Tennis is a sport played between either two players ("Singles") or two teams of two players ("doubles"). Players use a stringed racquet to strike a ball, a hollow rubber ball covered in felt, over a net into the opponent's court. In some places tennis is still called lawn tennis to distinguish it from real tennis (also known as royal tennis or court tennis), an older form of the game that is played indoors on a very different court. Originating in England in the late 19th Century, the game spread first throughout the English-speaking world, particularly among the upper classes. Tennis is now an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society, by all ages, and in many countries around the world. Except for the adoption of the tie-breaker in the 1970s, its rules have remained remarkably unchanged since the 1890s. Along with its millions of players, millions of people follow tennis as a spectator sport, especially the four Grand Slam tournaments.

Manner of play

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The court

Tennis is played on a rectangular, flat surface, usually grass, clay, or a hardcourt of concrete and/or asphalt. 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 required 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.

Types of Courts

There are three main types of courts. Depending on the materials used for the court surfaces, each surface provides a difference in the speed and bounce of the ball, which in turn can affect the level of play of the individual players. The three most common types of courts that are used for play are:

• Clay court
• Grass court
• Hardcourt

Some players are clearly more successful on certain surfaces than on others and become known as, for instance, a "grass-court" or "Clay-court specialist".

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L.A. Times - Tennis

Melanie Oudin, in Italy for the Fed Cup, happy to go unrecognized
Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800
The Florida teen escaped the publicity at the U.S. Open surrounding her parents and calls her time since then 'crazy.' Meanwhile, Mary Joe Fernandez puts together a U.S. team minus the Williams sister The Florida teen escaped the publicity at the U.S. Open surrounding her parents and calls her time since then 'crazy.' Meanwhile, Mary Joe Fernandez puts together a U.S. team minus the Williams sister
Serena defeats Venus in final
Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800
Williams bests her big sister again Sunday, winning, 6-2, 7-6 (4), in the season-ending tournament at Doha, Qatar, for her third victory of the season. Williams bests her big sister again Sunday, winning, 6-2, 7-6 (4), in the season-ending tournament at Doha, Qatar, for her third victory of the season.
Serena Williams is No. 1 after Dinara Safina injury
Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700
Safina pulled out of the Sony Ericsson Championships after only two games because of a serious back injury. Williams won her first match Tuesday and beat sister Venus on Wednesday. Dinara Safina pulled out of the Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha, Qatar, after only two games because of a serious back injury, handing the year-end No. 1 ranking to Serena Williams .
In more celebrity news . . .
Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800
Add Maria Sharapova to the list of Lakers romances Mike Bresnahan covers the Lakers for The Times and ties up loose ends on the day of his self-designated "Lakers game of the week." The Lakers play tonight at Houston:
Williams sisters to meet in Sony Ericsson final
Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0700
Venus Williams defeats Jelena Jankovic, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, and Serena Williams wins when Caroline Wozniacki quits because of an abdominal injury while trailing, 6-4, 0-1. The Williams sisters will end their season with another title matchup.
Andre Agassi admits to past use of crystal meth
Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700
Excerpts from his autobiography are being printed this week by People and Sports Illustrated. Andre Agassi's upcoming autobiography contains an admission that he used crystal meth in 1997, the year he dropped to No. 141 in the rankings.

BBC Sport | Tennis | UK Edition

Murray into Valencia semi-finals
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:28:27 -0000
Andy Murray makes short work of Albert Montanes to reach the semi-finals of the Valencia Open.
Wickmayer handed missed tests ban
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:59:38 -0000
US Open semi-finalist Yanina Wickmayer has been handed a one-year ban for falling foul of doping regulations.
Italy & US set for Fed Cup final
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:32:28 -0000
Italy will go into this weekend's Fed Cup final as favourites with home advantage against a USA team lacking the Williams sisters.
Murray survives tricky Mayer test
Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:56:31 -0000
Andy Murray books his Valencia Open quarter-finals berth by winning a testing encounter against Leonardo Mayer.
Injury hits Tsonga's London hopes
Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:41:37 -0000
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's chances of reaching the ATP World Tour Finals are all but ended as he retires during his opening match at the Valencia Open with a wrist injury.
Murray wins on comeback in Spain
Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:43:03 -0000
Top seed Andy Murray beats Spanish qualifier Daniel Gimeno-Traver at the Valencia Open in his first match in six weeks.

Tennis News : CBSSports.com

Sans Williams sisters, U.S. looks for Fed Cup in Italy
Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:24:00 -0500
Without both Serena and Venus Williams, the United States is relying on the players that got the team into the Fed Cup final against Italy this weekend.
Ruling on Serena's U.S. Open tirade expected soon
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:05:00 -0500
A ruling on Serena Williams' U.S. Open tirade is expected in the next two weeks.
Federer, Djokovic keep pace with Basel victories
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:40:00 -0500
Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic reached the semifinals of the Swiss Indoors on Friday, staying on course to meet in the final.
Murray tested, but advances to quarters in Valencia
Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:49:00 -0500
Top-seeded Andy Murray has reached the semifinals of the Valencia Open 500, beating Albert Montanes of Spain 6-4, 6-2.
Martinez Sanchez beats Stosur in Indonesia
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:04:00 -0500
Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez upset second-seeded Samantha Stosur of Australia 7-6 (4), 7-5 Friday to reach the semifinals of the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions.
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Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:04:00 -0500

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