#hopper is made of velcro unfortunately

[vroomian]

Omg mouse and hazle playing together for the first time!!!

[lowkeyder]

Monica Puig (PUR) vs Angelique Kerber (GER) - Women's Tennis Singles Final | Rio 2016 (Sport Performance Analysis)

A blog written by Frea Dea C. Segovia

Introduction

The flaming close game between Monica Puig (PUR) and Angelique Kerber (GER) was held at the Olympic Tennis Centre in the Barra Olympic Park in Barra da Tijuca in the west zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 13, 2016. In the end, Monica Puig beats Angelique Kerber, winning the gold medal with 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 triumph.

Court Dimensions

As mentioned, the scorching competition between the two outstanding tennis players was held at the Olympic Tennis Centre. The tennis venue has an overall length of 78 ft / 23.77 m; an overall width of 27 ft / 8.23 m (Singles), 36 ft / 10.97 m (Doubles); and an overall surface area of 2,106 sq ft / 195.7 sq m (Singles), 2,808 sq ft / 260.9 sq m (Doubles). The length of service box is 21 ft / 6.4 m, width of service box is 13.5 ft / 4.1m, area of each service box is 283.5 sq ft / 26.3 sq m, backcourt (no man’s land) is 18 ft / 5.5 m x 27 ft / 8.2 m (486 sq ft / 45.2 sq m), and doubles alley of 39 ft / 11.9 m x 4.5 ft / 1.4 m (175.5 sq ft / 16.3 sq m). Furthermore, its net has dimensions of 3ft / 0.9m high in the centeequr, 3.5ft / 1.1 m high at the net posts. Lastly, the center line is 4″ / 0.1 m long.

Equipment

1. Tennis Uniform - when playing tennis, both men and women usually wear a shirt. If you wear a sleeved or sleeveless cotton blend top, you will feel cooler and more relaxed. However, some courts do not sanction sleeveless shirts, so double-check their policies first.

2. Tennis Racquet or Racket - is a bat with a long handle attached to a circular frame covered in a network of tight strings; used to strike the ball.

3. Tennis Balls - are neon yellow in organized tournaments, but they can be any color in casual play. They are wrapped in a fibrous felt that alters their aerodynamic properties, and each is adorned with a white curvilinear oval.

4. Tennis Shoes - a sports shoe with a rubber bottom and a leather or hard cotton top that is ideal for tennis sport.

5. Tennis Bag - is a bag used to transport a player's tennis rackets.

6. Net - is a mesh that divides tennis court in half.

7. Grip Tape - tennis players use this to tape the handle of their racket.

8. Arm Sleeves - it's also known as a tennis compression sleeve. This prevents the muscles from tightening and gives the arm support.

9. Ball Clips - are similar to every other clip or holder. When playing tennis, these allow a ball to be clipped onto a player's shorts or trousers.

10. Ball Hoppers - is one of the most popular methods for moving tennis balls around a tennis court. When collecting or using balls, this is normally made with wheels so that a player can wheel the hopper around the court.

11. Carts - is similar to a tennis ball hopper, except this one still has wheels and a handle, and it's made to hold tennis balls.

12. Elbow Brace - is used to relieve pain and strengthen a player's grip strength. It has two velcro straps that wrap around the elbow and add a lot of cold pressure to the inflamed area.

13. Hats - a visor is what it's classified as. This hat is made with the top of the hat left open, making it lighter than other styles of hats.

14. Knee Brace - is sometimes worn by a player who has or has had knee issues in the past. This does not mean that a player's knee is any better than it is. Furthermore, if a player takes a strange turn or falls to the court, this protects the knee from further injury.

15. Bandana/Headbands - it collects sweat and prevents it from interfering with a player's results. This is wrapped around a player's head to catch moisture to keep it out of their eyes.

16. Rosin - is a sticky substance made from the sap of fir trees that helps players strengthen their grip on their racket while still keeping their hands dry.

17. Sweat Bands - tennis players use this to wipe sweat off their forehand and wear it on their wrists.

18. Racket Grips - the tennis racket may now have a smoother, more personalized grip. This aids the tennis racket to have a smoother, more personalized grip.

19. Towels - during the course of a game, a player uses this to wipe sweat off their face and hands.

20. Visors - it's also known as a tennis hat, and it's a lot lighter than most hats.

Basic Skills

Serve. A serve is the stroke used to begin each point in a tennis match. It is one of the most important shots in tennis since it is the only stroke over which a player has full control. A successful serve gives the player serving some control over the point's outcome. This is because the server receives the first strike and can restrict the number of strikes based on the strength, spin, and shot placement.

Groundstroke. After the ball has bounced once on the court, a groundstroke is a forehand or backhand stroke. It's one of the most basic shots in tennis, and it's usually hit from the back of the court during a baseline rally. Groundstrokes, on the other hand, can be played from any point on the court as long as the tennis ball has bounced. A groundstroke is still a groundstroke whether it is struck from the center of the court (around the service line) or even closer to the net. A volley, drive volley, or smash is when the ball is struck in the air before bouncing.

Volley. The ball is shot out of the air until it bounces on the court in a volley stroke. Both the forehand and backhand volley strokes are included in the word "volley." A volley can be played from almost any spot, but it is most commonly done when a player is closer to the net. A groundstroke or half volley is a shot in which the ball bounces until a player makes a contact with it.

Overhead Smash. An overhead smash is a tennis stroke in which the player hits the ball with his or her racquet raised above his or her head in a serve-like motion. This shot is also known as a smash or an overhead shot, and the two words are synonymous. Since this is the most common type of the shot, the word "smash" or "overhead" typically refers to the "forehand smash" or "forehand overhead." When a player is unable to move into a position to hit the more effective forehand smash, the backhand smash is used.

