FAQ - Table of Contents FAQ Version 1.50 A - 28 April 1998 Part 1 - Tournaments 1.1 - Schedule of Grand Slam Tournaments (1998) 1.2 - Recent Grand Slam Event Highlights 1.3 - ATP Tour Championships and Grand Slam Cup 1.4 - Explanation of ATP Tour "Super 9" 1.5 - Tournament Results - Last 12 Months 1.6 - 1998 Tournament Calendar 1.7 - Davis Cup 1.8 - Fed Cup Part 2 - Rankings 2.1 - ATP - ATP Tour Rankings (Men) 2.2 - WTA - COREL WTA TOUR Rankings (Women) 2.3 - WTA - Chase Championship Points (Women) 2.4 - ATP Tour Rankings - List of #1's 2.5 - COREL WTA TOUR Rankings - List of #1's 2.6 - Year End #1 Players Part 3 - Players 3.1 - Grand Slam Winners 3.2 - Grand Slam Event Winners - Open Era 3.3 - Number of Grand Slam Singles Titles Won 3.4 - Players - Career Singles Titles 3.5 - Head-to-Head Records 3.6 - Player and Fan Club Information Part 4 - Equipment 4.1 - Buying a Tennis Racquet -- Issues to Consider 4.2 - Explanation of Racquet Grips 4.3 - Facts About Frames and Strings 4.4 - Lead Tape and Its Application 4.5 - Racquet Stringing Information Part 5 - Media 5.1 - Tennis Information - World Wide Web 5.2 - Other Online Tennis Information 5.3 - ATP and WTA Media Guides 5.4 - Addresses of TV and Tennis Organizations 5.5 - Ticket Information 5.6 - Tennis Book Bibliography Part 6 - Miscellaneous 6.1 - Tennis Elbow 6.2 - USTA Self Rating System 6.3 - USTA Rules and Code On-Line 6.4 - Origin of Scoring System in Tennis 6.5 - Tennis Tie-Break Rules 6.6 - Dimensions of a Tennis Court 6.7 - Professional Tournament Seeding 6.8 - World Team Tennis 6.9 - Common Pro Tennis Acronyms Appendix A.1 - How to Obtain the FAQ via FTP/WWW A.2 - Acknowledgements A.3 - Send comments to... 1.1 - Schedule of Grand Slam Tournaments (1998) Event Dates --------------------------------------- Australian Open Jan 19 - Feb 1 French Open May 25 - Jun 7 Wimbledon Jun 22 - Jul 5 US Open Aug 31 - Sep 13 --------------------------------------- 1.2 - Recent Grand Slam Event Highlights (Round of 16 Losers shown in parentheses) Australian Open 1997 - Women: (Graf 1) Coetzer 12 --------+ Coetzer |-------------+ (Davenport 7) Po --------+ 6-4 6-1 | Pierce |-------------+ (Martinez 3) Appelmans 16 --------+ Pierce | 7-5 6-1 | |-------------+ +-------------+ (Huber 5) Pierce --------+ 1-6 6-4 6-4 | Hingis | | | (Habsudova 9) Spirlea 8 --------+ Hingis | 6-2 6-2 | |-------------+ +-------------+ (Dragomir) Hingis 4 --------+ 7-5 6-2 | Hingis | |-------------+ (Schnyder) M Fernandez 14 --------+ Fernandez | 6-1 6-3 |-------------+ (Rubin 15) van Roost --------+ 7-5 4-0 ret ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Australian Open 1997 - Men: (Hrbaty) Sampras 1 --------+ Sampras |-------------+ (Ferreira 8) A Costa 10 --------+ 6-3 6-7 6-1 | Sampras 3-6 6-2 |-------------+ (Ruud) Ivanisevic 3 --------+ Muster | 6-1 7-6 6-3 | |-------------+ +-------------+ (Courier 11) Muster 5 --------+ 6-4 6-2 6-3 | Sampras | | | (Bjorkman) Moya --------+ Moya | 6-2 6-3 6-3 | |-------------+ +-------------+ (Washington) Mantilla 14 --------+ 7-5 6-2 6-7 | Moya | 6-2 |-------------+ (Enqvist 7) Rios 9 --------+ Chang | 7-5 6-2 6-4 |-------------+ (Medvedev) Chang 2 --------+ 7-5 6-1 6-4 6-4 6-2 Doubles Finals - Men : Woodbridge/Woodforde(1) d. Lareau/O'Brien 4-6 7-5 7-5 Women: Hingis/Zvereva(4) d. Davenport/Raymond(3) 6-2 6-2 Mixed: Leach/Bollegraf(3) d. de Jager/Neiland 6-3 6-7 7-5 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ French Open 1997 - Women: (Paulus 16) Hingis 1 --------+ Hingis |-------------+ (Zvereva) Sanchez Vic. 6 --------+ 6-2 6-2 | Hingis |-------------+ (Pierce 10) Seles 3 --------+ Seles | 6-7 7-5 6-4 | |-------------+ +-------------+ (Raymond) M Fernandez 12 --------+ 3-6 6-2 7-5 | Majoli | | | (Davenport 5) Majoli 9 --------+ Majoli | 6-4 6-2 | |-------------+ +-------------+ (Arendt) Dragomir --------+ 6-3 5-7 6-2 | Majoli | |-------------+ (Martinez 7) Coetzer 11 --------+ Coetzer | 6-3 4-6 7-5 |-------------+ (Spirlea 13) Graf 2 --------+ 6-1 6-4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ French Open 1997 - Men: (Rosset 15) M Norman --------+ Dewulf |-------------+ (Corretja 8) Dewulf --------+ 6-2 6-7 6-4 | Kuerten 6-3 |-------------+ (Philippou.) Kafelnikov 3 --------+ Kuerten | 6-1 3-6 6-1 | |-------------+ 7-6 +-------------+ (Medvedev) Kuerten --------+ 6-2 5-7 2-6 | Kuerten | 6-0 6-4 | | (Woodforde) Rafter --------+ Rafter | 6-3 6-4 6-2 | |-------------+ +-------------+ (Korda) Blanco --------+ 6-3 7-6 6-3 | Bruguera | |-------------+ (Rios 7) Arazi --------+ Bruguera | 6-7 6-1 7-5 |-------------+ 7-6 (Chang 2) Bruguera 16 --------+ 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-2 Doubles Finals - Men : Kafelnikov/Vacek(4) d. Woodbridge/Woodforde(1) 7-6 4-6 6-3 Women: G Fernandez/Zvereva(1) d. MJ Fernandez/Raymond(5) 6-2 6-3 Mixed: Hiraki/Bhupathi(16) d. Raymond/Galbraith(1) 6-4 6-1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wimbledon 1997 - Women: (Appelmans) Hingis 1 --------+ Hingis |-------------+ (Vento) Chladkova --------+ 6-3 6-2 | Hingis |-------------+ (Spirlea 12) Majoli 4 --------+ Kournikova | 6-3 6-2 | |-------------+ +--------------+ (Sukova) Kournikova --------+ 7-6 6-4 | Hingis | | | (Hy-Boulais) Basuki --------+ Novotna | 2-6 6-3 6-3 | |-------------+ +--------------+ (Fernandez 11) Novotna 3 --------+ 6-3 6-3 | Novotna | |-------------+ (Pierce 9) Sanchez V. 8 --------+ Sanchez | 6-4 6-2 |-------------+ (Testud) Tauziat --------+ 6-2 7-5 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wimbledon 1997 - Men: (Korda 16) Sampras 1 --------+ Sampras |-------------+ (Rios 9) Becker 8 --------+ 6-4 6-7 6-1 | Sampras 6-4 |-------------+ (Kafelnikov 3) Kiefer --------+ Woodbridge | 6-2 6-1 7-6 | |-------------+ +--------------+ (Rafter 12) Woodbridge --------+ 7-6 2-6 6-0 | Sampras | 6-4 | | (Woodforde) Stich --------+ Stich | 6-4 6-2 6-4 | |-------------+ +--------------+ (Krajicek 4) Henman 14 --------+ 6-3 6-2 6-4 | Pioline | |-------------+ (Reneberg) Rusedski --------+ Pioline | 6-7 6-2 6-1 |-------------+ 5-7 6-4 (Steven) Pioline --------+ 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-3 Doubles Finals - Men : Woodbridge/Woodforde(1) d. Eltingh/Haarhuis(2) 7-6 7-6 5-7 6-3 Women: G Fernandez/Zvereva(1) d. Arendt/Bollegraf(6) 7-6 6-4 Mixed: Suk/Sukova(4) d. Olhovskiy/Neiland(3) 4-6 6-3 6-4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ US Open 1997 - Women: (Labat) Hingis 1 --------+ Hingis |-------------+ (McQuillan) Sanchez 13 --------+ 6-3 6-2 | Hingis |-------------+ (Fernandez 12) Novotna 