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Physical Education Unit The Chinese University

of Hong Kong

Required Physical Education Course – Tennis Course Notes (PHE 1031/1032) Tennis is a very exciting sport. Through players playing on the court, we see how they exude their energy and how much passion for tennis they have: striving for every point and game, competing for every set and match. In a match, we see players going through a psychological journey, experiencing dramatic emotional changes in a short period. Happiness, anger, sorrow and sadness can all be seen on their faces. So, what exactly is tennis about? The following information will help you to understand more about tennis and hopefully your interest towards the sport. 1. History of tennis A game very similar to tennis could be dated back to 13th century in France. Tennis comes from the French “Tenez”, meaning a competition. The current name tennis was introduced when the sport spread through England and the rules of modern tennis was first established in 1875. The first tournament was held in 1877 at the rural area of London, Wimbledon. The modern well known tennis games include The Grand Slam Tournaments, ATP Tour, and Team Matches of Davis Cup (Men), Fed Cup (Women). The Grand Slam Tournaments are the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon Championships and US Open. There are ATP tours and WTA matches for professional players.

Australian Open (January on hard court)

www.australianopen.com French Open (May-June on clay court)

http://www.rolandgarros.com

Wimbledon Championships (June-July on grass court)

http://www.wimbledon.com U.S. Open (August-September on hard court)

http://www.usopen.org/ 2. General knowledge 2.1 Code of Conduct In addition to adherence to the standardized tennis rules, the players shall follow the code of conduct formulated by official associations or matches. It aims to maintain fair and reasonable standards of conduct by players and the organizers to protect their respective rights, the rights of the public and the integrity of the Sport of Tennis. Examples of code of conduct:

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Show punctuality Do not commit physical abuse, verbal abuse, audible and visible obscenities or threatening behaviors to players or any

other person during the matches. Use best effort during the matches. Maintain high level of safety. Players breaking the code of conduct will be subject to penalty, which will be determined by the respective associations or organizers. 2.2 The 5-minute Warm-up Warm-up is not practice. A player should provide the opponent a five-minute warm-up before the match starts. If a player refuses to warm up the opponent, the player forfeits the right to a warm-up. Some players confuse warm-up and practice. Each player should make a special effort to hit shots directly to the opponent.

2.3. On-court coaching (Team Matches) Player could receive coaching by the Captain sitting on the court, and then only when the player changes ends at the end of a game, but not when changes ends during a tie-break game. 2.4 “Hawk-Eye” technology The Hawk-Eye tennis system is a ball tracking technology to have passed ITF (International Tennis Federation) testing measures. The technology is now an integral part of the ATP, WTA and ITF tennis tours. It is an electronic line calling service takes the doubt out of close line calls in matches. This technology combines from 8 to 10 ball tracking cameras, four computers and a big screen. Firstly, computers were used to separate court into different areas in unit of centimeter. Next, cameras set from different angles capture the ball track, then transform data into 3D video through computers. Lastly, ball track is show on the big screen to identify whether a ball has bounced in or out.

Rule of Challenge 1. Each player have 3 challenges in each set. 2. If player succeeds in challenge, it does not count as used challenge, number of challenges remain unchanged. 3. If player fails to challenge, player lost one challenge. 4. When a set goes into tie-break, each player get an extra challenge. 5. Challenges do not accumulate into a new set. Set Players should win 6 games to win a set, and win 2 sets to win a match in tour. For example, 6:0, 6:4 (Except Men’s Grand Slam) If score is 6:5, the 12th set needs to be play to 7:5. If 6:6, then tie-break will be play In Grand Slam tournaments, the best-of-5 set format is played in men’s matches while the best-of-3 set format is played in women’s matches. The US Open employs the “tie-break set” format, meaning that if there is a 6-6 tie in each set, a tie-break game deciding the winner of the set shall be played; the other three Grand Slam tournaments (the Australian Open, the French Open and the Wimbledon) employ the “advantage set” format, meaning that if there is a 6-6 tie in each set, the match continues until one player wins by two games.

3. Useful information about tennis 3.1 The court In general, singles and doubles are played on the same court. Only in major tournaments, courts only contain single sidelines.

3.2 Equipment

3.2.1 Tennis ball According to International Tennis Federation (ITF), details of tennis ball as follow: Size: Diameter about 6.35~6.86cm (2.5~2.7 inches). Weight: about 56~59.4 gram (1.975~2.095ounce). 3.2.2 Tennis rackets

In general, the weight, stiffness, balance, length and head size affect the power of a racket. For example, a longer

Length: 78’ (23.77m)

Width: Singles 27’ (8.23m)

Doubles 36’ (10.97m)

Net to service line: 21’ (6.40m)

Service line to baseline: 18’ (5.49m)

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racket produces more spin and velocity while a heavier racket gives less vibration. Rackets allowed to play for a match cannot be longer than 73.7cm or the racket face wider than 31.7cm. 3.2.3 Tennis string

The material, construction, and thickness of a string will all affect the playability of a string: Material: it includes Nylon, Natural Gut, Polyester and Kevlar. Construction: it includes solid core with one outer wrap, solid core with multi wrap, multifilament (no wraps), etc. Thickness: it is determined by the gauge ranging from 15 (thickest) to 19 (thinnest).

