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Newsgroups: rec.sport.tennis,rec.answers,news.answers Path: bloom-beacon.mit.edu!hookup!news.kei.com!MathWorks.Com!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!darwin.sura.net!cc.gatech.edu!news From: csmith@cc.gatech.edu (Christopher Smith) Subject: FAQ for rec.sport.tennis (5/5) - Miscellaneous Message-ID: <rst5_766531512@cc.gatech.edu> Followup-To: poster Summary: Answers to frequently asked questions about tennis, including information about professional tournaments, rankings and records. Sender: news@cc.gatech.edu Supersedes: <rst5_763476407@cc.gatech.edu> Reply-To: csmith@cc.gatech.edu (Christopher Smith) Organization: Georgia Tech College of Computing References: <rst1_766531512@cc.gatech.edu> Date: Sat, 16 Apr 1994 21:26:07 GMT Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.Edu Expires: Wed, 25 May 1994 21:25:12 GMT Lines: 498 Xref: bloom-beacon.mit.edu rec.sport.tennis:15162 rec.answers:4936 news.answers:18166 Archive-name: tennis-faq/miscellaneous FAQ for rec.sport.tennis -- File 5 of 5 Table of Contents - File 5 File Item Title --------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 -24- Common Pro Tennis Acronyms . . . . . . . . . . -25- Professional Tournament Seeding . . . . . . . . -26- TeamTennis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -27- USTA Self Rating System . . . . . . . . . . . . -28- Tennis Tie-Break Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . -29- Dimensions of a Tennis Court . . . . . . . . . -30- Origin of Scoring System in Tennis . . . . . . -31- USTA Rules and Code On-Line . . . . . . . . . . -32- ATP and WTA Media Guides . . . . . . . . . . . -33- Addresses of TV and Tennis Organizations . . . -34- Ticket Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -A1- How to Obtain the FAQ via FTP . . . . . . . . . -A2- Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -A3- Send comments to... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . --------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -24- Common Pro Tennis Acronyms The following are some of the acronyms you may see in a discussion of pro tennis and their meanings: ATP - Association of Tennis Professionals - a "player's union" (men's tennis) that runs the tour outside of the Grand Slams, Grand Slam Cup, and Davis Cup. The ATP is headed by Mark Miles. WTA - Women's Tennis Association - an association in women's tennis that is similar to the ATP but is not as strong politically as the ATP. Gerry Smith is currently the chief executive officer of the WTA, although he intends to step down in 1994. As of 1994 the WTA is officially known as the WTA Tour Players Association. WTC - Women's Tennis Council - A board comprised of executive types from the WTA (4), directors of women's tournaments (4), and the ITF (see below - 2), that carries a lot of weight in the organization and politics of women's tennis. There is no equivalent in the men's game (although there used to be). ITF - International Tennis Federation - the body that oversees the Grand Slams, Grand Slam Cup, Davis & Federation Cup, and the Olympics. IMG - International Management Group - one of the large Sports Management agencies that manage the affairs of a large number of tennis players and run some of the pro tournament events. Advantage International and ProServ are the other main Agencies with tennis playing clients, although there are also a number of smaller agencies. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -25- Professional Tournament Seeding The following diagram shows the typical formula used to determine the draws for 16-seed men's and women's tournaments (for meetings in the round-of-16). Sometimes there are some minor modifications employed; e.g, the #3/4 seed might be placed in the part of a quarter opposite the indicated position. As indicated, more restrictions are placed on men's draws. For instance, in a men's draw, the only seeded player #1 and #2 can possibly meet in the round of 16 is either #15 or #16; whereas, in a women's draw, #1 and #2 can meet any one among the #9 to #16 range. Seedings and draw information for 16-seed pro tournaments Women Men 1 1 --------+ |--------+ one of 9-16 15 or 16 --------+ | |--------+ one of 9-16 9 or 10 --------+ | | |--------+ | one of 5-8 7 or 8 --------+ | |--------+ 3 or 4 3 or 4 --------+ | | |--------+ | | one of 9-16 13 or 14 --------+ | | | |--------+ | one of 9-16 11 or 12 --------+ | | |--------+ | one of 5-8 5 or 6 --------+ | +--------> one of 5-8 5 or 6 --------+ | |--------+ | one of 9-16 11 or 12 --------+ | | |--------+ | one of 9-16 13 or 14 --------+ | | | |--------+ | | 3 or 4 3 or 4 --------+ | | |--------+ one of 5-8 7 or 8 --------+ | |--------+ | one of 9-16 9 or 10 --------+ | | |--------+ one of 9-16 15 or 16 --------+ | |--------+ 2 2 --------+ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -26- TeamTennis TeamTennis (formerly World TeamTennis) is a concept, devised by Billie Jean King, which came to fruition in the 1970's and has recently made somewhat of a comeback. TeamTennis was at it's peak in the mid 1970's, with the likes of Evert, Connors, and Borg among its ranks. The concept gradually died for various reasons in the late 70's but has been revised in a scaled-down form. The basic TeamTennis