3 --------+ Davenport | 6-2 6-4 | |-------------+ +--------------+ (Serna) Davenport 6 --------+ 6-2 4-6 7-6 | Hingis | | | (Kruger) V Williams --------+ Williams | 6-0 6-4 | |-------------+ +--------------+ (Habsudova) Testud --------+ 7-5 7-5 | Williams | |-------------+ (Coetzer 5) Spirlea 11 --------+ Spirlea | 7-6 3-6 7-6 |-------------+ (Pierce 9) Seles 2 --------+ 6-7 7-6 6-3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ US Open 1997 - Men: (Sampras 1) Korda 15 --------+ Bjorkman |-------------+ (Draper) Bjorkman --------+ 7-6 6-2 1-0 | Rusedski ret |-------------+ (Vacek) Rusedski --------+ Rusedski | 6-1 3-6 3-6 | |-------------+ 6-3 7-5 +--------------+ (Mantilla 12) Krajicek --------+ 7-5 7-6 7-6 | Rafter | | 6-3 6-2 4-6 | (Ferreira) Larsson --------+ Rafter | 7-5 | |-------------+ +--------------+ (Agassi) Rafter 13 --------+ 7-6 6-4 6-2 | Rafter | |-------------+ (Bruguera 7) Rios 10 --------+ Chang | 6-3 6-3 6-4 |-------------+ (Pioline) Chang 2 --------+ 7-5 6-2 4-6 4-6 6-3 Doubles Finals - Men : Kafelnikov/Vacek(4) d. Bjorkman/Kulti(11) 7-6 6-3 Women: Davenport/Novotna(3) d. G Fernandez/Zvereva(1) 6-3 6-4 Mixed: Bollegraf/Leach(5) d. Paz/Albano 3-6 7-5 7-6 1.3 - The ATP Championships and the Grand Slam Cup On the men's tour, there are two year-end singles championships: the ATP Tour World Championship and the Grand Slam Cup. There is also a year-end doubles championship: The ATP Tour World Doubles Championship. The ATP Tour World Championship (Singles) The ATP Tour World Championship in Hannover, Germany is the last singles event on the ATP Tour in a calendar year. The top eight (8) players in the ATP rankings as of the Monday of the tournament qualify, while the ninth player is the alternate. The ATP rankings for this week only consists of the "best 14" results from all tournaments in that calendar year, up to and including the week immediately prior to the ATP Tour World Championship. In other words, points received from this tournament in the previous year are NOT included in the calculation of rankings. The eight players are divided into two groups of four. Within each group, the four players face one another exactly once in round robin matches. The top two finishers from each group advance to the semi-final. Within each group, the two players who win the most matches finish 1 and 2. If there is a tie between two players, the one who wins their head-to-head match wins the tie. If there is a three-way tie, the percentage of sets won will be used to break the tie. If there is still a tie, the percentage of games won will be used to break the tie. In the semi-final, the top finisher from one group plays the second from the other. The semi-final winners advance to the final, which is best-of- five tie-break sets (i.e. if the fifth set is tied at 6-6, the players will play a tie break to decide the match and therefore the championship). All other matches are best-of-three tie-break sets. In 1996, players received the following ranking points from the ATP Tour World Championship. each round robin match won: 80 points winning a semi-final match: 190 points winning the final: 280 points No bonus points are given for beating ranked players in this tournament. For example, if a player wins all three round robin matches and of course the semi and final on the way to the title, he would have received: 80 * 3 + 190 + 280 = 710 points The ATP Tour World Doubles Championship The ATP World Doubles Championship is the year-ending championship for the top doubles teams on the ATP Tour. In 1997, the doubles championship was held in the United States in Hartford, CT. The top eight (8) doubles teams as of the Monday of the tournament qualify for the event. Note that qualification is based on team rather than individual doubles rankings. As with the ATP Singles Championship, the early rounds of the doubles championship is a round robin event featuring two groups of four teams. The two top teams in each group, determined by round robin match results, advance to the semifinals, whereupon a single-elimination draw format is followed to ultimately determine the winner. The Grand Slam Cup The Grand Slam Cup in Munich, Germany is a tournament created by the ITF (International Tennis Federation). The Grand Slam Cup is not an ATP Tour event. No ranking points are awarded with this event, but the match results do count toward the ATP head-to-head records (this is a change from previous policy), and the Grand Slam Cup is now considered as an official career title. Eligibility for the Grand Slam Cup is determined by a player's results from the four Grand Slam events in that calendar year. The players are awarded a certain number of points depending on how far they advance in each event. The top 16 with the highest number of total points qualify. Seedings for this event is determined by the GS points, NOT the usual rankings. The first two rounds of the Grand Slam Cup are best of three sets. The semi and final are best of five sets. If a match reaches the maximum set, that set has to be won by game advantage. That is, there is no tie break in the 3rd set of best-of-three matches nor the 5th set of best-of-five matches. Grand Slam Cup points from GS events: winner: 600 finalist: 450 semi finalist: 300 quarter finalist: 150 round of 16: 75 third round: 40 second round: 20 first round: 2 1.4 - Explanation of ATP "Super 9" The tournaments on the ATP tour are designated into two main tiers (excluding Challenger events), called Championship Series and World Series. Championship series events offer more prize money and attract bigger-name players. The ATP has given special status to 9 of their Championship Series tournaments. These tournaments are known as the Super 9. An ATP Top Ten player is supposed to play in at least 8 of these 9 special events, and each event must field at least eight of the Top Ten men (singles). The idea is to get the top players to play each other more often and add prestige to selected ATP events. Super 9 Tour Dates in 1998: Event Location Surface Dates 1997 Champion -------------- ------- ----- ------------- Indian Wells Hard Mar 9-15 Chang Lipton (Fla.) Hard Mar 19-29 Muster Monte Carlo Red Clay Apr 20-26 Rios Hamburg Red Clay May 4-10 Medvedev Italian Open (Rome) Red Clay May 11-17 Corretja Canadian Open Hard Aug 3-9 Woodruff Cincinnati Hard Aug 10-16 Sampras Stuttgart Indoor/Carpet Oct 26-Nov 1 Korda Paris Indoor/Carpet Nov 2-8 Sampras 1.5 - Tournament Record - Last 12 Months Notes Legend: 1 - WTA Tier 1 H - Outdoor Hard 2 - WTA Tier 2 h - Indoor Hard 3 - WTA Tier 3 I - Indoor Carpet 4 - WTA Tier 4 C - Green Clay * - Grand Slam Event R - Red Clay S - ATP "Super 9" G - Grass T - ATP Championship ? - Surface not Known Series W - ATP World Series 999 - Prize Money in $K E - Exhibition for tournament 1997 Place Notes Dates Previous Result ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Doha, QAT WH 625 Dec 30 - Courier d. Henman 7-5 6-7 6-2 Adelaide, AUS WH 328 Jan 5 Woodbridge d. Draper 6-2 6-1 Auckland, NZL 4H 108 Maruska d. Wiesner 6-3 6-1 Gold Coast, AUS 3H 164 Likhovt'a d. Sugiyama 3-6 7-6 6-3 Hopman Cup E USA d. South Africa ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sydney, AUS WH 328 Jan 6-12 Henman d. Moya 6-3 6-1 2H 343 Hingis d. Capriati 6-1 5-7 6-1 Auckland, NZL WH 328 Bjorkman d. Carlsen 7-6 6-0 Hobart, AUS 4H 108 van Roost d. Werdel W. 6-3 6-3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AUSTRALIAN OPEN *H Jan 13-26 Sampras d. Moya 6-2 6-3 6-3 Hingis d. Pierce 6-2 6-2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zagreb, CRO WI 400 Jan 27 - Ivanisevic d. Rusedski 7-6 4-6 7-6 Shanghai, CHN WI 330 Feb 2 Kroslak d. Volkov 6-2 7-6 Tokyo, JPN 1I 926 Hingis d. Graf default ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Linz, AUT 3I 164 Feb 3-9 Rubin d. Habsudova 6-4 6-2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Davis Cup Round 1 Feb 7-9 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dubai, UAE WH 1039 Feb 10-16 Muster d. Ivanisevic 7-5 7-6 Marseille, FRA WI 539 Enqvist d. Rios 6-4 1-0 ret San Jose, CA Wh 328 Sampras d. Rusedski 3-6 5-0 ret Paris, FRA 2I 450 Hingis d. Huber 6-3 3-6 6-3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Antwerp, BEL TI 1000 Feb 17-23 Rosset d. Henman 6-2 7-5 6-4 Memphis, TN Th 808 Chang d. Woodbridge 6-3 6-4 Hannover, GER 2I 450 Majoli d. Novotna 4-6 7-6 6-4 Oklahoma City 3h 164 Davenport d. Raymond 6-4 6-2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Milan TI 814 Feb 24 - Ivanisevic d. Bruguera 6-2 6-2 Philadelphia Th 714 Mar 2 Sampras d. Rafter 5-7 7-6 6-3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fed Cup Round 1 Mar 1-2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rotterdam, NED WI 750 Mar 3-9 Krajicek d. Vacek 7-6 7-6 Scottsdale, AZ WH 328 Philipp's d. Reneberg 6-4 7-6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Indian Wells, CA SH 2200 Mar 7-16 Chang d. Ulirach 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-3 1H 1000 Davenport d. Spirlea 6-2 6-1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copenhagen, DEN WI 228 Mar 10-16 Johansson d. Damm 6-4 3-6 6-2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Petersburg WI 325 Mar 17-23 Johansson d. Furlan 6-3 6-4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Casablanca, MOR WR 228 Mar 24-30 Arazi d. Squillari 3-6 6-1 6-2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Key Biscayne SH 2700 Mar 20-30 Muster d. Bruguera 7-6 6-3 6-1 (Lipton) H 1750 Hingis d. Seles 6-2 6-1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hilton Head, SC 1C 926 Mar 31 - Hingis d. Seles 3-6 6-3 7-6 Apr 6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Davis Cup Round 2 Apr 4-6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Estoril, POR WR 625 Apr 7-13 Corretja d. Clavet 6-3 7-5 Madras, IND WH 430 Tillstrom d. Radulescu 6-4 4-6 7-5 Hong Kong WH 328 Chang d. Rafter 6-3 6-3 Amelia Island 2C 450 Davenport d. Pierce 6-2 6-3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tokyo, JPN TH 1060 Apr 14-20 Krajicek d. Roux 6-2 3-6 6-1 3H 164 Sugiyama d. Frazier 4-6 6-4 6-4 Barcelona, ESP TR 950 A Costa d. Portas 7-5 6-4 6-4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monte Carlo SR 2300 Apr 21-27 Rios d. Corretja 6-4 6-3 6-3 Orlando, FL WC 289 Chang d. Stafford 4-6 6-2 6-1 Jakarta, INA 4H 108 Sawamatsu d. Yoshida 6-3 6-2 Budapest, HUN 4R 108 Coetzer d. Appelmans 6-1 6-3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Munich, GER WR 425 Apr 28 - Philippou. d. Corretja 7-6 1-6 6-4 Atlanta, GA WC 328 May 4 Alami d. Kulti 6-3 6-4 Prague, CZE WR 365 Filippini d. Stolten. 7-6 6-4 Hamburg, GER 2R 450 Majoli d. Dragomir 6-3 6-2 Bol, CRO 4R 108 Lucic d. Morariu 7-5 6-7 7-6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamburg, GER SR 2300 May 5-11 Medvedev d. Mantilla 6-0 6-4 6-2 Coral Springs WR 270 Stoltenberg d. Bjorkm. 6-0 2-6 7-5 Rome, ITA 1R 926 Pierce d. Martinez 6-4 6-0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rome, ITA SR 2300 May 12-18 Corretja d. Rios 7-5 7-5 6-3 Berlin, GER 1R 926 M Fernandez d. Pierce 6-4 6-2 Cardiff, GBR 4C 108 Ruano-P. d. Dechaume 6-1 3-6 6-2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- World Team Cup TR 1900 May 19-25 Spain d. Australia 3-0 St. Poelten, AUT WR 425 Filippini d. Rafter 7-6 6-2 Madrid, ESP 2R 250 Novotna d. Seles 7-5 6-1 Strasbourg, FRA 3R 175 Graf d. Lucic 6-2 7-5 Edinburgh, GBR R 188 Arendt/Bollegraf d. (Doubles Only) McQuillan/Miyagi 6-1 3-6 7-5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FRENCH OPEN *R May 26 - Kuerten d. Bruguera 6-3 6-4 6-2 Jun 8 Majoli d. Hingis 6-4 6-2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Queen's Club WG 700 Jun 9-15 Philippou. d. Ivanis'c 7-5 6-3 Halle, GER WR 900 Kafelnikov d. Korda 7-6 6-7 7-6 Bologna, ITA WR 328 Mantilla d. Kuerten 4-6 6-2 6-1 Birmingham, GBR 3G 164 Tauziat d. Basuki 2-6 6-2 6-2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rosmalen, NED WG 500 Jun 16-22 Krajicek d. Raoux 6-4 7-6 Nottingham, GBR WG 328 Rusedski d. Kucera 6-4 7-5 Eastbourne, GBR 2G 450 ** final cancelled ** Rosmalen, NED 3G 164 Dragomir d. Oremans 5-7 6-2 6-4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WIMBLEDON *G Jun 23- Sampras d. Pioline 6-4 6-2 6-4 Jul 6 Hingis d. Novotna 2-6 6-3 6-3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gstaad, SUI WR 550 Jul 7-13 Mantilla d. Viloca 6-1 6-4 6-4 Bastad, SWE WR 328 M Norman d. Marin 7-5 6-2 Newport, RI WG 280 Sargsian d. Steven 7-6 4-6 7-5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fed Cup SF Jul 12-13 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stuttgart, GER TR 1040 Jul 14-20 Corretja d. Kucera 6-2 7-5 Washington, DC TH 675 Chang d. Korda 5-7 6-2 6-1 Prague 3R 160 Kruger d. Maruska 6-1 6-1 Palermo 4R 108 Testud d. Makarova 7-5 6-3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kitzbuhel, AUT WR 525 Jul 21-27 Dewulf d. Alonso 7-6 6-4 6-1 Los Angeles, CA WH 328 Courier d. Enqvist 6-4 6-4 Umag, CRO WR 400 Mantilla d. Bruguera 6-3 7-5 Stanford, CA 2H 450 Hingis d. Martinez 6-0 6-2 Warsaw, POL 4R 