Professional Tennis Player

If the official calls a ball "in" when you know 99.9% it was "out", do you actually have any recourse? Can you get a call overturned? (as you can tell, I almost never watch tennis)

Asked by Cynthia over 13 years ago

Unfortunately, mostly all you can do is complain to the official and let him hear your case. If the professional event is lucky enough to be able to afford the "shot spot" technology then you can challenge the officials call(limited number of these per set) and a very slow, zoomed in view of the shot is reviewed and the system confirms or denies the officials call. The technology is still a very recent innovation, but is proving its worth and has almost full support from the professional community at this point. All tennis players can attest to inquiring about the real truth behind an opponents call. Had I been able to use this technology my whole life, I would have avoided thousands of confrontations with opponents!

I played high school varsity tennis and took a team trip to one of those Florida high school+tennis academies and got destroyed by 12 year olds. Do some elite players still develop 'organically' WITHOUT immersing themselves in one of those full-time academies?

Asked by mrx over 13 years ago

Sure. Some of the best pros in the world were taught by one individual or a family member until sometimes very late stages(age 13-14+) of their development. Growing up in Bradenton, FL since age 12 I was surrounded by the factory academies(IMG, Saddlebrook, etc). They are a great resource for most players looking to develop their game but if you tend not to enjoy being herded around like cattle, I would recommend a more private experience. I was able to find a small-medium size camp that I loved due to similar, if not better coaching than IMG could provide with more personal attention. Sure, if you can afford to pay Nick Bolletiere his $1000/hr price than you would get world class eyes and advice on your strokes. If you look up three random professional players in the top 50, they would all most likely have a very different experience through their childhood tennis training years. Dedication, training, fitness, and competition are the key elements to success in tennis. If you can check all four of those off on a regular basis, your game will dramatically improve. If you want to amp up your ability even more start focusing on your diet, and begin a stretching regiment. Try a hot yoga class, you'll never sweat so much and you'll leave more limber.

Could you beat Serena Williams in a single's match? (I've heard analysts say that despite her dominance on the women's tour, most top college men's players could beat her easily, given their strength advantage.)

Asked by Kyle over 13 years ago

Yes. Now let me explain. I'll break it down into three main differences between the level of men's and women's PROFESSIONAL tennis. 1. The Serve - The most crucial shot in tennis and the shot with the largest difference in performance from a male to a female. ATP(Men) player's first serve speed can reach 150mph, but usually averages around 115-125mph. WTA(Women) player's first serve can reach 125mph, with an average usually around 90-105mph. The speed difference alone changes the dynamic of the beginning of the point. Less reaction time, more ground to cover in less time, and all the attributes that go along with a faster first shot. This leads into point number 2. 2. Court coverage - The next time you watch tennis, consider the ground covered by each opponent during the point. Now consider each competitor as a soccer goalie whose only(basically) job is to keep the ball in front of them without letting it past. Now imagine that one goalie can cover 20 feet side to side at any given time but the other can cover 25 feet in the same time. Now double that difference since you can be exploited both side to side and front to back on the court and you'll begin to see where the holes in the court appear. The holes I'm speaking off are the areas where the female would be unable to get to that next shot to continue to point. 3. SPIN - Can't say enough about this tricky part of tennis. Spin is powered by strength and power, similar to the speed of the ball. So when considering the serves for instance, the female game has a few who utilize the kick(spin) serve well but in the men's game it is a staple of almost all players. This allows the player to not only put the ball higher up on the returner but also farther away from them. In review, the most important shot in tennis is 20-25 mph different from the men's to women's game. Pro men can cover approximately five more feet in any direction at any given time. Last but not least, spin is utilized on a completely different level by men and provides a foreign element that is non-existent in the women's game today. Simply put, every top 1000 ATP mens player will beat every women in the top 10 of the WTA due to the fact that the speed, court coverage, and spin are that of a player the Women's game has never seen. Yes, Serena is a powerful beast. But she is slow...and any men's professional player would immediately exploit that. **When I was 16, I played a practice match versus a top 500 WTA player training with my camp for the week. Exactly in those three areas is where I found my advantage. My serve(the power then the spin), and my court coverage compared to hers. I would love to see the women's game adapt to a best out of five set format for the majors like the men. You don't see marathon running women run 60% of the race then stop. The same should apply for tennis. I agree with equal prize money, but you should have to earn that.