Technical and Tactical Skills

Monica Puig. Attaining the triumph and winning the gold surely are surely two of the indications on how skilled and well-grounded this player is in the field of the tennis sport. Throughout the whole game, she has proven her worth with the aid of her exceptional technical and tactical skills. Three of the strategies and techniques she had utilized are overhead, forehand volley, and slice. Firstly, her overhead is probably the most fascinating to see amongst the tennis players I’ve seen before. It’s amazing how comfortable she is as she stands close to the net, and eventually hits the ball over her head. This skill is one of the basic skills, but she turned it into something much more extraordinary. Secondly, her forehand volley in which has aided immensely in making her opponent vulnerable and allowed her to be able to shorten the points, taking the time away from her opponent. Although this skill may be seen as difficult for others to do, she has managed to execute it well with the help of her firm hands and exceptional reflexes. Lastly, her slice was pretty much the skill that has helped her attain triumph and the gold medal. As observed, she has utilized this skill with her own strategy. It’s astonishing to see how she perfectly swings the racket through the bottom of the ball. Moreover, this very skill has given her the ability to be able to change the pace of the game and to further add variations, the reason for her success.

Angelique Kerber. Although this player has unfortunately didn’t manage to obtain the gold, it shouldn’t be the reason to see her as a less skilled and well-ground player in the sport. Having her as an opponent is certainly hard and difficult. Indeed, regardless of the hapless result, she has still proven to the world how amazing she is as a tennis player, and that she is worthy of representing her country in such competition. Three of the strategies and techniques she had utilized are return, backhand volley, and serve. Firstly, her return is very alluring to watch as an audience. It’s unbelievable how fast her reflexes are in seeing the ball’s direction and eventually hitting the ball back to the other side. This skill has given her the advantage to overcome her opponent at some time of the game. Secondly, her backhand volley is inevitably one of the highlights of her skills. This strategy has given her the capability to be dominant over her opponent at some point. It shortens the span of time that her opponent has, and has been helpful in providing her the upper hand in the game. Lastly, her serve is probably the best one I’ve seen so far. Although it’s just a basic skill, this has aided in her survival in the competition. Indeed, she has great and absolute control over it, as observed. Thus, this has also given her the advantage to give herself an edge compared to her opponent in the game.

Rules of the Game

General Rules

1. For play to proceed, the ball must land within bounds; if a player hits the ball outside of bounds, they will lose a point.

2. Players and teams are not allowed to touch the net or cross over to the opposing team's side.

3. The ball cannot be carried or caught with the racquet by the players or teams.

4. Players are not allowed to strike the ball twice.

5. Players must wait until the ball has passed through the net before returning it.

6. A player loses a point if he or she does not return a live ball until it bounces twice.

7. It is a penalty if the ball strikes or hits the players.

8. A penalty is imposed if the racquet leaves the player's side or if verbal violence occurs.

9. Any ball that bounces on the boundary lines is considered a good ball.

10. Before the receiving player can return a serve, it must first bounce.

Scoring

1. Points - smallest unit of measurement. Points increment from Love (0)-15-30-40-game.

2. Games - Games - each game is worth four points, and a player wins if he or she scores four points with at least a two-point advantage.

3. Sets - a set consists of six games, with the winner being the player/team that completes the first six games with at least a two-point advantage.

4. If the game score is 6-6 and advantage set rules are used, a player/team can only win a set if they have a two-game lead.

5. Matches are usually played in best of three or best of five sets.

6. If you get a score of 40-40, you get a deuce. To win the game, a player or team must score two consecutive points. A player has an advantage if they win one point, but if they lose the next point, the score is deuce.

7. Tie-break game - if the game score is 6-6 and the tie-break set rules are in place, the players must play a tie-break game to determine who wins the set. To win a tie-break game, a player or team must score 7 points with a two-point lead. In a tie-break game, player 1 serves the first point, player 2 serves the next two points, and player 1 serves the final two points.

Officiating the Sport

Line Umpires. At all levels of competitions, line umpires get to call the shots – literally. It might sound easy, but the best Line Umpires must be able to focus for long periods of time, work well with others, and have outstanding eyesight. They serve as an additional set of eyes and ears for the Chair Umpire in addition to calling the lines. The easiest way to get on the court at tennis tournaments around the world is to become a Line Umpire.

Chair Umpires. The Chair Umpire is the most important person on the court during a match, apart from the players. During a match, the Chair Umpire is in charge of everything from calling the score to enforcing the rules and handling the players. Great communication skills, the ability to remain calm under pressure, and 20:20 vision is all expected of a good Chair Umpire.

Community Official. Volunteering as a Community Official is a wonderful way to get interested in tennis at the grassroots level. They are in charge of a variety of courts during a tournament or competition. They offer an assistance and education to players, parents, and coaches, as well as assisting in the smooth operation of an event. Community Officials begin as Court Monitors, assisting in the identification of on-court issues, but soon advance to Court Supervisors, assisting in the enforcement of the Rules of Tennis and the Code of Behavior, as well as resolving on-court issues.

Referees. The Referee is the only authority on all rules and regulations. Referees are in charge of all facets of a tournament, from the draws and schedules to implementing the rules and ensuring that everything runs smoothly and fairly. Being a referee necessitates extensive knowledge of tennis rules, the ability to multi-task in a high-pressure setting, and the ability to listen and interact effectively with all tournament participants.

References & Photo Credits

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http://protennistips.net/tennis-rules/

https://www.tennis.com.au/learn/ballkids-officials-coaches-and-volunteers/officiating/types-of-tennis-official

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