3.3 Forehand Grips (Use right-hander as an example)

3.3.1 Three common grips：

Base Knuckle of index finger Left handed Right handed

Right hander:

Continental grip Base Knuckle of index finger

touch onto bevel 1

Eastern grip Base Knuckle of index finger touch onto your dominant side

Semi-western grip Base Knuckle of index finger

touch onto bevel 2

3.3.2 Forehand technique 1. 2.

Determine the placement of the coming ball, move your feet to the suitable hitting position. Getting ready: Slightly bend your right knee, with your right leg as an axis. Raise your left heel; rotate your shoulder towards right.

5. After hitting the ball: The head of the racquet should move in the direction of the ball flying. 6. Follow through: After hitting the ball, do not relax your elbow, let your body continues to rotate forward and let your arm wrap around your shoulder.

3. Pull your racquet; left foot stepping slightly forward, the racquet head should be slightly higher than your shoulder.

7. Racket face and spin, for beginners, taking a horizontal swing path with the racket face perpendicular to the court is sufficient to create topspin, with the swing is forward and upward, brushing the back of the ball.

4. Contact: Adjust your position with small steps, when hitting the ball, step your left leg forward, rotate your body and hit the ball when it is adjacent to your left leg. Speeding up the racket can increase the power of the stroke.

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3.4. Backhand types, technique and grips (Use right-hander as an example)

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3.4.1 One and two-handed backhand grip:

1. One handed

backhand

Base Knuckle of index finger touch onto the

top of the handle, the thumb must wrap

around the grip and touching the bevel 3.

2. Two-handed

backhand

For right hander,

Base Knuckle of Right hand index finger:

bevel 1; Base Knuckle of Left hand index

finger: bevel 3

(i.e. right hand: continental grip; left hand:

semi-western grip)

3.4.2 Types of Backhand:

1. One Handed Backhand top spin

2. One Handed Backhand slice

3. Two-handed Backhand

3.4.3 One Handed Backhand technique:

1.

2.

Determine the placement of the coming ball, move your feet to the suitable hitting position.

Getting ready – Rotate your body towards left so that your back is facing the direction of hitting the ball.

Your left hand slightly pulls the racquet towards your left shoulder.

3. Contact: Swing your racquet forward, hit when the ball is in front of your right leg and is at the height between your

knee and waist.

4. After hitting the ball: The racquet face should move in the direction of the ball flying. Open your elbows.

5. Follow through: Lean your weight forwards, open your arms, the racquet head will be rising.

One handed backhand (Side view)

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One handed backhand (Front view)

3.4.4 Two-handed Backhand technique:

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1. Determine the placement of the coming ball, move your feet to the suitable hitting position.

2. Rotate your body backward. Pull back your racquet with both hands, so that the racquet head is slightly lower than the position

hitting the ball.

3. Step forward your front leg; swing your racquet all the way up to your front shoulder. Hit the ball when it is in front of your front leg. 4. Remember to use the rotation of your body to swing the racquet and the racquet should go over your front shoulder. Lower

your weight for increasing momentum. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Two- handed backhand (Front view) 3.5 Volley

3.5.2 Forehand volley

1. The racquet should be in front of your body.

2. Separate your legs, predict the height and direction of the incoming ball.

3. Hold your racquet tight when contacting the ball.

4. Move your racquet forward and control its speed.

3.5.3 Backhand volley

1. The racquet should be in front of your body.

2. Focus on the ball as it approaches.

3. Split your legs to keep the balance of your body.

4. When hitting the ball, the other hand pushes

backwards.

3.5.1 Ready position of volley (Continental Grip) 1. Stand 2~3m to the net. 2. Relax your body, concentrate to your

component. 3. Hold the racket with both hands, racket

head facing forward.

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↑ The approach volley of Pete Sampras

3.6 Serves: In an advanced tennis match, serving plays a very important role. A good serve is the difference between losing and winning a point. It also acts as one of the “offensive weapon”. 3.6.1 Holding the racquet – The continental or backhand grip is most commonly used to maximize strength and spin of the serve. 3.6.2 Tossing the ball – Tossing the ball with five fingers holding the ball by your free hand. 3.6.3 Serving technique – 1. Ready position: knees relax, stand with your legs separate.