concept is as follows: The TeamTennis franchise is similar to US baseball and football, where teams based in various US cities compete against one another. Unlike baseball and football, team members get paid based on their performance rather than a fixed amount. There are two divisions (East and West Divisions), teams within each division competing against one another over a 4-week period following Wimbledon. The two top division teams (determined by win-loss record of the top team and a playoff between the #2 and #3 teams) square off in a playoff match, with the playoff winners then competing in a Championship final for that year. A TeamTennis match consists of five sets: one set each of men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles. The order of match play is doubles-singles-doubles-singles-doubles, with the coach of the host team determining the exact order of sets (e.g., women's doubles first). Prior to each set, a certain amount of time is allowed for player warmups. A change of sides occurs every fourth game after a set starts, rather than every odd game played. The scoring is "no-ad," meaning that 40-40 is a "game point" instead of deuce. If the set score reaches 5-5, a 9-point tie-break is played (first to 5 points with an advantage of only 1 point required) to determine the winner of the set. Match score is determined by total games won by a team, not by how many sets are won. At the close of the match, the team leading in games won must win the last game played to win the match. Otherwise, fifth-set play continues until this happens or until each team is equal in number of games won. In the latter case, a 9-point super tie-break is then played to determine the match winner. In 1993, there were 12 TeamTennis leagues: Atlanta Thunder Los Angeles Strings Florida Twist Minnesota Penguins Kansas City Explorers Newport Beach (CA) Dukes New Jersey Stars Phoenix Smash Raleigh Edge Sacramento Capitals Wichita Advantage San Antonio Racquets Some of the more recognizable names participating in 1993 TeamTennis: Martina Navratilova, Jimmy Connors, Mats Wilander, Lori McNeil, Lindsay Davenport, Iva Majoli, Tracy Austin, and Bjorn Borg. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -27- USTA Self Rating System Self-Rating Guidelines: The National Tennis Rating Program provides a simple, initial self-placement method of grouping individuals of similar ability levels for league play, tournament, group lessons, social competition and club or community programs. The rating categories are generalizations about skill levels. You may find that you actually play above or below the category which best describes your skill level, depending on your competitive ability. The category you choose is not meant to be permanent, but may be adjusted as your skills change or as your match play demonstrates the need for reclassification. Ultimately, your rating is based upon your results in match play. To place yourself: A. Begin with 1.0. Read all the categories carefully and then decide which one best describes your present ability level. If your abilities range between two catagories, then choose the lower one. B. Be certain that you qualify on all points of all preceding categories as well as those in the classification you choose. C. When rating yourself assume you are playing against a player of the same sex and the same ability. D. Your self-rating may be verified by a teaching professional, coach, league coordinator or other qualified expert. E. The person in charge of your tennis program has the right to reclassify you based upon match results, if your self-placement is thought to be inappropriate Rating Categories: 1.0 This player is just starting to play tennis. 1.5 This player has limited playing experience and is still working primarily on getting the ball over the net; has some knowledge of scoring but is not familiar with basic positions and procedures for singles and doubles play. 2.0 This player may have had some lessons but needs on-court experience; has obvious stroke weaknesses but is beginning to feel comfortable with singles and doubles play. 2.5 This player has more dependable strokes and is learning to judge where the ball is going; has weak court coverage or is often caught out of position, but is starting to keep the ball in play with other players of same ability. 3.0 This player can place shots with moderate success; can sustain a rally of slow pace but is not comfortable with all strokes; lacks control when trying for power. 3.5 This player has achieved stroke dependability and direction on shots within reach, including forehand and backhand volleys, but still lacks depth and variety; seldom double faults and occasionally forces errors on the serve. 4.0 This player has dependable strokes on both forehand and backhand sides; has the ability to use a variety of shots including lobs, overheads, approach shots and volleys; can place the first serve and force some errors; is seldom out of position in a doubles game. 4.5 This player has begun to master the use of power and spins; has sound footwork; can control depth of shots and is able to move opponent up and back; can hit first serve with power and accuracy and place the second serve; is able to rush the net with some success on serve in singles as well as doubles. 