Ever see a player-on-player fight break out?

Asked by WilsonJoe over 13 years ago

I have seen more parents fight than competitors. Many pushing matches, but no full on player on player fights. However, I did get sucker punched once after a match. I get into the matches, and I fight for my rights on the court. When I suspect someone of cheating me, it gets personal. I was about 15, playing in a high level sectional event in FL and after beating a notorious cheater somewhat easily(and for the first time in three attempts), I let him hear it. He had tortured me with dishonest calls for years now and I was ready to tell him that era was finished. After jawing with him back and forth to the pro shop, I set my things down and turned away to watch a friend play. Next thing I know, I got socked in the head and he is running to the parking lot cursing me out. My coach held me back from chasing him down, which was smart for my tennis career and probably also my face...The USTA suspended him for a year and I never faced him again.

What's the worst tennis-related injury you ever had to deal with?

Asked by s0s0 over 13 years ago

Double groin pull. Slid into a shot at full stride only to lose basic function of my legs for weeks. Very painful, however a close second place goes to losing control of my racket after a serve only to have it bounce of the hard court and drill my throat at full force.

What makes someone a good doubles player versus a singles player?

Asked by Xcourt over 13 years ago

Regarding doubles from a mental standpoint, communication is key. As opposed to singles, where there is no one but yourself to deal with. Physically, players of all sizes have found success with both singles and doubles but especially in doubles length and quick, explosive movement rules all.

What was the most heartbreaking match you've ever played?

Asked by Argos over 13 years ago

In the first round of NCAA competition, my freshmen year Brown University team matched up against a highly ranked Notre Dame team in 2006. With the match tied at 3-3 and all other matches completed, we watched as a teammate went through full body cramps only to eventually lose in a close three-set match. It would have been the program’s biggest win in twenty years or so. Heartbreaking every time I think about it!

How good of a tennis player do you have to be to get sponsored?

Asked by Borscht over 13 years ago

There are all sorts of sponsorships from even simple discounts from various manufacturers to full-on, “we will send you anything you want, anytime.” Sponsors are generally looking for long-term impact so they have a tendency to target the most talented, youngest players available. Sometimes it can be a game of who you know, but anyone who is consistently able to compete at the challenger level will be able to attain multiple sponsorships.

Who do you think is the best tennis player today?

Asked by beetznbeats over 13 years ago

Tough question but my gut says Roger Federer. Most number of majors won, most consistent of anyone out there. Players can get hot as Novak Djokovic did over the last season but I see Roger continuing on his record setting career with more major grand slam wins.

Do tennis pros have groupies?

Asked by sympatik over 13 years ago

While tennis at the highest level has quite a following, the term "groupies" would be used rarely to describe many of the Futures or Open level tournaments. However, from tournament to tournament, the interest and fan support is different at each club or site. However, not having fans for many of the matches makes it all the more thrilling when you are able to play in front of hundreds of engaged fans of the sport.

Ever have an outburst that got you in serious hot water with an official? What happened?

Asked by CodyYYZ over 13 years ago

Yes, many times. My most regrettable outburst was in a college match vs. Stanford. I was in a tie-breaker in the third set and I lost a point to go down 6-5 and I yelled..."Fuuuuu***..." but didnt exactly finish out the curse word. Regardless, the official gave my point penalty for the obscenity which ended the match. I pleaded my case of saying half(ok maybe 2/3's of the word) but he heard none of it. Worst part was this was a live streaming match through Stanford's website and many family members were watching....Not my brightest moment. One match after many disagreements with an official, I accidentally smacked a return aggressively and hit the official in the ear with a 80+mph shot. He was so emotional about getting hit that he tried to default me from the match since he thought I meant to hit him. Another official calmed him down and they gave him the rest of the day off. He was fine and I never saw that official again...I hope he didn't quit because of that.

Do you play singles, doubles, or both? Do you prefer one over the other?

Asked by KingFed over 13 years ago

I currently play both singles and doubles. Each game is quite unique and equally challenging. It is hard not to love the ultimate battle of one person versus another but doubles brings an increased pace which I prefer. Also, over my life of tennis my highest achievements have come from the doubles court, so my opinion will naturally sway in that direction!