164 Paulus d. Nagyova 6-4 6-4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Montreal, CAN SH 2300 Jul 28 - Woodruff d. Kuerten 7-5 4-6 6-3 Amsterdam, NED WR 500 Aug 3 Dosedel d. Moya 7-6 7-6 6-7 6-2 San Diego, CA 2H 450 Hingis d. Seles 7-6 6-4 M Lanowitz, AUT 4R 108 Schett d. Nagyova 3-6 6-2 6-3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cincinnati, OH SH 2300 Aug 4-10 Sampras d. Muster 6-3 6-4 San Marino WR 328 Mantilla d. Gustafsson 6-4 6-1 Los Angeles, CA 2H 450 Seles d. Davenport 5-7 7-5 6-4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Indianapolis TH 1040 Aug 11-17 Bjorkman d. Moya 6-3 7-6 New Haven, CT TH 1040 Kafelnikov d. Rafter 7-6 6-4 Toronto, CAN 1H 926 Seles d. Huber 6-2 6-4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Boston, MA WH 328 Aug 18-24 Schalken d. Rios 7-5 6-3 Long Island, NY WH 328 Moya d. Rafter 6-4 7-6 Atlanta, GA 2H 450 Davenport d. Testud 6-4 6-1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- US OPEN *H Aug 25- Rafter d. Rusedski 6-3 6-2 4-6 7-5 Sep 7 Hingis d. Williams 6-0 6-4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marbella, ESP WR 328 Sep 8-14 A Costa d. Berasategui 6-3 6-2 Bournemouth, GBR WR 400 Mantilla d. Moya 6-2 6-2 Tashkent, UZB WH 328 Henman d. Rosset 7-6 6-4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tokyo 2H 450 Sep 15-21 Seles d. Sanchez Vic. 6-1 3-6 7-6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Davis Cup SF Sep 19-21 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grand Slam Cup EI 6000 Sep 22-28 Sampras d. Rafter 6-2 6-4 7-5 Toulouse WI 400 Kiefer d. Philippouss. 7-5 5-7 6-4 Bucharest, ROM WR 500 Fromberg d. Gaudenzi 6-2 7-6 Leipzig, GER 2I 450 Novotna d. Coetzer 6-2 4-6 6-3 Surabaya, INA 4H 108 Van Roost d. Nemeckova 6-1 6-3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Basel, SUI Wh 1000 Sep 29 - Rusedski d. Philippou. 6-3 7-6 7-6 Palermo, ITA WR 328 Oct 5 Berasategui d. Hrbaty 6-4 6-2 Beijing, CHN WI 328 Courier d. Gustafsson 7-6 3-6 6-3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fed Cup Final Sep 28-29 France d. Netherlands 4-1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vienna, AUT TI 800 Oct 6-12 Ivanisevic d. Rusedski 3-6 6-7 7-6 6-2 6-3 Singapore Th 675 Gustafsson d. Kiefer 4-6 6-3 6-3 Filderstadt, GER 2h 450 Hingis d. Raymond 6-4 6-2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lyon, FRA WI 750 Oct 13-19 Santoro d. Haas 6-4 6-4 Ostrava, CZE WI 500 Kucera d. M Norman 6-2 ret Zurich, SUI 1h 926 Davenport d. Tauziat 7-6 7-5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stuttgart, GER TI 2300 Oct 20-26 Korda d. Krajicek 7-6 6-2 6-4 Mexico City WR 330 Clavet d. Viloca 6-4 7-6 Luxembourg 3I 164 Coetzer d. Paulus 6-4 3-6 7-5 Quebec, CAN 3I 164 Schultz d. van Roost 6-4 6-7 7-5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paris, FRA TI 2550 Oct 27 - Sampras d. Bjorkman 6-3 4-6 6-3 6-1 Bogota, COL WR 328 Nov 2 Clavet d. Lapentti 6-3 6-3 Moscow, RUS 1I 926 Novotna d. Sugiyama 6-3 6-4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Moscow, RUS WI 1125 Nov 3-9 Kafelnikov d. Korda 7-6 6-4 Stockholm, SWE WI 825 Bjorkman d. Siemerink 3-6 7-6 6-2 6-4 Santiago, CHI WR 228 Alonso d. Rios 6-2 6-1 Chicago 2I 450 Davenport d. Tauziat 6-0 7-5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ATP Championship I 3300 Nov 10-16 Sampras d. Kafelnikov 6-3 6-2 6-2 Philadelphia 2I 450 Hingis d. Davenport 7-5 6-7 7-6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chase Champs. I 2000 Nov 17-23 Novotna d. Pierce 7-6 6-2 6-3 Pattaya 4H 108 Nagyova d. van Roost 7-5 6-7 7-5 ATP Doubles Chp I 500 Leach/Stark ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Davis Cup Final Nov 28-30 Sweden d. USA 5-0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.6 - 1998 Tournament Calendar The following table provides a summary of the men's and women's professional tournament schedule for 1998. An updated listing of tournament web sites may be found at http://www.mindspring.com/~csmith/TennisWeb.html. Notes Legend: 1 - WTA Tier 1 H - Outdoor Hard 2 - WTA Tier 2 h - Indoor Hard 3 - WTA Tier 3 I - Indoor Carpet 4 - WTA Tier 4 C - Green Clay * - Grand Slam Event R - Red Clay S - ATP "Super 9" G - Grass T - ATP Championship ? - Surface not Known Series W - ATP World Series 999 - Prize Money in $K E - Exhibition for tournament Week ATP Event Sites & Notes WTA Event Sites & Notes Jan 5-11 Doha, QAT WH 1000 Gold Coast, AUS 3H 164 Adelaide, AUS WH 340 Auckland, NZL 4H 108 Hopman Cup EH 640 Hopman Cup EH 640 Jan 12-18 Sydney, AUS WH 340 Sydney, AUS 2H 342 Auckland, NZL WH 340 Hobart, AUS 4H 108 Jan 19 - AUSTRALIAN OPEN *H AUSTRALIAN OPEN *H Feb 1 Feb 2-8 Zagreb, CRO WI 400 Tokyo, JPN 1I 926 Marseille, FRA WI 539 Feb 9-15 Dubai, UAE WH 1039 Paris, FRA 2h 450 San Jose, CA Wh 340 St. Petersburg WI 340 Feb 16-22 Antwerp, BEL TI 1000 Hannover, GER 2h 450 Memphis, TN Th 825 Feb 23 - Milan, ITA TI 814 Linz, AUT 2I 450 Mar 1 Philadelphia, PA Th 714 Oklahoma City 3h 164 Mar 2-8 Rotterdam, NED WI 750 Indian Wells, CA 1H 1250 Scottsdale, AZ WH 340 Mar 9-15 Indian Wells, CA SH 2450 Indian Wells, CA 1H 1250 Copenhagen, DEN WI 236 Mar 19-29 LIPTON SH 2700 LIPTON H 1750 Mar 23-29 Casablanca, MAR WR 235 Mar 30 - Davis Cup I Hilton Head, SC 1C 926 Apr 5 Apr 6-12 Estoril, POR WR 625 Amelia Island,FL 2C 450 Chennai, IND WH 430 Hong Kong WH 340 Apr 13-19 Tokyo, JPN TH 1060 Tokyo, JPN 3H 164 Barcelona, ESP TR 950 Makarska, CRO 4R 108 Fed Cup I Apr 20-26 Monte Carlo SR 2450 Jakarta, INA 4H 108 Orlando, FL WC 289 Budapest, HUN 4R 108 Apr 27 - Munich, GER WR 525 Hamburg, GER 2R 450 May 3 Atlanta, GA WC 365 Bol, CRO 4R 108 Prague, CZE WR 365 May 4-10 Hamburg, GER SR 2450 Rome, ITA 1R 926 Coral Springs WR 270 May 11-17 Rome, ITA SR 2450 Berlin, GER 1R 926 May 18-24 World Team Cup TR 1900 Strasbourg, FRA 3R 200 St. Poelten, AUT WR 425 Madrid, ESP 3R 164 May 25 - Jun 7 FRENCH OPEN *R FRENCH OPEN *R Jun 8-14 Queen's Club WG 760 Birmingham, GBR 3G 164 Halle, GER WG 900 Bologna, ITA WR 340 Jun 15-21 Hertogenbosch WG 500 Eastbourne, GBR 2G 450 Nottingham, GBR WG 340 Rosmalen, NED 3G 164 Jun 22 - WIMBLEDON *G WIMBLEDON *G Jul 5 Jul 6-12 Gstaad, SUI WR 550 Prague, CZE 3R 160 Bastad, SWE WR 340 M Lankowitz, AUT 4R 108 Newport, RI WG 300 Jul 13-19 Davis Cup QF Warsaw, POL 3R 164 Palermo, ITA 3R 163 Jul 20-26 Stuttgart, GER TR 1040 Fed Cup SF Washington, DC TH 700 Jul 27 - Kitzbuhel, AUT WR 525 Stanford, CA 2H 450 Aug 2 Umag, CRO WR 400 Los Angeles, CA WH 340 Aug 3-9 Toronto, CAN SH 2450 San Diego, CA 2H 450 Amsterdam, NED WR 500 Istanbul, TUR 4R 