or all-male. It is played on a larger court than singles matches; it encompasses the space of the alley (tramlines in British terms) while singles games do not. The two players on each receiving side switch their positions after each point played (one on the net, and the other close to the baseline, ready to serve again).

mixed Doubles is played exactly as doubles, however only one player and one woman on each team. This kind of tennis is not common in the professional world due to the fact that the women’s and the men’s tours are run in separate ways (by both the ATP and WTA respectively). However the 4 Grand Slam tournaments hold a mixed doubles event, along with the women’s and men’s doubles which feature several of those same athletes. There is also a yearly mixed competition for teams of nationals, called the Hopman Cup, which includes mixed doubles matches. In addition, there were mixed doubles competitions during the Summer Olympics in various instances (In 1900, 1912 until 1920 , and in 2012).

As players become becoming less competitive in singles in the end of their 20s and 30s, they are able to compete in doubles or mixed doubles (as shown by Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe who were doubles champions during their late 40s).

Other kinds of matches

Canadian doubles

If three players are on hand the rules can be modified to allow for a mismatch to ensure there is no requirement that one of the players doesn’t need to be much better over the team with double players. Single players are able to play on a doubles court , while the two-player team plays into an individual court.

Australian doubles / American doubles

A non-sanctioned and informal form of tennis. It is played in the same way as Canadian doubles, however in this variation the players change court positions at the end of each match. In this way, every player plays both singles and doubles during an entire match and the singles player always serving. The scoring styles differ, however the most popular approach is to give a value of two points per game which means that the server gets all points when he or serves while the doubles team each getting one point if they break. All over in the United Kingdom (particularly England) and Australia the format is generally called “American doubles”, whereas in South Africa you would call it “American singles”, or cut-throat tennis. It’s also played in the Caribbean

Wheelchair tennis

The game is played in singles as well as doubles by those who are wheelchair bound. The primary distinction in the two forms is that the ball could bounce twice before being hit. The third bounce may be outside the court. The of the Grand Slam tournaments include wheelchair tennis.

Tennis for visually impaired players

Tennis for the visually impaired (also called “blind tennis” in Japan and its home country as well it is also known as “sound tennis” is some areas in the globe) is played in 4 categories of classification. The B1 (blind) category demands that players wear blindfolds and uses special balls that make sounds upon hitting the courts. It typically has courts that are smaller and have smaller nets than standard tennis. Up to three bounces are allowed prior to making the ball go back. Although it is not a an element the ITF, ATP, and WTA tournaments An international tournament is every year, and world rankings are released for female and male players who have different levels of impairment.

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Mini-tennis

There has been an improvement in tennis instruction that makes the use of balls with low compression and, in some cases, altered court dimensions. Many organizations around the world are beginning to employ smaller compression balls and altered court sizes as a means to connect with younger tennis players who are interested in the sport of tennis. The use of ball with low compression and court sizes that have been modified are designed to make it easier for players to transition to become an amateur or competitive tennis player. Low compression balls have different colors to reflect the compression level. Beginning players and those who are just beginning will likely enjoy the game more easily to master since the balls don’t bounce as high, or travel in the same manner like “normal” balls. The smaller courts are modified to allow for covering the court or catching the opponent’s shot easy.

Tennis court

An tennis court is in which tennis can be played. It’s a rectangular, firm surface that has a net stretched across its centre. The similar surface can be used for doubles as well as singles matches. Different surfaces are available to make tennis courts each one with distinct specific characteristics that influence the playing manner that the sport.

Dimensions

The dimensions of courts for tennis are determined and are regulated through the International Tennis Federation (ITF) the governing body. They are laid in the annual “Rules of Tennis” document. The court measures at a length of 78 feet (23.77 metres) long. Its length of 27 feet (8.23 meters) to play singles, and 36 feet (10.97 metres) for doubles matches. The line of service measures 21 feet (6.40 meters) in length from where the net. An additional space in the court to allow players to get overrun balls, which is the total sixty inches (18 metres) in width in width and 120 feet (37 metres) long. A net runs across all the length of the court parallel to the baselines, splitting the court into equal parts. The net is 6-inches (1.07 metres) tall at the posts in addition, it is the posts are 3 inches (0.91 metres) taller in the middle. These nets are three inches (0.91 metres) from in the courts for the doubles players on either side or, in the case of singles nets three inches (0.91 feet) outside the court for singles on each side.

Smaller courts

In the ITF’s Play and Stay campaign promotes playing on smaller courts, with slow red, orange and green balls for smaller children. This allows children to have more time and control , so they can play, rally and score in the beginning lesson in courts built to be a good fit for their bodies. The ITF has mandated that the official competitions for children 10 and under take place in “Orange” courts 18 m (59 feet) long and 6.4 meters (21 feet) wide. Children under eight years of age is held with “Red” courts that are 11 meters (36 feet) in length and 5.5 meters (18 feet) wide. The net is 0.8 millimeters tall in the middle.

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