Post on 21-Apr-2015
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
1.0 History of Malaysian Tennis
Tennis has come a long way since the early years where it was played on
natural grass and clay courts.
Back when it began, the courts were temperamental beasts. The grass
courts had to be “rested” on alternate days and used only in the evenings.
Neither was playable the whole day when it rained.
Over the years, as more people began played tennis, these courts were
converted to hard courts. The prestigious Wimbledon and the French Open
tournaments, however, are still played on grass and clay.
Today, the many public courts opened for the public have contributed
greatly to Malaysians following in the footsteps of these great Malaysians in
taking up this sport.
Malaysian Juan Los Santos was ranked No.1 in the whole of Asia in the
year 2006. Others Malaysians who were or are presently ranked top 10 in
Asia are Nisha Thiruchelam, Adelle Boey, Syed Agil, Azri Marzuki, Ahmad
Deedat and Theivnya Selvarajoo.
The ECM Libra Foundation and LTAM Junior Tennis Team
Championships 2008 from December 15 to 20 at the National Tennis Centre
in Jalan Duta in Kuala Lumpur will bring together the best Under 13 players
in each state (a total of 42 boys and 42 girls) to compete over 5 days.
1
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
2.0 International Tennis Federation (ITF)
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is the governing body of world
tennis, made up of 205 national tennis associations.
It was established as the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) by
12 national associations meeting at a conference in Paris, France on 1 March
1913. In 1924 it became the officially recognized organization with authority
to control lawn tennis throughout the world, with official 'ILTF Rules of
Tennis'. In 1977 it dropped the word 'lawn' from its title, recognizing that
most tennis was no longer played on grass.
Originally based in Paris, its funds were moved to London, England
during World War II; from that time onwards the ILTF/ITF has been run from
London. Until 1987, the ITF was based at Wimbledon, it then moved to
Barons Court, near Queens Club, and then moved again in 1998 to the Bank
of England Sports Ground, Roehampton.
Its official annual is The ITF Year, describing the activities of the ITF
over last 12 months. This replaced World of Tennis.
2
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
3.0 Tennis Rules
Rules for Tennis were first adopted on 1 January 1924. Making rules and
regulations for tennis lies with the International Tennis Federation and it was
accompanied by a Rules of Tennis Committee, which periodically monitors
rules and make necessary recommendations for any modification, if it is
needed. Suggested changes in rules can be on a permanent basis or for a
limited trial duration. The board of directors take recommendations and pass it
on to the general meeting of the International Tennis Federation for its
perusal. The rules are applied only after the members of the general meeting
arrive at a consensus.
Rules cover all aspects of tennis such as the size of the court, permanent
fixtures, specifications of tennis balls, rackets, as well as the scoring system.
There are rules that also manage the service methods, and the various kinds of
faults.
Rules also covers (in substance) to behavior of the tennis players on and
off the court. There are separate rules for a singles and doubles game. Rules
may also vary slightly from one tournament to another. There are various
rulebooks that give details of the numerous technicalities of the game to the
players, officials and the spectators. Aside from this, from the game, tennis
rules also include anti-doping laws to prevent players from taking banned
substances.
3
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
4
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
4.0 Tennis Grips
The type of tennis grips you use will have a huge bearing on the types of
strokes you develop, and on your overall game. For instance, if you would
like to develop an aggressive serve and volley game, you should avoid using
the Western grip for the forehand. Likewise, avoid using a grip that limits
your serving and smashing ability. There's nothing surer to keep you away
from the net than a weak overhead.
Below are the different types of the major tennis grips:
Eastern
To find the Eastern forehand grip, simply "shake hands" with the racquet. To
change to the Eastern backhand grip, turn your hand approximately a quarter
circle counter-clockwise. (If you're left handed, the reverse applies.)
Continental
This grip is halfway between the Eastern forehand and backhand grip. This
grip is virtually obsolete as topspin is severely limited. Any spin that is
imparted is done so exclusively with the wrist, which significantly increases
the margin for error.
Semi-Western
This is the grip used by the majority of today's tour players. To find the semi-
Western forehand grip, lay your tennis racquet face down on the ground, and
then pick it up. You should be holding the grip about a quarter turn further
5
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
clockwise than for the Eastern forehand grip. The semi-Western grip is ideal
for generating both tremendous power and topspin.