108 Aug 10-16 Cincinnati, OH SH 2450 Los Angeles, CA 2H 450 San Marino WR 300 Aug 17-23 Indianapolis, IN TH 1040 Montreal, CAN 1H 926 New Haven, CT TH 870 Aug 24-30 Boston, MA WH 340 Atlanta, GA 2H 450 Long Island, NY WH 340 Aug 31 - Sep 13 U.S. OPEN *H U.S. OPEN *H Sep 14-20 Bournemouth, GBR WC 400 Seoul, KOR 4H 108 Marbella, ESP WR 340 KB Fed Cup Final Tashkent, UZB WH 405 Sep 21-27 Davis Cup SF Tokyo, JPN 2H 450 Sep 28 - Toulouse WI 400 Leipzig, GER 2I 450 Oct 4 Bucharest, ROM WR 500 Surabaya, INA 4H 108 Oct 5-11 Basel, SUI Wh 1000 Filderstadt, GER 2h 450 Palermo, ITA WR 340 Shanghai, CHN Wh 340 Oct 12-18 Vienna, AUT TI 800 Zurich, SUI 1h 926 Singapore Th 700 Oct 19-25 Lyon, FRA WI 750 Moscow, RUS 1h 926 Ostrava, CZE WI 1000 Beijing, CHN WI 340 Oct 26 - Stuttgart, GER SI 2450 Quebec, CAN 3h 164 Nov 1 Mexico City WR 340 Luxembourg 3I 164 Nov 2-8 Paris, FRA SI 2550 Chicago, IL 2I 450 Bogota, COL WR 340 Nov 9-15 Moscow, RUS WI 1150 Philadelphia, PA 2I 450 Stockholm, SWE WI 825 Santiago, CHI WR 340 Nov 16-22 ATP Doubles Chp. h 600 WTA CHAMPIONSHIPS I 2000 Pattaya, THA 4H 108 Nov 23-29 ATP CHAMPIONSHIPS h 3300 Nov 30 - Davis Cup Final Dec 6 1.7 - Davis Cup The Davis Cup is an international team competition introduced in 1900 by American Dwight Davis. While initally only two teams participated (the USA and Great Britain), the competition has grown into an event in which over 100 nations now participate. The Davis Cup has undergone a number of format changes over the years, assuming its current competition format during the 1980's. Davis Cup is divided into World Group competition and Zone competitions. There are three zones: American, Euro-African, and Asia-Pacific. Within each zone countries square off for the opportunity to advance to the World Group. The World Group consists of the 16 top countries which compete in a single-elimination draw to determine the Cup winner for a given year. Around September, each of the 8 first round losers play the top 8 finishers in the Zone competitions in a "relegation tie." The winner of each tie advances to the World Group for the next year, while the loser is relegated to Zone competition. The format of the Davis Cup tie is as follows: Day 1: Singles A Singles B Day 2: Doubles Day 3: Reverse Singles C Reverse Singles D The team winning at least three matches wins the tie. Before each tie, a team selects players to compete in that tie. One of the teams hosts the tie in their country and has the right to choose the court surface. If two nations have never competed before, a draw determines the host country. The next time these two countries play each other, the other country hosts, and so on. 1997 Davis Cup Final: Sweden d. USA, 5-0 Goteborg, Sweden Bjorkman - SWE d. Chang - USA 7-5 1-6 6-3 6-3 Larsson - SWE d. Sampras - USA 3-6 7-6 2-1 ret Bjorkman/Kulti - SWE d. Martin/Stark - USA 6-4 6-4 6-4 Bjorkman - SWE d. Stark - USA 6-1 6-1 Larsson - SWE d. Chang - USA 7-6 6-7 6-4 Davis Cup winners, 1983-1996: 1983 Australia d. Sweden 3-2 Melbourne, Australia 1984 Sweden d. USA 4-1 Goteborg, Sweden 1985 Sweden d. Germany 3-2 Munich, Germany 1986 Australia d. Sweden 3-2 Melbourne, Australia 1987 Sweden d. India 5-0 Goteborg, Sweden 1988 Germany d. Sweden 4-1 Goteborg, Sweden 1989 Germany d. Sweden 3-2 Stuttgart, Germany 1990 USA d. Australia 3-2 St. Petersburg, FL, USA 1991 France d. USA 3-1 Lyon, France 1992 USA d. Switzerland 3-1 Forth Worth, TX, USA 1993 Germany d. Australia 4-1 Dusseldorf, GER 1994 Sweden d. Russia 4-1 Moscow, RUS 1995 USA d. Russia 3-2 Moscow, RUS 1996 France d. Sweden 3-2 Malmo, SWE 1.8 - Fed Cup The Fed Cup is formerly known as the Federation Cup. The Fed Cup is the women's version of the Davis Cup. Through 1994, the format of the Fed Cup was that the entire event was held over a one week period in one city. As of 1995, the Fed Cup has adopted a Davis Cup style format. As with Davis Cup, the Fed Cup competition is divided into the highest level World Group and the lower level Zone competitions. The World Group consists of 8 countries which compete using a single elimination draw to determine the Cup winner for a given year. The 4 countries which lose in the 1st round (quarterfinals) are required to compete in a qualifying, or relegation round, against 4 other countries winning Zone competition matches, for the right to remain in the World Group for the next year. The format of a Fed Cup "tie" is as follows. The tie will be played over two days. Day 1 features two singles matches. Day 2 features the reverse singles matches and then the doubles match. As in Davis Cup, the team winning at least three matches wins the tie. Also, like Davis Cup, one of the two teams serves as the host country, with host duties alternating for a given pair of opposing countries. The host country enjoys the privilege of choosing the venue and court surface for the tie. Details of the the 1997 final tie - France d. Netherlands, 4-1: Testud - FRA d. Schultz-M. - NED 6-4 4-6 6-3 Pierce - FRA d. Oremans - NED 6-4 6-1 Schultz-M. - NED d. Pierce - FRA 4-6 6-3 6-4 Testud - FRA d. Oremans - NED 0-6 6-3 6-3 Fusai/Tauziat - FRA d. Bollegraf/Vis - NED 6-3 6-4 2.1 - ATP - ATP Tour Rankings (Men) The following ranking points information is valid for 1997 and presented courtesy of the ATP Tour. The source for this information is the ATP Tour Player Guide. Updated ranking lists are also available at the ATP Tour web site. Players on the ATP Tour are ranked on the basis of their best 14 results in the previous 52 weeks. Prize money listed is on-site (not including hotel rooms, etc., called "hospitality") and is in U.S. Dollars. Total Computer Points Category Prize Money W F S Q 16 32 64 128 -------- ----------- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- ---- ----- Grand Slams 4,750,000 750 537 325 163 82 41 20 1 5,000,000 Super 9 2,250,000- 370 265 160 80 40 20 10 1 (averaged) 2,500,000 Championship 2,000,000 360 258 155 78 39 20 1 Series 1,875,000 350 250 150 75 38 19 1 1,750,000 340 243 145 73 37 19 1 1,625,000 330 235 140 70 35 18 1 1,500,000 320 228 135 68 34 17 1 1,375,000 310 220 130 65 33 17 1 1,250,000 300 213 125 63 32 16 1 1,125,000 290 205 120 60 30 15 1 1,000,000 280 198 115 58 29 15 1 875,000 270 190 110 55 28 14 1 750,000 260 183 105 53 27 14 1 625,000 250 175 100 50 25 13 1 World 1,375,000 250 183 115 58 29 15 1 Series 1,250,000 240 175 110 55 28 14 1 1,125,000 230 168 105 53 27 14 1 1,000,000 220 160 100 50 25 13 1 875,000 210 153 95 48 24 12 1 750,000 200 145 90 45 23 12 1 625,000 190 138 85 43 22 11 1 