Coordinating Teacher: Raducanu Monica [308869]

The World of …

TENNIS

Student: [anonimizat]: Raducanu Monica

Class: 12th F

ARGUMENT

I’m a sportive. One of the things that I love the most in my life is sport. I practice fencing since I was 6 years old and I can say that my life is fiddle around it. Beside fencing I like a lot of sports: football, rugby, basketball ,tennis. I chose to make my final paper about tennis because is one of the sports that I like very much. I’m watching every big competiton in every year and support my favourites.

The big reason I like it so much is showing me how big champions can fall or stand in though situations. When I [anonimizat].

I have some athletes that I like a [anonimizat], strenght and way of thinking.

Introduction and Short History

General History

Tennis is a racket sport that can be played individually against a single opponent or between two teams of two players each. Each player uses a tennis racket that is strung with cord to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over or around a net and into the opponent's court. The object of the game is to play the ball in such a way that the opponent is not able to play a valid return. The player who is unable to return the ball will not gain a point, while the opposite player will.

The origins are still disputed. Some believe the game began in 12[anonimizat], Greeks and Romans to thank.

Historians believe that the game's ancient origin lay in 12[anonimizat] a ball was struck with the palm of the hand. Louis X of France was a keen player of jeu de paume "game of the palm", [anonimizat].

It wasn't until the 16[anonimizat] "tennis", [anonimizat] "hold!", "receive!" or "take!". [anonimizat].

Between 1859 and 1865, [anonimizat], combined elements of the game of rackets and the Spanish ball game pelota and played it on a croquet lawn in Edgbaston. Both men moved to Leamington Spa and in 1874, [anonimizat]'s [anonimizat].

On 23rd July 1884 [anonimizat]. The United States Tennis Association was created in 1881 which aimed the organisation of competion and establish the official rules.

[anonimizat]. This happend in 1885, a [anonimizat], Brasov, Ploiesti.

On 8th May 1910 [anonimizat] 12th March 1929 was founded the Romanian Societies Federation of Tennis.

Ilie Nastase is the only romanian playes who entered in big tournaments winner’s category . [anonimizat], The US Open in 1972 versus Arthur Ashe in five sets and The Rolland Garros un 1973 versus Nikola Pilic in just three sets. In dobles, Ion Tiriac has joined him by winning The Rolland Garros in 1970 in the same team with Ilie Nastase , Wimbledon in 1973 and The US Open in 1975 together with Jimmy Connors. Also, Virginia Ruzici is the first romanian women who won a big tournament. She won ,in singles, The Roland Garros in 1978 versus Mima Jausovec in two sets. In doubles, she won in the same years also The Rolland Garros in the same team with Mima Jausovec who defetead in the singles competition.

Rules, Court, Equipment

Equipment

Part of the appeal of tennis stems from the simplicity of equipment required for play. Beginners need only a racket and balls.

The components of a tennis racket include a handle, known as the grip, connected to a neck which joins a roughly elliptical frame that holds a matrix of tightly pulled strings. Many companies manufacture and distribute tennis rackets. Wilson, Head and Babolat are some of the more commonly used brands; however, many more companies exist.

Tennis balls were originally made of cloth strips stitched together with thread and stuffed with feathers. Modern tennis balls are made of hollow vulcanized rubber with a felt coating. Traditionally white, the predominant colour was gradually changed to optic yellow in the latter part of the 20th century to allow for improved visibility.

Advanced players improve their performance through a number of accoutrements. Vibration dampeners may be interlaced in the proximal part of the string array for improved feel. Racket handles may be customized with absorbent or

rubber-like materials to improve the players' grip. Players often use sweat bands on their wrists to keep their hands dry and head bands or bandanas to keep the sweat out of their eyes as well. Finally, although the game can be played in a variety of shoes, specialized tennis shoes have wide, flat soles for stability and a built-up front structure to avoid excess wear.

Court and surfaces

Tennis is played on a rectangular, flat surface. The court is 78 feet (23.77 m) long, and 27 feet (8.2 m) wide for singles matches and 36 ft (11 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. It is held up by either a metal cable or cord that can be no more than 0.8 cm (1⁄3 in). The net is 3 feet 6 inches (1.07 m) high at the posts and 3 feet (0.91 m) high in the center. The net posts are 3 feet (0.91 m) outside the doubles court on each side or, for a singles net, 3 feet (0.91 m) outside the singles court on each side.

A court can be played on four main surfaces including grass, clay, hard surface and carpet. Each tournament will choose one surface type and stick without throughout. All that is required in terms of equipment is a stringed racket each and a tennis ball.

