Frequently Asked Questions
The most-asked questions about tennis.
What is tennis and how is it played?
Tennis is a racket sport in which one or two players on each side hit a pressurized rubber ball over a net into the opponent's court. The goal is to make the ball land in a spot the other side cannot return, thereby earning points, games, and ultimately sets.
How does tennis scoring work?
Points advance in the sequence 15, 30, 40, then game, and a player must lead by two points at deuce to close a game. Six games win a set (with a two-game margin or a tiebreak), and most professional matches are best-of-three sets, while men's Grand Slam finals go best-of-five.
What are the four Grand Slam tournaments?
The Australian Open (hard court, January), the French Open (clay, May–June), Wimbledon (grass, July), and the US Open (hard court, August–September) make up the annual Grand Slam cycle. They carry the largest prize pools, the most ranking points, and the deepest historical prestige on the tour.
Who are the most decorated players in tennis history?
Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer—often called the Big Three—share 40 men's Grand Slam singles titles between them. On the women's side, Margaret Court holds the record with 24 majors, followed closely by Serena Williams with 23.
What is the difference between the ATP and the WTA?
The ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) administers men's professional tennis, while the WTA (Women's Tennis Association) does the same for women. Each body runs its own tour schedule, world rankings, and prize-money structure, though both share the four Grand Slam events.
How do the three main court surfaces affect play?
Grass (Wimbledon) yields fast, low bounces that favor aggressive serving and net play; clay (French Open) slows the ball and produces high bounces that reward patient baseline rallies; hard courts (US Open, Australian Open) fall in the middle and are the most widely used surface worldwide.
What are the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup?
The Davis Cup is the annual team championship for men's national sides, and the Billie Jean King Cup (formerly the Fed Cup) is its women's equivalent. In both, countries field teams of up to five players who compete through round-robin and knockout rounds for the world title.
What does "winning a Grand Slam" mean in tennis?
Beyond referring to the four major tournaments themselves, the phrase means capturing all four of those titles within a single calendar year. Only eight players in total—across both men's and women's competitions—have done so, with Novak Djokovic's 2016 run being the most recent.
What equipment do I need to start playing tennis?
The essentials are a tennis racket, a can of pressurized balls, and athletic shoes with non-marking rubber soles. Access to a court (or at minimum a portable net and open space) plus a few comfortable outfits will let a beginner hit the ball and learn the basics.
Where should a newcomer start watching tennis?
The four Grand Slams offer the biggest crowds, the longest storylines, and global broadcast coverage, making them the most accessible entry point. Following one player's season on the ATP or WTA tour, or tuning in to the Davis Cup or Billie Jean King Cup for team drama, are also great ways to build a following.