550,000 180 130 80 40 20 10 1 475,000 170 123 75 38 19 10 1 400,000 160 115 70 35 18 9 1 325,000 150 108 65 33 17 1 250,000 140 100 60 30 15 1 175,000 130 93 55 28 14 1 Challengers* 125,000+H 100 73 45 23 12 1 125,000 90 65 40 20 10 1 100,000 80 58 35 18 9 1 75,000 70 50 30 15 8 1 50,000 60 43 25 13 7 1 * Any Challenger providing hospitality will receive the points of the next highest prize money level. (Note: 125,000 + H points are shown). First Round Losers First round losers always receive 1 point. Any player who reached the second round by drawing a bye and then loses will receive second round prize money but only 1 point. Bonus Points Main Draw Bonus Points The following points are awarded for defeating a player ranked #1 through 200 or a doubles team ranked 2 through 400. The match must actually be played, not a walk-over. Double Bonus Points are awarded instead of Regular Bonus Points in the case of Grand Slam matches and best-of-5-set finals in Super 9 ATP tournaments. 1. Singles ------- Regular Double Ranking Bonus Points Bonus Points ------- ------------ ------------ 1 50 100 2-5 45 90 6-10 36 72 11-20 24 48 21-30 18 36 31-50 12 24 51-75 6 12 75-100 3 6 101-150 2 4 151-200 1 2 2. Doubles ------- Regular Double Ranking Bonus Points Bonus Points ------- ------------ ------------ 2-3 50 100 4-10 45 90 11-20 36 72 21-40 24 48 41-60 18 36 61-100 12 24 101-150 6 12 151-200 3 6 201-300 2 4 301-400 1 2 You compute the sum of the doubles rankings of the opposing team members (which could only be 2 if they were tied for #1) and thus there is no #1 listed, and all the rankings are twice as much as the corresponding singles rankings. Qualifying Points A player or team gaining entry to an event through a qualifying competition shall receive one half the points awarded to a second round loser in the main draw, in addition to whatever points they actually earn in the event. In Grand Slam qualifying tournaments, players receive 1 point for losing in the first round of qualifying, 3 points for losing in the second round, and 5 points for losing in the third round. In ATP Championship Series Tournaments, players in qualifying receive 1 point for losing in the first round and one quarter of the points a main draw second round loser receives (plus bonus points) for losing in the second round. As of 1997 bonus points for beating ranked players are awarded in Grand Slam and ATP Championship Series events. Neither ranking nor bonus points are awarded to players who fail to qualify for ATP World Series tournaments. Ranking Penalty: Withdrawals After 12 Noon Eastern Time USA If a player withdraws from an event after 12 Noon Eastern Time USA on the Friday before the start of the event, he will be penalized in the rankings by one event per 12 month period, e.g. he will be ranked by his best 13 events instead of his best 14 events after one such infraction, by his best 12 events after 2 such infractions, etc. The penalty shall remain in force for 52 weeks after the time of the infraction. This penalty shall be waived if, within the first 3 days of the main draw, the player is examined on-site by the tournament doctor and deemed incapable of competing at a professional level. 2.2 - WTA - COREL WTA TOUR Rankings (Women) The women's computer rankings are determined as follows: Points are awarded based on how far a player advances in a tournament. Bonus points, based on the rankings of opponents beaten in each round, are added On December 23, 1996, the COREL WTA TOUR ranking system transformed from an averaging system to a lump-sum system. Prior to this date, the total points awarded for each tournament played within a 52-week period were added & then divided by the number of tournaments played in that same period (minimum divisor of 14 tournaments: if one played 13 or fewer, her points were still divided by 14). As of December 23, 1996, a simple sum of the ranking points awarded for each tournament played during the prior 52 weeks were computed. As of December 29, 1997, only the best 18 results pointwise during the last 52 weeks count toward a player's ranking. The ranking system as of the beginning of 1998 is therefore nearly identical to the ATP Tour's ranking system except that it is "best 18" instead of "best 14." The current ranking system awards points based on the tier of a tournament as well as the type of draw (the number of players in the main draw in a tournament). Draw W F SF QF R16 R32 R64 R128 Qfr Qu3 Qu2 Qu1 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Grand Slams 128 520 364 234 130 72 44 26 2 16.5 12 6 2 WTA Chps 16 390 273 175 97 54 - - - - - - - Lipton 96 260 182 117 65 36 22 13 1 11 6 3 1 Tier I 64 260 182 117 65 36 22 1 - 6 - 3 1 Tier I 32 260 182 117 65 36 1 - - 11 6 3 1 Tier II 64 200 140 90 50 26 14 1 - 5 - 3 1 Tier II 32 200 140 90 50 26 1 - - 9 5 3 1 Tier III 64 140 98 63 35 18 10 1 - 4 - 2 1 Tier III 32 140 98 63 35 18 1 - - 7 3 2 1 Tier IV 64 80 56 36 20 10 6 1 - 2.5 - 1.5 1 Tier IV 32 80 56 36 20 10 1 - - 4.5 3 2 1 $75,000 32 54 38 24 14 7 1 - - 2.5 2 1.5 1 $50,000 32 36 25 16 9 5 1 - - 2.5 2 1.5 1 $25,000 32 22 15 10 6 3 1 - - 1.5 1 0.5 0.25 $10,000 (M) 10 7 5 3 1 - - - - - - - $10,000 32 5 4 2 1.5 1 0.5 - - 0.25 - - - $ 5,000 (M) 5 4 2 1.5 1 - - - - - - - ----------------------------------------------------------------- Prize Money : Tier I $926,250 Tier II $450,000 Tier III $164,250 Tier IV $107,500 Singles Quality (Bonus) Points Table: Loser's Rank Bonus Worth Grand Slam Points ----------------------------------------------- 1 100 150 2 75 113 3 66 99 4 55 83 5 50 75 6-10 43 65 11-16 35 53 17-25 23 35 26-35 15 23 36-50 10 15 51-75 8 12 76-120 4 6 121-250 2 3 251-500 1 1.5 501+ 0 0 ----------------------------------------------- Doubles Quality (Bonus) Points Table: Loser's Rank* Bonus Worth Grand Slam Points ----------------------------------------------- 3-5 100 150 6-10 90 135 11-20 65 97.5 21-30 45 67.5 31-50 30 45 51-80 20 30 81-130 14 21 131-200 9 13.5 201-300 6 9 301-500 4 6 501+ 2 3 ----------------------------------------------- * Combined rank of doubles team members Source: COREL WTA TOUR 2.3 - WTA - Chase Championships Points (Women) The Chase Championship points are used to determine the eligibility for the year-end Chase Championships at the Madison Square Garden in New York City (the top 16 qualify) and each player's share of the bonus money pool. The Chase Championship points for each player is the simple sum of points she receives from all tournaments in a calendar year. As of 1996, the number of WTA