Western
The full Western is found by holding the grip of your racquet with your
knuckles pointing towards the ground. Although used by some players,
particularly clay-courters, it isn't a hugely popular grip because of the
limitations it imposes on certain shots.
For example, short, low balls are extremely difficult to counter, as are any
shots that are hit with real pace, particulary flat or sliced balls on faster courts.
Forehand returns-of-serve also pose a huge problem.
Service
For the service grip, the two most commonly used tennis grips are the Eastern
forehand grip and the Continental grip (and anywhere in between). While
many great champions have possessed great serves with various grips, the vast
majority of great servers have tended far more towards the Eastern forehand
grip.
Volley
The grip most preferred by great volleyers is, like the serve, the Eastern
forehand "shake hands" grip. It's extremely practical to use this grip as it
doesn't require a grip change from forehand to backhand volley, and, in many
cases, from the serve or to the smash.
6
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
5.0 How to Play Tennis
Learning how to play tennis can be fun for certain types of people. It does
require a certain amount of agility, cardiovascular fitness, and good vision
(being cross eyed would not make it easy to play tennis). Below will share a
few tennis tips and some other instructional points for beginners.
7
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
Forehand Stroke
The forehand stroke is usually the most powerful and the stroke most users
want to use. Of course it has to be on the right side of the person to get the
forehand stroke.
The forehand in tennis is a shot made by swinging the racquet across one's
body in the direction of where the player wants to place the shot. For a right-
handed player, the forehand is a stroke that begins on the right side of his
body, continues across his body as contact is made with the ball, and ends on
the left side of his body. It is considered the easiest shot to master, perhaps
because it is the most natural stroke. Beginners and advanced players often
have better forehands than any other shots and use it as a weapon.
The way I learned was to:
Break Up (Release two handed grip)
Come Around (Begin to come around in a circular form)
Contact (Make contact with the ball)
Follow Through (Follow through over your shoulder)
Finish Up (Just finish the stroke)
Back to the ready position (Back in the two handed grip)
8
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
Backhand Stroke
The backhand stroke is when the ball is on the opposite side of you. It is the
opposite of the forehand. There are two types of back hands. There is the
two-handed back hand, which is the first picture below. There is also the one
handed back hand which are primarily the same thing, except you are using
different amounts of hands.
The backhand in tennis is a stroke hit by swinging the racquet away from
one's body in the direction of where the player wants the ball to go. For a
right-handed player, a backhand begins on the left side of his body, continues
across his body as contact is made with the ball, and ends on the right side of
his body. It can be either a one-handed or a two-handed stroke.
9
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
The backhand is generally considered more difficult to master than the
forehand. Because the dominant hand "pulls" into the shot, instead of pushing,
the backhand generally lacks the power and consistency of a forehand.
Beginner and club-level players often have difficulty hitting a backhand and
junior players often have trouble because they are not strong enough to hit it.
Even many advanced players have a significantly better forehand than
backhand, and there are many strategies based on exploiting this weakness.
Volleys
Net play is an important aspect to playing tennis. At the net, the player will
primarily use a volley to hit the ball. The volley is when the ball does not hit
the ground before you hit it. It is out of the air pretty much. You want to get
10
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
yourself about 3 feet away from the net. Make sure you keep your feet
shoulder width apart. Hold your racket in your continental grip. Keep the
racket in front of you, with the head pointing up. The bottom of the handle
should be even with your belly button. Lightly hold the top portion of the
racket handle with the fingers of your non-dominant hand. Bend your knees
slightly. You should be able to feel some strain on your quadriceps muscles
(in your thighs).
Step toward the ball with your left foot (or your right foot if you're left-
handed) as the ball is hit toward you above waist level. Turn your shoulders
slightly to the right (or left) until you bring the racket back to a point even
with your right (or left) shoulder. This motion should be smooth.
Drive the racket forward to meet the ball - use a quick "punching" motion.
The head should be vertical and the ball should strike the face evenly. Make
contact as the ball is about even with your right (or left) shoulder.
Turn your racket hand slightly so that the palm faces the ball upon contact.
