A tennis court is where a game of tennis is played. It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net standing across the center. For other uses, see Tennis (disambiguation). ...

Dimensions

The dimensions of a tennis court, in feet. (See metric version).

Tennis is played on a rectangular flat surface, usually of grass, clay, concrete (hard court) or a synthetic suspended court. The court is 78 feet (23.77 m) long, and its width is 27 feet (8.23 m) for singles matches and 36 feet (10.97 m) for doubles matches. Additional clear space around the court is needed in order for players to reach overrun balls. A net is stretched across the full width of the court, parallel with the baselines, dividing it into two equal ends. The net is 3 feet 6 inches (1.07 m) high at the posts, and 3 feet (914 mm) high in the center. Image File history File links Tennis_court_imperial. ... Image File history File links Tennis_court_imperial. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The Gay Head cliffs in Marthas Vineyard are made almost entirely of clay. ... Concrete being poured, raked and vibrated into place in residential construction in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... The metre or meter is a measure of length. ...

The court on the right side of each player is called the deuce court, while the left side is called the ad court (short for "advantage court").

Types of tennis courts

There are four main types of courts depending on the materials used for the court surface: clay courts, hard courts, grass courts and indoor courts. Each playing surface has its own unique characteristics which affect the playing style of the game. The Gay Head cliffs in Marthas Vineyard are made almost entirely of clay. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Of the Grand Slam tournaments, the U.S. Open and Australian Open use hardcourts (though both used grass courts in the past, and the U.S. Open also used clay courts), the French Open is played on clay (though it too was played on grass before 1928), and Wimbledon is played on grass. In tennis, a singles player or doubles team that wins all four Grand Slam titles in the same year is said to have achieved the Grand Slam or a Calendar Year Grand Slam. ... For the article about the U.S. Open 2006, click here. ... The Australian Open is held each January at Melbourne Park. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Championships, Wimbledon, commonly referred to as simply Wimbledon, is the oldest major championship in the sport of tennis and is widely considered to be the most prestigious. ...

Clay courts

Main article: Clay court

Clay courts are made of crushed shale, stone or brick, and are either red or green. The red clay is slower than the green, or Har-Tru(c) "American" clay. Clay courts are considered "slow", because the balls bounce relatively slowly with less forward motion, making it less difficult for a player to hit an unreturnable shot. Points are usually longer as there are fewer winners. Therefore, clay courts heavily favour baseliners who are consistent and are generally more defensive. These clay courters hit shots with heavy spin, which makes the ball travel with a forward motion, this results in a higher bounce due to the "kick" of topspin. Clay courts are more common in Europe and South America than in the United States. In the U.S., courts made of rubico are often called "clay". This is not the same as clay used in most European and South American countries. The French Open uses clay courts. A clay court in Hattori Ryokuchi Park, Osaka A clay court is one of the four different types of tennis court. ... A point is the smallest unit of scoring in tennis. ... Roger Federer is the best all-court player today To win a point, there are many different strategies in tennis. ... The French Open, officially the Tournoi de Roland-Garros (English: Roland Garros Tournament), is a tennis event held over two weeks between mid May and early June in Paris, France, and is the second of the Grand Slam tournaments on the annual tennis calendar. ...

Hard courts

Hard courts, usually made of cement or plastic, are considered "fast" surfaces, where fast, low bounces keep rallies short, and powerful, hard-serving players have a slight advantage. Hard courts can vary in speed, but they are faster than clay and slower than grass courts, which allow the ball to slide. These courts are considered the most equal for all playing styles. The US Open is played on DecoTurf, an acrylic hard court, while the Australian Open is played on Rebound Ace, a synthetic hardcourt. For the article about the U.S. Open 2006, click here. ... Used at the US Open as well the US Open Series tournaments, DecoTurf is a tennis hardcourt comprised of layers of Acrylic, rubber, silica, and other materials on top of an asphalt base. ... The Australian Open is held each January at Melbourne Park. ... Used at the Australian Open, Rebound Ace is a cushioned tennis hardcourt comprised of layers of polyurethane rubber, fiberglass, and other materials on top of an asphalt base. ...

The main difference between Rebound Ace and true hardcourt surfaces is the level of hardness. Rebound ace is softer (more spongy) . Consequently, when the ball bounces on this surface a large part of the ball's momentum is absorbed by the surface and reduces its speed. On a hard surface the loss of momentum is negligible because the surface provides less cushion to the bouncing ball. Used at the Australian Open, Rebound Ace is a cushioned tennis hardcourt comprised of layers of polyurethane rubber, fiberglass, and other materials on top of an asphalt base. ...