Championships points a player earns for a performance at a given tournament is equivalent to the number of WTA Tour rankings points, including bonus points, received for that tournament. Ranking points details are outlined in section 2.2 of the FAQ. 2.4 - ATP Tour Rankings - List of #1's Since August, 1973 Complete list of #1s on the ATP computer rankings (tennis, men's single) Compiled by Shun Cheung NAME Duration Total (weeks) ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Nastase 1973-08-23 to 1974-06-02 40 40 2. Newcombe 1974-06-03 to 1974-07-28 8 8 3. Connors 1974-07-29 to 1977-08-22 160 268 4. Borg 1977-08-23 to 1977-08-29 1 109 Connors 1977-08-30 to 1979-04-08 84 Borg 1979-04-09 to 1979-05-20 6 Connors 1979-05-21 to 1979-07-08 7 Borg 1979-07-09 to 1980-03-02 34 5. McEnroe 1980-03-03 to 1980-03-23 3 170 Borg 1980-03-24 to 1980-08-10 20 McEnroe 1980-08-11 to 1980-08-17 1 Borg 1980-08-18 to 1981-07-05 46 McEnroe 1981-07-06 to 1981-07-19 2 Borg 1981-07-20 to 1981-08-02 2 McEnroe 1981-08-03 to 1982-09-12 58 Connors 1982-09-13 to 1982-10-31 7 McEnroe 1982-11-01 to 1982-11-07 1 Connors 1982-11-08 to 1982-11-14 1 McEnroe 1982-11-15 to 1983-01-30 11 Connors 1983-01-31 to 1983-02-06 1 McEnroe 1983-02-07 to 1983-02-13 1 Connors 1983-02-14 to 1983-02-27 2 6. Lendl 1983-02-28 to 1983-05-15 11 270 Connors 1983-05-16 to 1983-06-05 3 McEnroe 1983-06-06 to 1983-06-12 1 Connors 1983-06-13 to 1983-07-03 3 McEnroe 1983-07-04 to 1983-10-30 17 Lendl 1983-10-31 to 1983-12-11 6 McEnroe 1983-12-12 to 1984-01-08 4 Lendl 1984-01-09 to 1984-03-11 9 McEnroe 1984-03-12 to 1984-06-10 13 Lendl 1984-06-11 to 1984-06-17 1 McEnroe 1984-06-18 to 1984-07-08 3 Lendl 1984-07-09 to 1984-08-12 5 McEnroe 1984-08-13 to 1985-08-18 53 Lendl 1985-08-19 to 1985-08-25 1 McEnroe 1985-08-26 to 1985-09-08 2 Lendl 1985-09-09 to 1988-09-11 157 7. Wilander 1988-09-12 to 1989-01-29 20 20 Lendl 1989-01-30 to 1990-08-12 80 8. Edberg 1990-08-13 to 1991-01-27 24 72 9. Becker 1991-01-28 to 1991-02-17 3 12 Edberg 1991-02-18 to 1991-07-07 20 Becker 1991-07-08 to 1991-09-08 9 Edberg 1991-09-09 to 1992-02-09 22 10. Courier 1992-02-10 to 1992-03-22 6 58 Edberg 1992-03-23 to 1992-04-12 3 Courier 1992-04-13 to 1992-09-13 22 Edberg 1992-09-14 to 1992-10-04 3 Courier 1992-10-05 to 1993-04-11 27 11. Sampras 1993-04-12 to 1993-08-22 19 116+ Courier 1993-08-23 to 1993-09-12 3 Sampras 1993-09-13 to 1995-04-09 82 12. Agassi 1995-04-10 to 1995-11-05 30 32 Sampras 1995-11-06 to 1996-01-28 12 Agassi 1996-01-29 to 1996-02-11 2 13. Muster 1996-02-12 to 1996-02-18 1 6 Sampras 1996-02-19 to 1996-03-10 3 Muster 1996-03-11 to 1996-04-14 5 Sampras 1996-04-15 to ?? The ATP Tour computer rankings on men's singles tennis began in 1973. 2.5 - COREL WTA TOUR Rankings - List of #1's Since November, 1975 Complete list of #1s on the WTA computer rankings since November, 1975 (tennis, women's single) Compiled by Shun Cheung NAME Duration Total (weeks) ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Evert 1975-11- ? to 1978-07-09 ~140 ~262 2. Navratilova 1978-07-10 to 1979-01-13 27 331 Evert 1979-01-14 to 1979-01-27 2 Navratilova 1979-01-28 to 1979-02-24 4 Evert 1979-02-25 to 1979-04-15 7 Navratilova 1979-04-16 to 1979-06-24 10 Evert 1979-06-25 to 1979-09-09 11 Navratilova 1979-09-10 to 1980-04-06 30 3. Austin 1980-04-07 to 1980-04-20 2 22 Navratilova 1980-04-21 to 1980-06-30 10 Austin 1980-07-01 to 1980-11-17 20 Evert 1980-11-18 to 1982-05-02 76 Navratilova 1982-05-03 to 1982-05-16 2 Evert 1982-05-17 to 1982-06-13 4 Navratilova 1982-06-14 to 1985-06-09 156 Evert 1985-06-10 to 1985-10-13 18 Navratilova 1985-10-14 to 1985-10-27 2 Evert 1985-10-28 to 1985-11-24 4 Navratilova 1985-11-25 to 1987-08-16 90 4. Graf 1987-08-17 to 1991-03-10 186 377 5. Seles 1991-03-11 to 1991-08-04 21 177 Graf 1991-08-05 to 1991-08-11 1 Seles 1991-08-12 to 1991-08-18 1 Graf 1991-08-19 to 1991-09-08 3 Seles 1991-09-09 to 1993-06-06 91 Graf 1993-06-07 to 1995-02-05 87 6. Sanchez V. 1995-02-06 to 1995-02-19 2 12 Graf 1995-02-20 to 1995-02-26 1 Sanchez V. 1995-02-27 to 1995-04-09 6 Graf 1995-04-10 to 1995-05-14 5 Sanchez V. 1995-05-15 to 1995-06-11 4 Graf 1995-06-12 to 1995-08-20 10 Graf/Seles 1995-08-21 to 1996-11-03 63 Graf 1996-11-04 to 1996-11-17 2 Graf/Seles 1996-11-18 to 1996-11-24 1 Graf 1996-11-25 to 1997-03-30 18 7. Hingis 1997-03-31 to ?? Graf and Seles were co-#1s for part of 1995-96. Source: COREL WTA TOUR Media Guide 2.6 - Year End #1 Players Here is a list of players who have been raked #1 as of the end of a calendar year (i.e., they were the #1 player for that calendar year). The list is based on the ATP/WTA #1 rankings detailed in previous sections. Year Male #1 Female #1 ---------------------------------------- 1973 Nastase 1974 Connors 1975 Connors Evert 1976 Connors Evert 1977 Connors Evert 1978 Connors Navratilova 1979 Borg Navratilova 1980 Borg Evert 1981 McEnroe Evert 1982 McEnroe Navratilova 1983 McEnroe Navratilova 1984 McEnroe Navratilova 1985 Lendl Navratilova 1986 Lendl Navratilova 1987 Lendl Graf 1988 Wilander Graf 1989 Lendl Graf 1990 Edberg Graf 1991 Edberg Seles 1992 Courier Seles 1993 Sampras Graf 1994 Sampras Graf 1995 Sampras Graf 1996 Sampras Graf 1997 Sampras Hingis 3.1 - Grand Slam Winners The highest achievement in professional tennis is winning the Grand Slam, which means winning all four major titles, the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open, in the same calendar year. Therefore, those four tournaments are also called the Grand Slam events. Following are Grand Slam winners and the year(s) they won the Grand Slam: Budge 1938 Connolly 1953 Laver 1962 Court 1970 " 1969 Graf 1988 * * Graf won a "Golden Slam" -- The Grand Slam plus the 1988 Olympic Gold Medal. 