TENNIS LEXICON: specific terms explained

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Ace: winning serve that the receiver couldn't touch.

Amorti: very short shot that bounces close to the net.

Break ball: when a player has the opportunity to take his opponent's serve.

Match ball: decisive ball in a match.

Break: game won by the player not on serve.

Service court: quasi-square part of the court in front of the net.

Lanes: the left and right sidebars bordering a court.

Forehand: a shot hit in the direction of the hand holding the racket.

Half-volley: racket shot made as soon as the ball bounces.

Double: tennis match played by two teams of two players.

Double fault: a player commits a double fault when two consecutive serves are not allowed. The point intended for this player is then awarded to the opponent.

Cut effect: hitting the ball so that its rotation is in the opposite direction to its movement. The ball then follows a straight path, and is stopped on the rebound. When the spin is very pronounced, the ball may spin backwards.

Lifted effect: hit the ball so that it rotates in the direction of its travel. The ball then follows a curved path, gaining speed on the rebound.

Fault: the linesman calls fault, out or out when there is a ball fault. A ball fault occurs when the ball bounces out of court, and during the serve when the ball bounces out of the service box.

Foot fault: announced by a line judge when a server's foot lands on the baseline, or the receiver's foot bites the half-court line, before the server hits the ball.

Game: to qualify a set of disputed points. In a game, the same player always serves. The role is reversed in the next game. The first player to obtain at least four points with a two-point difference wins the game.

White game: when the opponent scores no points.

Tie-break: last game of a set played to decide the winner.

Let: during a service where the ball touches the net without being faulted, and in specific situations. In this case, the player is asked to serve again.

Back line: line used to delimit the back of the court. The single line is 8.23 meters long, and the double line is 10.97 meters long.

Lob: a stroke made with the racket to get the ball over the opponent's head.

Match: set

Passing-shot: a shot hit to one side to counter an opponent close to the net.

Forty-A: a score of forty everywhere. The letter "A" refers to the English word "all", meaning "everywhere".

Fifteen, thirty, forty: A game is over when a player wins 4 points.

Revers: the opposite of the forehand.

Service: to designate the start of play when the ball is sent into the service box by the server.

Set: a set of games played.

Singles: a match played by two players only.

Slice: an effect used when serving and in certain exchanges. It enables the ball to follow a curved trajectory.

Smash: a fast ball struck up and down.

Volley: when a ball is struck before it bounces. Most often after it has risen above the net.

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