5.0 This player has good shot anticipation; frequently has an outstanding shot or exceptional consistency around which a game may be structured; can regularly hit winners or force errors off of short balls; can successfully execute lobs, drop shots, half volleys and overhead smashes; has good depth and spin on most second serves. 5.5 This player can execute all strokes offensively and defensively; can hit dependable shots under pressure; is able to analyze opponents' style and can employ patterns of play to assure the greatest possibility of winning points; can hit winners or force errors with both first and second serves. Return of serve can be an offensive weapon. 6.0 This player has mastered all of the above skills; has developed power and/or consistency as a major weapon; can vary strategies and styles of play in a competitive situation. This player typically has had inten- sive training for national competition at junior or collegiate levels. 6.5 This player has mastered all of the above skills and is an experienced tournament competitor who regularly travels for competition and whose income may be partially derived from prize winnings. 7.0 This is a world class player. With this list you can rate yourself. Should you realize that your abilities range between two categories, then the lower one should be used to determine your playing level. Have fun and keep enjoying this great sport. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -28- Tennis Tie-Break Rules (Source: USTA) If announced in advance of the match, a tie-break game operates when the score reaches six games all in any set. In singles, the player who first wins seven points wins the game and the set provided he or she leads by a margin of two points. If the score reaches six points all the game is extended until this margin has been achieved. Numerical scoring is used throughout the tie-break. The player whose turn it is to serve is the Server for the first point; his or her opponent is the Server for the second and third points; and, thereafter, each player serves alternately for two consecutive points until the winner of the game and set has been decided. In doubles, the player whose turn it is to serve is the Server for the first point. Thereafter, each player serves in rotation for two points, in the same order as determined previously in that set, until the winners of the game and set have been decided. Starting with the first point, each service is delivered alternately from the right and left courts, beginning from the right court. The first Server serves the first point from the right court; the second Server serves the second and third points from the left and right courts respectively; the next Server serves the fourth and fifth points from the left and right courts, respectively; and so on. Players change ends after every six points and at the conclusion of the tie-break game. The player (or doubles pair) who served first in the tie-break shall receive service in the first game of the following set. (In other words, the tie-break counts as a service game for the player who serves the first ball.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -29- Dimensions of a Tennis Court The singles court is 78 feet long and 27 feet wide. The doubles court is 36 feet wide (thus the doubles alleys are about 4-1/2 feet wide). The service lines on either side of the net are at a distance of 21 feet from the net. The center service line is halfway between the singles (or doubles) sidelines. The net is supported by two net posts (at least three feet outside the doubles sideline - or 3 feet outside the singles sideline for a singles- only court) to a height of 3-1/2 feet and supported at the center service line to a hieght of 3 feet by a white strap. Additionally, for singles matches, the net is supported by two "singles sticks" (posts) about 3 feet outside the singles sidelines to a height of 3-1/2 feet. The ITF stipulates that for ITF competitions (the Grand Slams and Davis and Federation Cups) the space behind the baseline should be at least 21 feet and the space outside of the furthest sideline should be at least 12 feet. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -30- Origin of the Scoring System in Tennis The traditional scoring system in a tennis game is 15-30-40-deuce-ad-game. The scoring system is said to derive from the usage of the four quarters of a clock (15-30-45-60) used to score a game in the pre-modern era. 60 would signify game, while 45 was, in time, "shortened" to 40. A common explanation for the term "love" to signify a score of zero is that it originates from the Frech term "l'oeuf." Another explanation is based on the idea that to do something for love is to do something for nothing (zero). The tie-break in tennis originated with Jimmy Van Alen in the late 1960s. Van Alen wished to eliminate interminable deuce sets (sets where the score reaches 5 games all and, under traditional rules, play continues until the winner of the set acquires a two-game advantage). After some experimentation at Newport, R.I., a "sudden death" tie-break was introduced at the US Open in 1970. The winner of the tie-break was the first person to reach five points with an advantage of at least one. The current version of the tie-break -- first to seven with an advantage of two -- was implemented in 1975. