Glossary of Tennis Terminology

ad here See "ad in"

ad in Server's advantage, break point

ad out Receiver's advantage, game point

ad there See "ad out"

alley Doubles alley, the portion of the court that extends width-wise from the singles court

bagel To win a set without losing any games, 6-0

bye In a tournament, advancing to the next round without playing a match, usually as a result of being a seeded player

canadian doubles Doubles with three people, one against two

challenger (1) player who initiates a ladder match, (2) low tier or semi-pro event

deuce The score is tied at 40-40, or 40 all

dink To hit the ball with little pace

double bagel To win a match without losing any games, 6-0 6-0

double fault Lose a point by serving out or into the net two times in a row

draw In a tournament, the order of play and schedule of which players compete against which other players

drop See "drop shot"

drop shot To hit the ball short so that it just drops over the net

dubs Doubles - men's, women's and mixed

fault When the serve does not land in the service box

five four The score is fifteen-fourty, also four-five

five three The score is fifteen-thirty, also three-five

groundies Groundstrokes

in the zone The tennis ball looks the size of a basketball and you can't miss hitting all your shots for winners

ladder tennis ladder where players compete for position by winning matches against other players on the ladder

league A group of tennis players competing against other groups or teams

let (1) When the service hits the net and lands in a let is played and the server gets another ball, (2) an error in scoring or lines has occurred and the point is replayed

lob To hit the ball high and sometimes deep, usually an offensive shot, similar to "moonball"

love Refers to the score when no points have been won, as in fourty-love

mixed See "mixed doubles"

mixed doubles One female and one male play against one female and one male, sometimes detrimental to a marriage

moonball To hit the ball high, sometimes with topspin, usually not much pace - very frustrating to hard-hitting players

qualies Qualifying rounds of any tournament, feeds into the main draw

seed In a tournament, the top players based on previous results

serve volley Serve and volley, rushing the net immediately following the serve to hit a volley on the second shot

slice Stroke under the ball, usually high to low, produced a low trajectory

side or serve To begin a match, the person who wins the toss can select to serve or which side to begin on

smash Overhead

stick Tennis racket

straights See "win in two"

tank Lose a match after having a big lead, often on purpose

three four

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