The amount of sand used in the top paint also determines the speed. More sand means less speed. The amount of friction can also be altered and more friction will produce a clay court effect, where topspin is magnified. The extra grip/friction will resist the sliding effect of the ball and the resistance will force the ball to change its rotation. The extra grip provided by the surface is also dangerous because it can resist the movement of the player and can cause injury. In sports, in particular racquet sports, topspin is a property of a shot where the ball rotates as if rolling in the same direction as it is moving. ...

The ITF classifies Rebound Ace as a type two category (medium/medium fast) hardcourt. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is the governing body of world tennis, made up of 202 national tennis associations. ...

Grass courts

Grass courts are the fastest type of tennis court in common use (AstroTurf which is rarely used for tennis is faster). They consist of grass grown on very hard-packed soil, similar to golf greens , which adds an additional variable: bounces 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 favour serve-and-volley tennis players, such as John McEnroe or Pete Sampras. The most famous grass tennis court in the world is Centre Court at Wimbledon. The surface is less firm and more slippery than hard courts, causing the ball to slide and bounce lower, and so players must reach the ball faster. Serve and volley players take advantage of the surface by serving the ball(usually a slice serve because of its effectiveness on grass) 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. Players often hit flatter shots to increase power and allow the ball to travel faster after and before the ball hits the ground. 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. For a more extensive discussion of the skills most advantageous on grass court, please see Grass Court Specialist. Listen to this article · (info) This audio file was created from an article revision dated 2006-02-04, and may not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ... A point is the smallest unit of scoring in tennis. ... The Australian Frank Sedgman was one of the great serve-and-volleyers A serve (or, more formally, a service) in tennis is a shot to start a point. ... Serve and volley is a strategy used in lawn tennis (and rarely in real tennis) where a player serves and immediately moves forward to make the next shot a volley and hopefully a winner. ... John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Wimbledon logo The Championships, Wimbledon, commonly referred to as simply Wimbledon, is the oldest and arguably most prestigious event in the sport of tennis. ... Grass court specialist is a term frequently used by tennis commentators and fans in tennis to describe players who excel on grass courts, but do not play up to those same standards on hard courts, clay courts, or other surfaces. ...

Suspended courts

Synthetic suspended courts are usually made of a polypropylene plastic interlocking tile. They are placed on top of a hard surface such as asphalt or concrete. They are suspended approximately 34" above the hard surface allowing water and air to flow under it. The Flex Court has shock absorption for vertical and lateral forgiveness. This surface is generally cooler than a hard court surface and player can play longer on it without getting as tired. These USTA approved playing surfaces such as Flex Court are generally considered a “medium speed" surface where the ball bounces similar to a clay court but the player has much better foot traction. World premier doubles player Jonas Bjorkman prefers to practice and play on the Flex Court suspended court because it “has absolutely wonderful stress relief on ankles, knees and legs.” These suspended courts play similar to clay courts but the sliding foot shots are not made because of the great foot traction. This surface is less expensive than clay because it requires almost no maintenance once the court is in place. Jonas Björkman () is a Swedish professional male tennis player. ...

Indoor courts

Special surfaces can only be used indoors. Most commonly carpet surfaces, carpet courts vary in playing characteristics due to differences in thickness, texture, and materials used in the base and yarn. Suspended surfaces may be used indoors. The ATP tennis tour also considers rubber surfaces as carpet. While being the most common surface for real tennis, wood is the rarest surface for tennis. It is also the fastest surface, which bounces faster and lower than grass. Jeu de paume in the 17th century. ...

Terminology

Common tennis court terms:

• Ad court (short for "advantage court"): the left side of the receiving team, the right side of the opponent's court as viewed from the server's side, significant as the receiving side for an Ad point.
• Alley (Tramlines): the zone between the single court and the doubles court, one on the Ad side, one on the Deuce side. These are only used when playing doubles.
• Back Court ('No man's land'): the area between the baseline and the service line. It's not recommended to play in this area because this is where balls usually bounce.
• Baseline: The line dividing the "out" area from the "in" area made up of the back line of the back court and the small back side of the alleys.
• Deuce court: the right side of the receiving team, the left side of the opponent's court as viewed from the server's side, significant as the receiving side for a deuce point.
• Center Mark: The 12-inch mark at the halfway point of the baseline used to distinguish the two halves (and service boxes) of a tennis court.
• Middle T
• Service box: is made up of the singles boundary and the closest line that runs parallel with the net. There is a left and right service box that is divided by the line running down the center of the court.
• Service Line: the line that is parallel to the net and is located between the baseline and the net. It marks the end of the service boxes.
• Side T

See also

• Clay court
• List of tennis courts
• Real tennis

A clay court in Hattori Ryokuchi Park, Osaka A clay court is one of the four different types of tennis court. ... Jeu de paume in the 17th century. ...

External links

• Detailed court measurements
• Hard Court Surfacing
• Tennis Court Information Tennis court building tips