Tennis words · Intermediate

The words that make the commentary make sense. They build on the beginner words.

I · Intermediate · 33 words · Step 2 of 2

Scoring terms

Advantage set

One of two ways of scoring a set. In an advantage set play continues until a player leads by two games; in a tie-break set a tie-break game is played at six games all. The competition announces its method in advance.

Also called: tie-break set
See also: Advantage

Match format and players

Beach tennis

A form of the game played on sand, with its own rules set out in an appendix of the ITF Rules of Tennis.

10 and under tennis

A form of the game for young children with its own rules, set out in an appendix of the ITF Rules of Tennis.

Tournament and ranking terms

Grand slam

One of the four biggest tournaments in tennis: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.

Wildcard

A spot in a tournament given to a player who didn't qualify through the normal ranking or qualifying route, often a rising talent or a past champion.

Qualifier

A player who earns their place in the main tournament by winning matches in an earlier qualifying round.

Bye

A free pass into the next round without playing a match, usually given to higher ranked players in the early rounds.

Retirement

When a player stops playing mid match due to injury or illness, and the opponent is awarded the win.

Walkover

When a player doesn't show up or withdraws before a match even starts, so the opponent advances without playing.

ATP and WTA

The ATP runs the men's professional tour and the WTA runs the women's. Each keeps its own rankings.

Also called: ATP, WTA

Serve and return techniques

Kick serve

A serve hit with heavy topspin so the ball bounces up higher and to the side after landing, making it harder to attack.

Slice serve

A serve hit with sidespin that curves away from the returner after the bounce.

Foot fault

A fault called when the server, during the service motion, changes position by walking or running, touches the baseline or the court, or steps outside the imaginary extension of the sideline or onto that of the centre mark.

Second serve

The server's second try after a fault, taken without delay from the same half of the court. Players usually hit it with more spin and less pace.

Serve and volley

A tactic where the server rushes forward to the net right after serving, hoping to finish the point with a volley.

Return of serve

The shot used to play back the opponent's serve, often the hardest shot in tennis to time well.

Grips and stances

Continental grip

A grip often used for serves and volleys, holding the racket handle almost as if shaking hands.

Eastern grip

A common forehand grip that suits flatter, more direct shots.

Western grip

A grip used by many modern players for the forehand, allowing heavy topspin.

Open stance

A stance where the body faces the net rather than turning sideways, common on modern forehands.

Split step

A small hop players make just before the opponent strikes the ball, helping them react quickly in any direction.

Match situations and scoring nuances

Match tiebreak

A tie-break played instead of a deciding final set, when the match is level in sets. Whether it is used, and whether it goes to seven or ten points, depends on the competition. It is won with a margin of two points.

No-ad scoring

A scoring option where, at deuce, one deciding point is played and the receiver chooses which side to receive from. Whether it is used depends on the competition.

Breadstick

Slang for winning a set 6-1.

Break back

Winning back a service break the opponent just took, evening out the set again.

On serve

A situation where neither player has broken the other's serve yet in a set.

Changeover

The break when players change ends: after the first game of a set and then after every odd-numbered game, and at the end of each set unless the set had an even number of games.

Challenge

A player's request, at tournaments that use an electronic review system, to review whether a ball was in or out. The number of challenges allowed depends on the tournament.

Also called: hawk-eye

Extra shot types

Half-volley

A shot where the ball is struck just after it bounces, almost at ground level, usually near the net.

Approach shot

A shot hit while moving forward toward the net, usually setting up a volley on the next ball.

Passing shot

A shot aimed to go past an opponent standing at the net, either down the line or crosscourt.

Drop volley

A softly hit volley that barely clears the net, similar in idea to a drop shot but played in the air.

Lob volley

A volley hit high over an opponent who is close to the net, catching them out of position.