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Do you have a passion for tennis? Are you an avid follower of grand slam tournaments like the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and not to forget, the italian team performance in the Davis Cup? Let's dive into some fascinating trivia about the world of tennis that might surprise even the most knowledgeable fans.
The Duration of a Tennis Match: No Time limits
Contrary to many sports, tennis matches are not bound by time. Victory is determined by the number of sets won, irrespective of the duration. Typically, tennis matches span two to three hours. However, there have been exceptional instances, especially since the introduction of the tie-break rule in 1973 by the International Tennis Federation. The record for the longest professional tennis match is held by John Isner and Nicolas Mahut, who battled it out at Wimbledon on June 24, 2010. The marathon match lasted a staggering 11 hours and five minutes, spread over three days, with Isner emerging as the victor.
The 'Hairy' Aspect of Tennis Balls: More Control, Less Speed
Have you ever wondered about the fuzz on tennis balls? This 'hair' allows the players to control their shots better. Without it, the ball would skid off unpredictably. The fuzz enables the racquet strings to momentarily grip the ball, compress it, and help the player execute their desired shot. Additionally, the fuzz increases the air resistance, slowing the ball down and reducing its bounce. When balls lose their fuzz through wear and tear, they tend to slide off on court surfaces upon rebound. The 'hair' is created
during the manufacturing process, where steam is used to lift the fluff off the felt covering the rubber core.
The Art of Observing the Ball in Tennis
In professional tennis, players scrutinize balls before hitting. This is done to choose the most convenient ball to use, not necessarily the newest one. After seven games from the start of the match (and every nine games following the first changeover), athletes serve with new balls. As balls deflate and change their rebound characteristics with each violent blow, many tennis players swap their racquets every two games to match the level of ball wear.
Tennis Technology: Measuring Ball Speed in Wimbledon
How is the speed of a tennis ball measured in tournaments like Wimbledon? Stay tuned for an in-depth look at the technological aspects of tennis in upcoming posts.
The Purpose of Dampeners in Tennis
Dampeners, or small pin-like plastic pieces, are attached to the strings of racquets to reduce the vibrations resulting from ball impact. These are beneficial in protecting the wrist, elbow and arm joints, especially for power players. However, some technical players, like Roger Federer, believe that dampeners lessen the feel of their stroke, hence choose not to use them.
Why are Tennis Courts Made of Red Clay?
The traditional red clay of tennis courts, like those at Roland Garros and the Internazionali d'Italia, is made from waste material from brick production. The finer the material, the better the quality of the surface. Besides red clay, some tournaments in the United States use green clay derived from fragmented basalt. Blue clay was trialed at the Madrid tournament in 2012 for television visibility, but was deemed too slippery for players.
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