This turns the racket face so that the ball hits squarely off the strings.
Follow through slightly with your swing. The follow-through for the
volley is shorter than that for the regular forehand ground stroke; the racket
should not cross the front of your body.
11
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
The Serve
The serve in tennis is a shot to start a point. The serve is usually initiated by
tossing the ball into the air and hitting it (usually near the apex of its
trajectory) into the diagonally opposite service box without touching the net.
It may be performed underhand or overhead. The serve is the only shot where
a player can take his time to set up, instead of having to react to an opponent's
shot. The serve is one of the more difficult shots for a novice, but once
mastered it can be a considerable advantage. Advanced players can hit the
serve in many different ways and often use it as an offensive weapon to gain
an advantage in the point or to win it outright. Because of this, professional
players win most of their service games, and the breaking serve plays a crucial
role in a match. If you miss their opposite service box, then you get another
12
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
chance, and that is considered a fault. Doing this twice is called a double fault,
and you lose the point.
6.0 Selecting the Racquet
Category 1: Power or Game Improvement Racquets
This is the term used by racquet manufacturers for power-oriented racquets. In
most cases, these racquet models feature oversize to super-oversize heads
(107-135 square inches), are lightweight (8-9.5 ounces), longer (27-29 inches)
stiffer and are balanced head-heavy (or evenly balanced) to retain enough
13
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
weight in the hitting zone. Designed for players with shorter, slower swings
and who want more power from the racquet.
Category 2: ‘Tweener Racquets
There are several models that offer a blend of features from game
improvement and player’s racquets. They are often light-er (9.5-11 ounces),
balanced anywhere from slightly head-light to slightly head-heavy, have
midplus (95-102 square inches) heads and are usually extended length (27.5-
28 inches). These racquet models offer low-medium to medium-high power
and are most appealing to intermediate-advanced players, seeking enhanced
maneuverability.
14
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
Category 3: Control or Player’s Racquets
Denotes racquets that would be used by professional and high-level club and
college team players. These models are typically heavier in weight (11.5-13+
ounces), have smaller heads (85-98), thinner, more flexible beams and are
balanced head light to retain maneuverability. The result is a low-power
racquet, designed for players who provide their own power and prefer a
racquet that offers more control. Can be standard or extended length.
15
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
When making a racquet choice, you’ll need to consider the following features:
Head Size
Power is directly related to head size - a larger head will provide more power
than a smaller head, all other things being equal. A larger head also offers a
larger hitting area and sweetspot, providing more forgiveness on off-center
hits. Today’s racquets are offered in head sizes ranging from 85 to 135 square
inches, with the most common being 95-110. These head sizes offer a
compromise between power and control for many players. Generally
speaking, a smaller racquet head appeals to more accomplished players
seeking more control, while larger racquets appeal to beginning and
intermediate players seeking more power and a larger sweetspot.
Length
Racquets are available in lengths ranging from 27-29 inches, the legal limit for
tournament play. Standard racquets are 27 inches long. A longer racquet
provides more reach on groundstrokes, added leverage on serves and slightly
more power overall than standard length racquets, all other things being equal.
16
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
For most players, switching from a standard length racquet to one that is 1/2 -
1 inch longer doesn’t normally present much of a problem. Most (but not all)
longer racquets are lighter than their standard-length counterparts to keep
them maneuverable. As racquet length increases, so does dynamic
swingweight. Simply lengthening a 27 inch racquet without reducing weight
would result in a very unwieldy “club”.
String Pattern
Often overlooked by many recreational players, string pattern density
influences many aspects of a racquet’s overall performance and feel. When we
discuss string pattern density, we refer to open and dense (or closed).
An open string pattern will deflect more on impact than a denser pattern,
providing greater ball rebound. Strung at the same tension (in similar
racquets) an open string pattern won’t feel as “tight” as a dense string pattern.
Open string patterns also allow for more spin potential, as the ball can embed
itself into the strings more, due to their wider spacing. Players seeking more
spin will benefit from a more open string pattern. The price one may pay for
17
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
this, though, is reduced string durability. Open string patterns allow the strings
to move more freely, increasing abrasion which causes string breakage.