What do you think of John McEnroe's suggestions that tennis should switch back to wooden racquets to avoid lame serve-only points and encourage more exciting rallies, and also that coaching should be allowed during the match? Will any significant changes to the rules happen in our lifetimes, perhaps to make the sport more exciting or fan-friendly?

Asked by BiggieT over 13 years ago

Great question. I believe they intended to increase excitement for the game by allowing stronger materials to be used in the formation of the racket. It definitely did for some, but I believe it turned off a significant viewership of baby boomers who would like to watch Bjorg-McEnroe(ping-pong style tennis) for the rest of their lives. In the game today, we see a final like last Sunday involving John Isner and Roger Federer. One brute power and length, Isner - versus control and marksmanship, Federer. The technological advancements have altered the game and shots deemed impossible before are now...well you get the point. The largest change in the game due to technology is the level of strength and fitness that is necessary to succeed at this level today. Since the ball moves faster, the pace of play increases and thus every aspect of the game is intensified. Footwork needs to be quicker, mind needs to think faster, and the body has to exert more physical power to stay in a rally, let alone win said rally. So with technological advancements, we have created in my mind a better game. A game that is faster, more explosive, more intriguing, and an even tougher test of mental and physical strain on all competitors. Regarding coaching on the court, I wouldn't be opposed to it. I went through coaching on the court during Div. 1 collegiate play and enjoyed the extra set of eyes. But lets be honest, most people are getting coached from the stands anyway... What I'd like to see in terms of innovating the sport: Get the fans as close as possible - extra seating, courtyard seating like in basketball, etc. Music during the match could be interesting but probably will never be received well because players use the sound of the ball coming off the racket to determine qualities about the shot coming their way. AT LEAST play some music on the changeovers when everyone is waiting anyway(some tournaments have adopted this, but not nearly enough) Continue to implement the shot spot system, it engages the crowd and allows the players a stand against umpires Can I request cheerleaders? for no particular reason..

Assuming your name isn't Federer or Roddick, what kind of money can a lesser-ranked pro earn in a year?

Asked by plankjob over 13 years ago

I would estimate that the players I compete with on a week-to-week basis at the Open/Futures/Challenger level tournaments would make from $15,000-$50,000. The key is to get sponsored, so at least all of the tennis-related expenses are taken care of.

What match in your career are you most proud of?

Asked by Argos over 13 years ago

As my professional career has recently begun, I revert back to my team tennis experience at Brown University. My freshmen year I was immediately thrust into conference play and somewhat randomly and due to the length of my match, I found that all the eyes had shifted to my own court. I was able to win a close one to clinch the ivy league title for our squad in 2006.

After a bad shot, why do so many players fiddle with their strings, as if the strings were to blame?

Asked by joeygolden over 13 years ago

For most players the act of fiddling with their strings is a ritual to keep them focused on the match and not on any distracting factors. However after a long point, or sometimes randomly the string pattern can move around a bit which can change the rackets feel quite a bit. And yes, some pros will use their racket as the scapegoat on almost every missed shot. However, you won't see them praising their racket when they hit an amazing shot.

How'd you wind up playing tennis instead of going the traditional 9-to-5 route?

Asked by pingping over 13 years ago

After playing division one collegiate tennis and graduating, I decided to move directly to NYC and pursue a life without sports. After a summer internship with a beer distributor, I again came back to tennis and taught for nearly eight months in NYC before requiring major surgery on my back. Following the radiation, rehab, and recovery, I began to feel a sudden urge to compete after being forcibly unable to exercise for nearly nine months. I realized at the age of twenty-three, my time was limited and I jumped in with both feet.

If you weren't playing tennis for a living, what would you be doing?

Asked by Starterwife over 13 years ago

I would probably still be working in the real estate sector (which I left to pursue my tennis career), primarily leasing residential and commercial spaces in NYC. Also, I would be able to allocate more time to the start-up vending machine business my partners and I have been working on since last year.

How much do you need to practice per day/week?