Scoring and Winning

You need to score four points to win a game of tennis. The points are known as 15 (1 point), 30 (two points), 40 (three points) and the fourth would result in the winning point and the end of that game. If the scores went to 40-40 this would be known as deuce. When a game reaches deuce the player must then win by two clear points.

To win the match you must win a certain amount of sets (best of three for women’s matches and best of 5 sets for men’s matches). Winning a set is simply the first player to reach 6 games but have to be clear by at least 2 games. If your opponent wins 5 games you must win the set 7-5. If the set goes to 6-6 then a tie break is played and it’s simply the first player who reaches 7 points.

Rules

The game starts with a coin toss to determine which player must serve first and which side they want to serve from.

The server must then serve each point from alternative sides on the base line. At no point must the server’s feet move in front of the baseline on the court prior to hitting their serve.

If the server fails to get their first serve in they may take advantage of a second serve. If they again fail to get their second serve in then a double fault will be called and the point lost.

If the server clips the net but the ball goes in the service area still then let is called and they get to take that serve again without penalty. If the ball hits the net and fails to go in the service area then out is called and they lose that serve.

Once a serve has been made the amount of shots between the players can be unlimited. The point is won by hitting the ball so the opponent fails to return it in the scoring areas.

If a player touches the net, distracts his opponent or impedes in anyway then they automatically lose the point.

The ball can hit any part of the line for the point to be called in, outside the line and the ball is out.

A player loses a point if they fail to return the ball in either the correct areas on the court, hits the net and doesn’t go into opponent’s area or fails to return the ball before it bounces twice in their half.

Tournaments and tours

In these chapter, I chose only the most interesting tournaments and tours. These also have a rich history and are very popular nowadays,as in the past.

The Four Majors

The four majors or Grand Slam tournaments, the four biggest competitions on the tennis circuit, are Wimbledon, the US Open, the French Open, and the Australian Open. Since the mid 1920s they became and have remained the most prestigious events in tennis. Winning these four tournaments in the same year is called the Grand Slam.

The Australian Open

Is a major tennis tournament held annually over the last fortnight of January in Melbourne, Australia. First held in 1905, the tournament is chronologically the first of the four Grand Slam tennis events of the year. The tournament holds the record for the highest attendance at a Grand Slam event. It was the first Grand Slam tournament to feature indoor play during wet weather or extreme heat with its three primary courts, the Rod Laver Arena, Hisense Arena and the refurbished Margaret Court Arena equipped with retractable roofs. Prior to 1988 the tournament had been played on grass. Since 1988 two types of hardcourt surfaces have been used at Melbourne Park – green to 2007 and from 2008.

The French Open- Rolland Garros

Is a major tennis tournament held over two weeks between late May and early June at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France. Named after the French aviator Roland Garros, it is the premier clay-court tennis championship event in the world and the second of four annual Grand Slam tournaments. Is the only Grand Slam event held on clay and ends the clay-court season. Because of the slow-playing surface and the five-set men's singles matches without a tiebreak in the final set, the event is widely considered to be the most physically demanding tennis tournament in the world.

The Wimbledon

Is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, and is widely considered the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877 and is played on outdoor grass courts. Since the Australian Open shifted to hardcourt in 1988, Wimbledon is the only major still played on grass. The tournament takes place over two weeks in late June and early July. Wimbledon traditions include a strict dress code for competitors(all white) and Royal patronage. The tournament is also notable for the absence of sponsor advertising around the courts. In 2009, Wimbledon's Centre Court was fitted with a retractable roof to lessen the loss of playing time due to rain.

The United States Open Tennis Championship

The US Open is a hardcourt tennis tournament. It has been chronologically the fourth and final tennis major comprising the Grand Slam each year. The US Open is held annually, starting on the last Monday in August, and lasting for two weeks into September. The tournament is the modern version of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the U.S. National Championship, for which men's singles was first contested in 1881. he US Open is the only Grand Slam that employs tiebreakers in every set of a match.

Tours

The David Cup

The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested annually between teams from competing countries in a knock-out format. It is described by the organisers as the "World Cup of Tennis", and the winners are referred to as the World Champion team. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Great Britain and the United States. By 2016, 135 nations entered teams into the competition. The most successful countries over the history of the tournament are the United States winning 32 tournaments and Australia with 28 tournaments.