7.0 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 carpet courts. Each
playing surface has its own characteristics which affect the playing style of the
game. The ITF (International Tennis Federation) lists different surfaces and
properties on its website and awards five pace settings from category 5 (fast)
to category 1 (slow).
Clay courts
Clay courts are made of crushed shale, stone, or brick. The French Open uses
clay courts, unlike the other three Grand Slam tournaments of each year.
Clay courts slow down the ball and produce a high bounce when compared
to grass courts or hard courts. This is because clay courts have more grab and
18
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
when the ball lands there is more friction pushing against the ball's horizontal
path, therefore slowing it and creating a higher bounce. For this reason, the
clay court takes away some advantage of big serves, which makes it hard for
serve-based players to dominate on the surface. Clay courts are cheaper to
construct than other types of tennis courts, but the maintenance costs of a clay
surface are higher than those of hard courts. Clay courts need to be rolled to
preserve flatness. The clay's water content must be balanced; green courts
generally require the courts to be sloped to allow water run-off.
Clay courts are more common in Europe and Latin America than in North
America and tend to heavily favor baseline players.
Grass courts
Grass courts are the fastest type of courts in common use (AstroTurf is faster
but is primarily used only for personal courts). They consist of grass grown on
very hard-packed soil, which adds an additional variable: bounces depend on
19
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
how healthy the grass is, how recently it has been mown, and the wear and
tear of recent play. Points are usually very quick where fast, low bounces keep
rallies short, and the serve plays a more important role than on other surfaces.
Grass courts tend to favour serve-and-volley tennis players, such as John
McEnroe and Stefan Edberg among men and Martina Navratilova and Jana
Novotná among women. The International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport,
R.I., comprises grass courts. 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 before and
after the ball hits the ground.
Hard courts
Hard courts are very fast types of tennis courts, where hard-hitting players
have a slight advantage. Hard courts can vary in speed; they are faster than
clay but not as fast as grass courts. The quantity of sand added to the paint can
20
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
greatly affect the rate at which the ball slows down. These courts are
considered the most equal for all playing styles. The US Open is played on an
acrylic hard court, while the Australian Open is played on a synthetic hard
court. The main difference between a synthetic hard court and a true hard
court surface is the level of hardness. When the ball bounces on this surface it
is faster than all other surfaces if there is not much sand in the top paint. The
amount of sand used in the top paint and the size of the sand also determines
the speed – more sand means less speed and larger sand particles will slow the
speed of play. The amount of friction can also be altered and more friction
will produce a clay court effect, where topspin is magnified. The extra grip
and 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 can resist
the movement of the player and can cause injury.
Carpet courts
Carpet is a tennis term for any removable court covering. A short form of
artificial turf weighted with sand is common in Asia. Indoor arenas store rolls
of rubber-backed court surfacing and install it temporarily for tennis events,
however they are not in use any more for professional events.
21
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
Indoor courts
Hard courts are most common indoors. Slower, higher bouncing rubberized
surfaces are used for a cushioned feel. Clay courts are installed indoors with
underground watering systems. Barnstorming professionals played on canvas
laid over wooden basketball courts up to the 1960s. For information about the
original indoor tennis and tennis courts see real tennis and history of tennis.
22
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
8.0 Top 5 Male and Female Famous Tennis Players Known for Their
Skills and Achievements
Famous Male Tennis Players
Djokovic
Djokovic is a Serbian player with a great balance of power, speed, and great
timing. The Djokovic racquet has a very fast swing speed, which helps him to
generate tremendous pace and spin. He displays unequaled flexibility on court
that allows him to really find positions and stretch to make great shots.
Everything about his game is solid–all the way down to his Adidas Barricade
6 shoes. He can produce consistently clean and error free matches while
aggressively dominating his opponents. These abilities have led to great
success on the tour even in his young career.
23
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
Rafael Nadal
The Spaniard Nadal is known for his quick movement and massive top spin
forehand. Nadal has improved his game on other tennis surfaces over the
years, but he remains the absolute master of the clay court game. The topspin
generated by the Nadal racquet has been the talk of the tennis world over the
past few years. His topspin allows him to control the point and relentlessly
drag other players around the court
Roger Federer
24
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
Federer is possibly the greatest player ever to play the game of tennis, but
certainly he is the one with the most elegant shots. The Swiss maestro never
fails to make tennis look effortless. His shots are struck so cleanly that once
you see him play, you can’t help but want to switch to a one handed backhand.