2. Toss and raising racquet: free hand toss the ball and swing your racquet

3. Contact: chin up; hit the ball at the front of your front shoulder.

4. Follow through: after hitting the ball, the racquet move upwards and forwards. The racquet lands at the other side of your body.

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Serve 4. Rules of tennis 4.1. SERVER AND RECEIVER 4.1.1. The players/teams shall stand on opposite sides of the net. The server is the player who puts the ball into play for the first

point. The receiver is the player who is ready to return the ball served by the server. 4.2. CHOICE OF ENDS AND SERVICE 4.2.1. The choice of ends and the choice to be server or receiver in the first game shall be decided by toss before the warm-up

starts. The player/team who wins the toss may choose: a) To be server or receiver in the first game of the match, in which case the opponent(s) shall choose the end of the

court for the first game of the match; or b) The end of the court for the first game of the match, in which case the opponent(s) shall choose to be server or

receiver for the first game of the match; or c) To require the opponent(s) to make one of the above choices.

4.3. FOOT FAULT 4.3.1. During the service motion, the server shall not

a) Change position by walking or running, although slight movements of the feet are permitted; or b) Touch the baseline or the court with either foot; or c) Touch the area outside the imaginary extension of the sideline with either foot; or d) Touch the imaginary extension of the centre mark with either foot. If the server breaks this rule it is a “Foot Fault”.

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4.4. SERVING 4.4.1. When serving in a standard game, the server shall stand behind alternate halves of the court, starting from the right half

of the court in every game. If a player serves from the wrong half of the court, this should be corrected as soon as the error is discovered and the server shall serve from the correct half of the court according to the score. A fault that was served before the error was discovered shall stand.

4.4.2. In a tie-break game, the service shall be served from behind alternate halves of the court, with the first served from the right half of the court.

4.4.3. The service shall pass over the net and hit the service court diagonally opposite before the receiver returns it. 4.5. PLAYER LOSES POINT 4.5.1. The point is lost if:

a) The player serves two consecutive faults; or b) The player does not return the ball in play before it bounces twice consecutively; or c) The player returns the ball in play so that it hits the ground, or before it bounces, an object, outside the correct

court; or d) The player returns the ball in play so that, before it bounces, it hits a permanent fixture; or e) The receiver returns the service before it bounces; or f) The player deliberately carries or catches the ball in play on the racket or deliberately touches it with the racket

more than once; or g) The player or the racket, whether in the player’s hand or not, or anything which the player is wearing or carrying

touches the net, net posts/singles sticks, cord or metal cable, strap or band, or the opponent’s court at any time while the ball is in play; or

h) The player hits the ball before it has passed the net; or i) The ball in play touches the player or anything that the player is wearing or carrying, except the racket; or j) The ball in play touches the racket when the player is not holding it; or k) The player deliberately and materially changes the shape of the racket when the ball is in play; or l) In doubles, both players touch the ball when returning it.

4.6. SCORING 4.6.1. A match can be played to the best of 3 sets (a player/team needs to win 2 sets to win the match) or to the best of 5 sets (a

player/team needs to win 3 sets to win the match). 4.6.2. The first player/team to win six games wins that “Set”, provided there is a margin of two games over the opponent(s). If

the score reaches six games all, a tie-break game shall be played. 4.6.3. A standard game is scored as follows with the server’s score being called first:

No point - “Love” First point - “15” Second point - “30” Third point - “40” Fourth point - “Game” except that if each player/team has won three points, the score is “Deuce”. After “Deuce”, the score is “Advantage” for the player/team who wins the next point. If that same player/team also wins the next point, that player/team wins the “Game”; if the opposing player/team wins the next point, the score is again “Deuce”. A player/team needs to win two consecutive points immediately after “Deuce” to win the “Game”.

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5. Playing a match 1. Every match is either best of five sets or best of three sets. 2. The first player to win 6 games and leading by two games winning the set. If the set reaches to 6 all, normally, a tie-break

game will be played. 3. Tie-break – The first to win seven points and leading by two points wining the game and the set. 4. The first player to win 4 points wins a game. Points are announced in the following way: “Love” is zero, wining a point is

“fifteen”, wining second point is “thirty” and wining the third point is “forty”. If both players each gained 3 points i.e. 40:40, there is a “deuce”. The player who wins two consecutive points wins the game.

5. Elite players 5.1 Top Performance

Playing pattern, Leg speed and mental speed 5.2 The three fundamental elements

5.2.1 Their eyes, which is necessary for perception, anticipation and understanding of the game, of utmost importance to read the game of the opponent more easily.