Asked by slowhand over 13 years ago

Every player is different. From what they need, to how they prepare, to what they do the second they finish a match. If I had to put a minimum on hours per week that you must spend ON THE COURT to have a chance competing, it would be around 15hrs/week. However, I've witnessed upwards of 30 hrs/week from the real work horses but that is truly rare. To put it simply, if you had a day job you'd spend approximately 35-40 hours dedicated to that practice. Tennis is no different. If you spend 30-40 hours/week of court time, gym time, track time, and the ever important stretching time you'll be headed in the right direction.

Do you support the Hawkeye and other instant-replay systems in tennis?

Asked by marioo over 13 years ago

Absolutely. Unfortunately, it is very expensive and not all professional tournaments will be able to adopt it for quite some time. I am in full support for its ability to give the player a voice on the court rather than the head official reigning supreme over all calls. This is essential, and all the pros enjoy the ability to exercise this right when available. Also, it engages the crowd. Fans are able to guess on the calls before seeing the slow motion replay and it provides added excitement to the live experience.

A ball hit my partner's foot while she was standing behind the baseline. She called the ball out and, subsequently, our point. Do I recall correctly that Maria Sharapova had a similar circumstance and the point was given to the opponent?

Asked by Amy almost 10 years ago

What is a good string tension for a control racket ?

Asked by smashingbaby98 over 9 years ago

I shifted from heavy topspin shot to simple forehand shot because i could not produce enough thrust, did i made the right decision? please help

Asked by taimoor almost 9 years ago

Hi:)
I am 12 years old (13 in December) i want to begin to play tennis but it is too late to begin? I am gonna work hard but i dont know if it's too late. Please answer, i really want to begin

Asked by diana over 10 years ago

I am keen to know that when the schedule is announced at a grand slam and you are due to play the last first round match almost two days since the tournament started, does this put you at a disadvantage in that you dont get the required rest time

Asked by tom vinni almost 8 years ago

Can tell me why Nadal even after winning French open did not get the points and still fell to number two after federer won this last 250 points last Sunday ?

Asked by Lucas about 7 years ago

I know that in doubles serving the ball is pretty important. That said, Why doesn't John Isner and Ivo Karlovic team up and dominate?

Asked by johnpopii almost 9 years ago

What is the most important aspect of a tennis grip? Is it the position of the hand or the force you hold the racket with? Or another aspect?

Asked by Matt over 7 years ago

I play if future men tour I lose 0 2 or 0 1 while each game either I have a game point or duce and
Where the problem

Asked by Sayyad almost 4 years ago

My daughter is 11,has been playing competitive tennis about (2) years.Has good form,The basics taught well by Mom. Can you advise a string tension ? Doesn't use much spin. Rather drives the ball. Moderate speed. She is a pretty good player.

Asked by Kaveman almost 8 years ago

About the Hawkeye replay
how is a tennis ball called in or out when it is either in or out by milimeter since the ball is round and only about a half an inch of the ball comes in contact with court

Asked by Jay over 10 years ago

Hi I have problems with my forehand. If I don't play even a few days then I can hardly hit it, it goes high or long. After 20 minutes it comes back and is my weapon again. Its pretty poor on short balls too. My backhand is very reliable.

Asked by Ian about 8 years ago

Is it ok 2 call the score when you are at deuce as "deuce 1-ad in or out and then when you get to deuce again as "deuce 2-ad in or add out?

Asked by jr938 over 10 years ago

I currently use a Head Prestige Pro tennis racquet that has a head size of 98 in and weight of 11.1 oz. The racquet is about 4 - 5 years old and I am looking to get a new racquet. What is the comparable racquet today? What is last year's model?

Asked by Scott over 3 years ago

If a serve is close to the service line and the receiver plays the ball, can his partner stop play to check the spot after the ball has been returned?

Asked by Warner almost 8 years ago

Ball hits net, then opposing player on the other side of the net hits the net, who's point is it?

Asked by Ralph about 8 years ago

On the ad side...I can serve down the T...but hitting the wide angle can't seem to do it...how can I do it??

Asked by Bobby over 6 years ago

I have a question regarding where to start a point. I've been practicing on a lot of serves, and i'm pretty confident in controlling where I hit it. I want to know, what are some decent places to aim for to start a point? ( maybe the corner?T?)

Asked by Han about 9 years ago

So my friend was playing a singles match with the score 30-40 in her advantage for match point she hit a great shot next to the line but visibly in. Both teams clearly saw the ball in and the girl called it out. Who's point would that be?