The Fed Cup

Fed Cup is the premier international team competition in women's tennis, launched in 1963 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the International Tennis Federation . The competition was known as the Federation Cup until 1995. The Fed Cup is the world's largest annual women's international team sports competition, in terms of the number of nations that compete.The men's equivalent of the Fed Cup is the Davis Cup. Australia, Czech Republic and the United States are the only countries that have held both the Fed Cup and Davis Cup at the same time.

Tennis Stars

Tennis Stars of 90’s

Pete Sampras-is a retired American tennis player and former world No. 1 regarded as one of the greatest players in tennis history. He debuted on the professional tour in 1988 and finished his career at the 2002 US Open, which he won, defeating rival Andre Agassi in the final. He was particularly esteemed for his precise serve, earning the nickname "Pistol Pete".

2. Andre Agassi-is an American retired professional tennis player and former World No. 1, who was one of the game's most dominant players from the early 1990’s to the mid-2000’s. Generally considered by critics and fellow players to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Agassi had been called the greatest service returner in the history of the game.

3. Stefanie Maria "Steffi" Graf -is a German former tennis player, who was ranked world No. 1 during her career. Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles. Her 22 singles titles puts her second on the list of Major wins by a tennis player in the Open Era and is third all-time behind Margaret Court (24) and Serena Williams (23).

4. Monica Seles-is a former Yugoslav world no. 1 professional tennis player and a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. She won nine Grand Slam singles titles, eight of them while a citizen of Yugoslavia and the final as a citizen of United States of America. In 1990, Seles became the youngest-ever French Open champion at the age of 16.

Tennis Stars of the present

1. Serena Williams- is an American professional tennis player. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world No. 1 in singles on seven occasions. She became the world No. 1 for the first time on 8th July2002, and achieved this ranking for the seventh time on 30th January 2017.

Williams holds the most major titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles combined amongst active players. Her record of 39 major titles puts her third on the all-time list and second in the open era: 23 in singles, 14 in women's doubles, and 2 in mixed doubles.

Her total of 23 Grand Slam singles titles marks the record for the most Major wins by a tennis player in the Open Era, and is second on the all-time list behind Margaret Court with 24.

2. Simona Halep- is a Romanian professional tennis player. Halep first broke into the world's top 50 at the end of 2012, and reached the top 20 in August 2013 and finally the top 10 in January 2014. She won her first 6 WTA titles in the same calendar year in 2013 being named the WTA's Most Improved Player. In this moment, Simona is on 4th place in world according to WTA.

3. Roger Federer-is a Swiss professional tennis player who is currently ranked world No. 10 by the Association of Tennis Professionals .Many players and analysts have called him the greatest tennis player of all time. Federer has won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, the most in history for a male tennis player and held the No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings for a total of 302 weeks. In majors, Federer has won 5 Australian Open titles, 7 Wimbledon titles, 5 US Open titles and 1 French Open title.

4. Novak Nole Djokovic- is a Serbian professional tennis player who is currently ranked world No. 2 in men's singles tennis by the Association of Tennis Professionals . He is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Djokovic has won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, the fourth most in history, and held the No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings for a total of 223 weeks. In majors, Djokovic has won six Australian Open titles, three Wimbledon titles, two US Open titles and one French Open title. In 2016, he became the eighth player in history to achieve the Career Grand Slam. By winning the 2016 French Open, Djokovic became the third man to hold all four major titles at once, the first since Rod Laver in 1969, and the first ever to do so on three different surfaces.

ATP Current Ranking 2017-first 10 men

WTA Current Ranking 2017-first 10 women

Conclusion

My final paper presents just a little part from the world of this beautiful and elegant sport , tennis. It had and have also a huge impact on this planet.

We can say about how it influences the media. How many people are watching tennis matches, reading the tennis news, even how many people are coming to support their favourites on the court. Not to mention how much money organizers, players earn, and how much it costs a good ticket at a final Slam for example.

On the other hand, tennis is an alternative to relax- not speaking about professionals players. Accoring to an american study, tennis and other physical activities are usually considered excellent forms of stress relief. It helps you concentrate more and makes you forget about your worries, meeting,upsets. Also, is a good way to work out because psyhical activies need to be in your schedule almost every day.

To strenghten my argument and finish my paper in a funny note, here is a quote by Novak Djokovic who said that Tennis is a mental game everyone is fit. Everyone hits great forehand and backhands.

Bibliography

http://live-tennis.eu/en/wta-live-ranking

http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/rankings/singles

http://www.rulesofsport.com/sports/tennis.html

http://www.optimumtennis.net/tennis-mental-game.htm

www.wikipedia.com

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