5.2.2 Their feet to move at a great speed always following the shortest trajectory of the ball between the player and the ball, to reach and take on the ball in the best way, and finally,

5.2.3 The intelligence of the hand to materialize all the ideas of the genius that all these top-level players have. 6. Singles strategy 6.1 Baseliner i) Aggressive baseliner Tries to win the point by hitting winners from the back of the court Attacks with fast penetrating balls that the opponent cannot reach or return effectively to get them back in the point Hits the ball from side to side. Usually, he/she has at least one great groundstroke, forehand or backhand. Representatives: Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova, etc. ii) Defensive baseliner Most of the high-level athletes tend to take a defensive strategy. They return every ball and relies on the opponent

making mistakes Has consistent shots, makes few errors of his own Must have speed and agility to cover the court Representatives: Michael Chang, Lleyton Hewitt and Rafael Nadal Parera, etc. 6.2 Serve-and-volley player Has a great net game, is quick around the net and has fine touch for volleys Comes up to the net at every opportunity when serving Are always attackers and can hit many winners with varieties of volleys and drop volleys Representatives: Pete Sampras and John McEnroe, etc. 6.3 All-court player World-class athletes are trained to has a combination of skills used by all tennis styles Usually has an attacking game, mixing groundstrokes and volleys to keep the opponent guessing Is very versatile, when baseline game is not working, he/she may switch to a net game, and vice versa. Player can adjust

to different opponents that play different styles easier than pure baseliners or serve-and-volley players. Representatives: Novak Djokovic, Justine Henin and Roger Federer, etc. The major reason of making few errors is that

they can focus on the movement of the ball.

Nadal (Defensive baseliner) Sampras (Serve-and-volley player) Federer (All-court player) 7. Doubles strategy Though strategy is important in singles, it is even much more important in doubles. Below are three basic doubles strategies: 7.1 Up-and-back strategy The most basic strategy The player at the net with offensive firepower, and a player at the baseline

guard against the lob Strength: it is versatile, with both offense and defense in it Weakness: there is a large angular gap between partners, so an opposing

net player can easily hit a clean winner through

Figure 1

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7.2 Both-back strategy (defensive) (Figure 2 Player A and B) Both players stand side by side near the baseline It is normally seen when the opponent has a serve with a lot of pressure or the opposing team is both-up They give up the aggressive position at the net, but they may return

the most forcing shots till they get a chance to hit a good lob or an offensive shot

7.3 Both-up strategy (offensive) (Figure 2 Player C and D) The ideal doubles strategy, often called “Attacking Doubles” Both players stand side by side near the net They must have effective serves and penetrating volleys to prevent good lobs and good overhead shots to kill poor ones 8. Tennis terminology We might sometimes hear some interesting terminology in a tennis match, for example: DROP SHOT Landing of the ball is close to the net FOLLOW THROUGH The movement after hitting the

ball GROUND STROKE Hit the ball after one bounce LOVE（French LUFF） Zero (nothing) RALLY Both players hitting the ball around

and round SERVE AND VOLLEY Moving towards the net right

after serving SWING Movement of the racquet TOP SPIN A ball spinning upward and

forward 8. Extra information 8.1 Chinese and English readings: Chung Chi College Elisabeth Luce Moore Library 8.2 Video Tape: United College Wu Chung Multimedia Library 8.3 Online resources:

1. China Tennis Information www.tennis123.net

2. Tennis Magazine www.tennisworld.cn www.tennis.com.cn www.tennis.com

3. Professional players www.yahoo.com/recreation/sports/tennis/players

4. Tennis Academy http://www.yuetongsport.com/joekoe/index.asp 5. Tennis basic skills 6. Tennis skills analysis (with video) 7. Images

www.tenniscoach.hk/modules/articles www.bbs.hoopchina.com/242514.html www.tennis.org.tw www.tennis.com/instruction/index.aspx http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdNzndbqP4g keywords in google image (forehand, backhand, serve etc.)

Figure2

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9. References Books Title Author Translator Publisher Published 圖解網球實戰技巧 小野寺 剛 沈 慧 湖南科學出版社 2013 實用網球技巧提升 神谷勝則 李 盛 遼寧科學出版社 2013

網 球 Rolf Flichtbeil 崔 偉 人民體育出版社 2011

提高你的網球 IQ 阿普爾懷特 羅 文 人民體育出版社 2009

世界 1 流網球技術 Paul Roetert 劉文娟 靈活文化事業 2008

威廉姆斯姐妹教你打網球 維納斯.威廉姆斯 付 饒 湖南省新華書店 2008

塞雷娜.威廉姆斯

網球技術精解全書 《網球》雜誌編著 ---- 人民體育出版社 2004

Tennis Steps to Success Human Kinetics 2004

２天學會網球 Jim Brown/ Paul Douglas 傅湘雲 台灣東方出版社 1999

Websites 1. Hawk-Eye Innovations: http://www.hawkeyeinnovations.co.uk/ 2. International Tennis Federation: http://www.itftennis.com/home.aspx 3. The Tennis Scoring System: http://www.tennistips.org/tennis-scoring.html