Not only are his shots quiet and clean, but his movement is magnificent. The
Roger Federer shoes seem to glide over the court with incredible speed. His
remarkable positioning and footwork is one of the keys to his amazing shot
making. Federer is truly one of the most famous tennis stars and will leave a
legacy like none other in the record books.
Andy Murray
Murray is the definition of a baseline grinder. He doesn’t have a spectacular
shot, but he can step into both his backhand or forehand and crush them
25
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
equally well from the back court. His speed and love for the baseline propels
him to achieve long and hard fought victories. Murray carries the hope of
Britain as the highest ranked and most famous of the British tennis players.
David Ferrer
Ferrer gets a bit of a bad rap. He hasn’t broken through for a big title, but he
is an incredible competitor. He’s actually quite similar to Nadal, without the
huge lefty topspin to throw off his opponents. The way he competes out on
the court makes you feel like he’s actually working ten times harder than his
opponent. In a lot of cases he is.
26
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
Famous Female Tennis Players
Caroline Wozniacki
Wozniacki is a strong and consistent baseline player. She minimizes her errors
and hits with plenty of margin on her shots. She gets great depth and can wear
her opponents down in tough matches. Wozniacki still hasn’t had success at
the majors, but she is consistently good throughout the year. She has shown
flashes of brilliance, but tends to play too conservatively in big situations.
Players in the top 10 prey on this kind of weakness and have made her pay for
it in big matches. If she can overcome this problem it’s likely she will be one
of the greats.
27
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
Maria Sharapova
Sharapova found success early in her career with her big forehand and
penetrating ground strokes. She became one of the most famous tennis
women in the sport overnight. Her serve used to be more of a weapon, but
since her shoulder surgery she hasn’t quite been the same in that department.
She has still come back fabulously though, climbing back to the number two
spot and making deep runs everywhere.
28
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
Vera Zvonareva
Zvonareva hung around the tour for a while before having her breakthrough
success. She hits strong and consistent shots from the baseline, but can really
be a big hitter at times. Her mental breakdowns on the court seem to be mostly
behind her, which has helped her see continued success at the top.
Serena Williams
29
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
Both of the Williams sisters have made huge impacts on the women’s tennis
game, but injury and illness has often sidelined them in the past few years.
Despite being both under ranked and under represented at most events, they
have still managed to hog a large number of the major titles. Serena brings a
fierce competitive attitude to the court, often rolling over even the best players
in easy straight set wins. She has a wicked combination of one of the best
serves and returns in women’s tennis. Often, unless her opponent is playing
exceptionally well, her matches can be over in a hurry.
Li Na
Li Na (Chinese: 李娜 ; born February 26, 1982) is a Chinese professional
tennis player. Li has won 5 WTA and 19 ITF singles titles. Li won the 2011
French Open singles title, making her the first Asian country representative to
win a Grand Slam in singles. With her performance at the 2011 Australian
30
VSPT 2031 TENNIS III
Open, she became the first player from an Asian country to appear in a Grand
Slam singles final.
Between 1999 and 2004, Li won 20 women's singles titles: 19 ITF events
and one—the first ever won by a Chinese woman—on the WTA Tour. In
January 2008, she won her second WTA Tour title after a drought of over
three and a quarter years.
Li also frequently enters doubles tournaments at events alongside singles,
and has won two WTA doubles titles and 16 further ITF doubles events. Her
early success in doubles came mostly with Li Ting (unrelated); but more
recently she has made a habit of forming temporary women's doubles
partnerships with players with whom she has previously enjoyed a healthy
rivalry through repeated head-to-head meetings in singles tournaments,
notably Liu Nan-Nan, Nicole Pratt, Yan Zi, Jelena Janković, and Peng Shuai.
Her career has been plagued by injuries and other troubles that have
prevented her from playing for lengthy periods. She suffered a two-year hiatus
from competition in her early 20s, lost several months at the height of the
2005 season to an ankle injury, and lost the second half of 2007 to a rib injury.
31