Tennis Vocabulary

A ball that is served so well the opponent cannot touch it with their racquet.

A

The area between the singles and doubles sideline on each side of the court.

A

An offensive tennis shot that players hit so that they can transition up to the net to try and close out the point.

A

The area around the baseline.

B

The court’s back line that runs parallel to the net and perpendicular to the sidelines.

B

A score of 40-all, or 40-40.

D

The right side of the court.

D

The failure of both service attempts.

D

A softly hit ball with lots of backspin that lands near the net after crossing it.

D

A served ball that does not land in the proper service box.

F

A fault called against the server for stepping on or over the baseline with either foot during delivery of the serve.

F

The part of a set that is completed when one player or side either wins four points and is at least two points ahead of his or her opponent, or who wins two points in a row after deuce.

G

A stroke made after the ball has bounced; either a forehand or backhand.

G

The stroke made by hitting a ball immediately after it has touched the ground.

H

A point played over because of interference; or, a serve that hits the top of the net but is otherwise good, in which case the serve is taken again.

L

A stroke that lifts the ball high in the air, usually over the head of the opponent at the net.

L

The overall contest, usually decided by the best two-out-of-three sets.

M

A slang term for the area between the service line and the baseline.

N

A series of good hits made successfully by players.

R

The act of putting the ball into play for each point.

S

A scoring unit awarded to a player who or team that has won: (a) 6 or more games and has a two-game lead; or (b) 6 games and the tiebreak game when played at 6-all.

S

A shot that imparts backspin on the ball by hitting the ball with a high-to-low motion.

S

A hard overhead shot.

S

The fundamental movements a player performs to hit a tennis ball with the racket.

S

A stroke made by hitting the ball before it has touched the ground.

V