Every professional tennis tournament has a qualifying competition where players fight for a place in the main draw. Most who lose are eliminated—but a select few are given a second chance. These players are known as lucky losers. A lucky loser is a player who loses in the final roundContinue Reading
Not every player in a professional tennis tournament earns a place in the main draw through their world ranking. For many players, the journey begins in the qualifying tournament. Those who successfully make it through are known as qualifiers. Qualifying is one of the toughest parts of professional tennis. PlayersContinue Reading
Not every player in a professional tennis tournament earns their place through ranking or qualifying. Sometimes, tournament organisers are given the opportunity to invite players directly into the main draw. These invitations are known as wild cards. Wild cards are a unique part of professional tennis. They can launch theContinue Reading
Quick Answer A standard tennis court measures: The same court is used for both singles and doubles, with the doubles alleys determining the extra width used in doubles matches. Although these measurements remain the same from local clubs to Grand Slam tournaments, understanding what each line is used for canContinue Reading
Quick Answer Embed from Getty Images An official tennis net measures: The centre of the net is held lower than the sides by a centre strap, creating the familiar slight curve seen on every tennis court. These measurements are the same for all professional and recreational tennis matches. What IsContinue Reading
Quick Answer Every point in tennis begins with a serve. To make a legal serve, a player must: If the first serve is missed, the player receives a second serve. Missing both results in a double fault, and the point is awarded to the opponent. Embed from Getty Images WhereContinue Reading
Quick Answer A let occurs when a point is stopped and replayed because something prevented it from continuing fairly. The most common example is a serve that touches the net but still lands in the correct service box. When this happens: Lets can also be called if play is interruptedContinue Reading
Quick Answer A foot fault occurs when a player breaks the serving rules with their feet before striking the ball. The most common foot faults include: A foot fault counts exactly the same as any other service fault. If it happens on a second serve, it results in a doubleContinue Reading
Quick Answer A walkover occurs when a player is unable to start a scheduled match. Instead of playing, their opponent automatically advances to the next round. Walkovers most commonly happen because of: Unlike a retirement, no point of the match has begun. Embed from Getty Images What Is a Walkover?Continue Reading
Quick Answer A default occurs when a player is disqualified from a match for violating the Rules of Tennis or the tournament’s Code of Conduct. Unlike a retirement, a default is not caused by injury or illness. Common reasons for a default include: When a player is defaulted, the opponentContinue Reading