Asked by Clare over 8 years ago

Hello! Last night's doubles, an opponent fired a shot to me close to the line. Before it hit the ground inside the line, my partner thought to help me and say "It's out let it go" but I was running to it and saw it was going to be fare,....

Asked by Gari West about 9 years ago

... so I returned it for a cross court shot and won the point. The opponents exclaimed, it doesn't count and it had to be replayed because they stopped playing because of my partners remark.

Asked by Gari West about 9 years ago

If a receiver swings at the ball and misses, and the ball then lands out of bounds, does the receiver get the point?

Asked by Jessica Finney almost 11 years ago

My son is 8 and many tennis coaches think he is talented. I saw the video of Djokovic at 6 and my son was not nearly as good . He hit very well now, is able to do very difficult shots, but not consistently. Does my son have a future as a tennis star?

Asked by olga almost 11 years ago

Hi. I wanted to know that what should an unranked tennis player do to be able to participate and be placed in the main draw or qualify draw of an ITF tournament?

Asked by Amir Hossein Rabiei over 6 years ago

Why do female tennis players wear skirts? Is that just a tradition? Wouldn't they rather wear shorts?

Asked by brikhaus over 12 years ago

My friend has been sponsored since like 5th grade and we are Freshman in High School now. (By Wilson) I can beat him everytime we play 6-2 or 6-3. Or something like that. I'm not ranked or anything but I would really like to be sponsored.

Asked by Mason about 7 years ago

My current racquet is the wilson pro staff 100ls(white and red) and I'm thinking of switching to the heavier racquet the wilson pro staff 97 countervail(black and red) is this swingweight etc. difference to big of a difference if so should I look mor

Asked by Someone over 7 years ago

how can i irritate the opponent while serving, when i have to look to the point ,where i want to serve to?

Asked by halmaist over 4 years ago

I would like to know the height of the Ukrainian 15 year old Marta Kostyuk?

Asked by Marisa over 7 years ago

When pro players have a professionally run scoreboard, do they refer to it so that they can focus totally on athletic planning, or do they keep the score in working at all times like they would if there was no scoreboard?

Asked by Izzers_tennis over 6 years ago

"working memory"

Asked by Izzers_tennis over 6 years ago

Age started tennis, 4. nine trophies & more medals. played national & intern'l. All this before 14 years old. I'm now 18, and have gained 40+ lbs. Haven't been on court in more than 3 years. very sedentary. I want to be a pro player. How can i start

Asked by kowen over 9 years ago

Does being good at tennis translate to ping-pong?

Asked by Papacito over 13 years ago

Hello! Started tennis at age 17 summer 2016 & a fast learner. I really love it & am dedicated!! On high school varsity team; play with team mates whom balls sound like bullets & I still get points in. So do I still have a chance to go pro at age 18!?

Asked by TyNaNa over 8 years ago

I've been using Babolat pure storm tour GT for 3 yrs. Few mth back I felt some pain on my arm. I switched to Head youtek speed MP (lighter swing weight). When I recovered, I switched back to Babolat, & repeat the process. Am I doing the right thing ?

Asked by Jimmyallcorners over 8 years ago

The first time I held a racquet when I was 12 years old
I have the talent
if I work hard will I be a professional player?

Asked by Wonder over 8 years ago

I've been using my Babolat pure storm tour GT for 3yrs. Felt some pain on arm a mth ago, switched to Head youtek speed MP (lighter swing wgt), switched back to Babolat after recovery, & repeat. Am I doing the right thing? Aged almost 50, hard hitter

Asked by Jimmyallcorners over 8 years ago

I never hear about steroid scandals in tennis, but with your claim that strength and fitness is becoming more important than ever, I can't imagine there's not a fair amount of use. Have you ever seen or suspected anyone at the collegiate or pro level?

Asked by Estta99 over 13 years ago

Who do you think is the young player who has the best chance of breaking into the Federer/Nadal/Djokovic circle of awesomeness?

Asked by timtebow almost 13 years ago

Hey ehm im just wondering wha do u havto to go and do when u finish school to go to the next step and try to become a professional tennis player to get a scolership cause i vrilly wana go and become a pro...and advice im 15 now....

Asked by Roland over 10 years ago