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -31- USTA Rules and Code On-Line For those who wish to obtain an on-line copy of the complete USTA Rules and Code, this information is now available via anonymous FTP. To obtain the information, FTP to the machine planchet.rutgers.edu and log in as an anonymous user. Once logged in, change to the directory "tennis" and look for two files: "rules" and "code." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -32- ATP and WTA Media Guides The ATP and WTA publish media guides at the beginning of every year. These guides contain tournament information, player biography, historical records and statistics. They can be ordered directly from the ATP and WTA, respectively. The price includes postage within the US. The following information is correct for the 1994 edition of the guides. (1) The ATP Player Guide costs US$20. Send a check to ATP's address in this FAQ. (2) The WTA Media Guide is also US$20. The WTA accepts VISA/MC. One can order by phone, fax, or send a check to the WTA. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -33- Addresses of TV and Tennis Organizations ABC, 77 West 66th St., New York, N.Y. 10023 (no phone; try NY's KABC) CBS, 7800 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036 (213)460-3000 NBC, 3300 West Alameda Blvd., Burbank, CA 91523 (818)840-4444 ESPN: 935 Middle St., Bristol, CT 06010, (203)-585-2000 HBO: 1100 Ave. of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, (212)512-1000 ATP: 200 ATP Tour Boulevard, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 (904)285-8000 WTA: 133 First Street NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (813) 895-5000 USTA: 70 West Red Oak Lane, White Planes, NY 10604 USA (914) 696-7000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -34- Ticket Information The following ticket information for major tournaments is provided as a service to those who may have no other source of information. The FAQ authors assume no responsibility for sudden changes in some of the ticket source information. Availability of tickets will vary from event to event and sometimes depend on how well in advance tickets are sought. In particular, for the Grand Slam events, tickets must usually be obtained well in advance (unless you plan to scalp for tickets). For Wimbledon and the French Open, it is recommended that applications for tickets be submitted in the early Fall preceding the event. Australian Open tickets usually go on sale sometime in the late Northern Hemisphere Summer (August), and US Open tickets usually go on sale starting sometime in the month of May. + Wimbledon - ticket application forms: The All England Lawn Tennis Club, PO Box 98, Wimbledon, SW19 5AE, UK (Application for ballots due 31 Dec; ballots due 31 Jan; payment after notification - early March - in Pounds Sterling by bank draft.) + French Open - ticket reservation forms (best if requested by October) Stade Roland Garros, Service Reservation, 2 Avenue Gordon Bennett, 75016 Paris, France. (Enclose a self-addressed envelope with a 95-cent or equivalent international coupon.) Payment in Francs (bank draft) should be enclosed with reservation forms when they are sent back. + US Open - (800) 524-8440 + Australian Open - Australian Open Ticket Sales, c/o BASS Victoria, GPO Box 762G, Melbourne 3001, Australia --- Tennis Australia, National Tennis Centre, Batman Avenue, Melbourne 3000, Australia + Virginia Slims Championship Ticket Info: (212) 465-6500 + Lipton (Key Biscayne) Tickets: (305) 361-5252 =============================================================================== -A1- How to Obtain the FAQ via FTP A copy of this FAQ is available via anonymous ftp on the machine rtfm.mit.edu [180.70.0.209]. The FAQ is contained in five files in the directory /pub/usenet/rec.answers/tennis-faq. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -A2- The following individuals contributed to this FAQ or provided significant information used in compiling portions of the FAQ: Christopher Smith csmith@cc.gatech.edu Shun Cheung shun.cheung@att.com Natasha Austria U58476@uicvm.uic.edu Vijay Baliga vbaliga@nickel.ucs.indiana.edu Roberto Barros roberto@dcs.gla.ac.uk Clark Coleman clc5q@uvacs.cs.Virginia.EDU Arijit Das arijeet@lorelei.ECE.Drexel.EDU Srinivasamurthy Kasibhotla kasibhot@phakt.usc.edu Jimmy Lim jlim@tartarus.uwa.edu.au Charles Lin clin@eng.umd.edu Mei-Ling Liu mliu@engineering.ucsb.edu Glenn Stein zdbr012@bay.cc.kcl.ac.uk Dan Simoes dans@ans.net Howard Zivotofsky busbh@cunyvm.bitnet ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -A3- Please send comments, suggestions, corrections, and additions to this FAQ to Christopher Smith at: csmith@cc.gatech.edu ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER This FAQ is intended solely for the private use of individuals and may be distributed on a non-profit basis. The authors request that the FAQ be distributed in its entirety. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- -- Christopher Smith . . . . . Georgia Tech. . . . . csmith@cc.gatech.edu rec.sport.tennis FAQ . . . . available via anon ftp from rtfm.mit.edu -- Christopher Smith . . . . . Georgia Tech. . . . . csmith@cc.gatech.edu rec.sport.tennis FAQ . . . . available via anon ftp from rtfm.mit.edu