3.2 - Grand Slam Event Winners in the Open Era Note: During the late seventies through 1985, the Australian Open was held in the month of December. The Australian Open was held in January starting in 1987 and was not held in 1986. Men (Jan.) (Dec.) Australian French Wimblebon US Open Australian ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1997 Sampras Kuerten Sampras Rafter 1996 Becker Kafelnikov Krajicek Sampras 1995 Agassi Muster Sampras Sampras 1994 Sampras Bruguera Sampras Agassi 1993 Courier Bruguera Sampras Sampras 1992 Courier Courier Agassi Edberg 1991 Becker Courier Stich Edberg 1990 Lendl Gomez Edberg Sampras 1989 Lendl Chang Becker Becker 1988 Wilander Wilander Edberg Wilander 1987 Edberg Lendl Cash Lendl 1986 Lendl Becker Lendl 1985 Wilander Becker Lendl Edberg 1984 Lendl McEnroe McEnroe Wilander 1983 Noah McEnroe Connors Wilander 1982 Wilander Connors Connors Kriek 1981 Borg McEnroe McEnroe Kriek 1980 Borg Borg McEnroe Teacher 1979 Borg Borg McEnroe Vilas 1978 Borg Borg Connors Vilas 1977 Gerulaitis Vilas Borg Vilas Tanner 1976 Edmondson Panatta Borg Connors 1975 Newcombe Borg Ashe Orantes 1974 Connors Borg Connors Connors 1973 Newcombe Nastase Kodes Newcombe 1972 Rosewall Gimeno Smith Nastase 1971 Rosewall Kodes Newcombe Smith 1970 Ashe Kodes Newcombe Rosewall 1969 Laver Laver Laver Laver / Smith ** 1968 B Bowrey Rosewall Laver Ashe / Ashe ** ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Women (Jan.) (Dec.) Australian French Wimblebon US Open Australian ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1997 Hingis Majoli Hingis Hingis 1996 Seles Graf Graf Graf 1995 Pierce Graf Graf Graf 1994 Graf Sanchez V. Martinez Sanchez V. 1993 Seles Graf Graf Graf 1992 Seles Seles Graf Seles 1991 Seles Seles Graf Seles 1990 Graf Seles Navratilova Sabatini 1989 Graf Sanchez V. Graf Graf 1988 Graf Graf Graf Graf 1987 Mandlikova Graf Navratilova Navratilova 1986 Evert Navratilova Navratilova 1985 Evert Navratilova Mandlikova Navratilova 1984 Navratilova Navratilova Navratilova Evert 1983 Evert Navratilova Navratilova Navratilova 1982 Navratilova Navratilova Evert Evert 1981 Mandlikova Evert Austin Navratilova 1980 Evert Goolagong Evert Mandlikova 1979 Evert Navratilova Austin B Jordan 1978 Ruzici Navratilova Evert C O'Neil 1977 Goolagong Jausovec Wade Evert Melville-Reid 1976 Goolagong S Barker Evert Evert 1975 Goolagong Evert King Evert 1974 Goolagong Evert Evert King 1973 Court Court King Court 1972 Wade King King King 1971 Court Goolagong Goolagong King 1970 Court Court Court Court 1969 Court Court A Jones Court / Court ** 1968 King Richey King Wade / King ** ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** US Open had Amateur and Pro tournaments in 1968 and 1969. 3.3 - Number of Grand Slam Singles Titles Won (Players playing in Open Era) 1. Emerson 12 * 1. Court 24 2. Laver 11 2. Graf 21 Borg 11 3. Navratilova 18 4. Sampras 10 Evert 18 5. Rosewall 8 5. King 12 Connors 8 6. Seles 9 Lendl 8 7. Goolagong 7 8. Newcombe 7 8. Mandlikova 4 McEnroe 7 9. Wade 3 Wilander 7 Sanchez Vicario 3 Hingis 3 * Didn't win any GS titles in the Open Era. 3.4 - Players with Highest Number of Career Singles Titles (Open Era) 1. Martina Navratilova 167 1. Jimmy Connors 109 2. Chris Evert 157 2. Ivan Lendl 94 3. Steffi Graf 103 3. John McEnroe 77 4. Evonne Goolagong 88 4. Bjorn Borg 62 5. Margaret Court 79 Guillermo Vilas 62 6. Billie Jean King 67 6. Ilie Nastase 57 7. Virginia Wade 55 7. Pete Sampras 51 8. Monica Seles 41 8. Boris Becker 49 9. Helga Masthoff 37 9. Rod Laver 47 10. Olga Morozova 31 10. Thomas Muster 44 Conchita Martinez 31 Andre Agassi 34 3.5 - Head-to-head win-loss records of selected top players The head-to-head tables for current players is no longer maintained. A more selective record of top players' head-to-heads will be posted in the future. Notable Match-Ups: Navratilova-Evert 43-37 Lendl-Connors 23-13 Navratilova-Shriver 37-3 Lendl-McEnroe 20-15 Navratilova-Graf 9-9 Borg-McEnroe 7-7 Navratilova-Sabatini 15-6 Lendl-Edberg 13-14 Seles-Navratilova 10-7 Lendl-Becker 11-10 Martinez-Navratilova 4-1 Becker-Edberg 25-10 Graf-Sabatini 29-11 Seles-Sabatini 12-3 Head-to-head records include regular tournaments, Davis Cup, the World Team Cup, etc., but not exhibitions and the Grand Slam Cup. 3.6 - Player and Fan Club Information Thanks to Jimmy Lim and Jason Simmons for providing a majority of the initial information in this section. Most players can be written to in care of the agencies that represent them. Addresses of the major agencies are provided immendiately below. For many players in the subsequent list, the agency representing the player is shown. In most cases, the web sites listed in this section are unofficial player information sites. They are listed as a convenience for those who may wish to find news, statistics, and/or photos of a particular player. Major Agencies: International Management Group (IMG) One Erieview Plaza Suite 1300 Cleveland, OH 44114, USA Tel. 216-522-1200 Advantage International (Advantage) 1751 Pinnacle Drive, Suite 1500 McLean, VA 22102, USA Tel. 703-905-3300 ProServ 1101 Wilson Blvd. Suite 1300 Tel. Arlington, VA 22209, USA AMI Promanagement (AMI) 370 Felter Ave. Hewlett, NY 11557, USA Tel. 516-569-8922 Players: ANDRE AGASSI - IMG Andre Agassi Fan Club - c/o Denise Kimble, 227 Henley Rd, Caversham, Reading RG4 OLJ, UK - c/o U.E.C., Via R.Lanciani, 00162 Rome, Italy - Casella Postale 7228, 00100 Rome Nomentano, Italy http://www.superstars.com/andreagassi/index.html http://www.ids.net/~mattg/agassi/agassi.html KARIM ALAMI - Advantage SABINE APPELMANS - Advantage http://www.ping.be/~ping0200/sabine.html http://www.xs4all.be/~kghysens YAYUK BASUKI http://www.cam.org/~etoombs/yayuk.html BORIS BECKER Boris Becker Fan Club - c/o Randy Pagel, PO Box 1491, Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54902, USA - c/o J.Bramfitt, The Attic Flat, 29 Liverpool Road, Chester CH2 1AB, UK - c/o Silvia Keersten, Dussel 65, D-40219 Dusseldorf 1, Germany - Bum Bum Club, c/o Manuela Corsini, Lungarno Buozzi 2, 56100 Pisa, Italy http://www.aspide.it/freeweb/borisbecker http://www.ids.net/~japolin/boris.html ALBERTO BERASATEGUI - Proserv JONAS BJORKMAN - Advantage ARNAUD BOETSCH - IMG SERGI BRUGUERA - IMG JENNIFER CAPRIATI Jennifer Capriati Fan Club - c/o Lorenzo Rapetti, via Melchiorre Gioia 133, 20125 Milan, Italy http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/medschool/students/gstein/Capriati MICHAEL CHANG - Advantage http://www.mchang.com (Official) http://alcor.concordia.ca/~ct_chan/mchang.html http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/8319/mc.html AMANDA COETZER - ProServ Amanda Coetzer Supporter's Group, Kris Z. Nocula, 325 Crest Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109, USA http://web.idirect.com/~coetzer http://www.wu-wien.ac.at/usr/h89/h8924465 ALBERTO COSTA - Advantage JIM COURIER - IMG KIMIKO DATE http://www.twics.com/~finlandh/date/kimiko.htm http://www.goldwin.co.jp/atlanta/date/index.html http://tsk-www.ss.titech.ac.jp/~shino/Kimiko/kimikoHP.html LINDSAY DAVENPORT - IMG RUXANDRA DRAGOMIR - AMI STEFAN EDBERG - ProServ Stefan Edberg Fan Club - 122 Fountainbleu Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana 71115, USA - c/o Claudia Niesporek, Heidelberg str. 26, D-68782 Bruhl, Germany - c/o Sabine Strößer, Gluckstr. 8, 91074 Herzogenaurach, Germany - Stefanello's Club, c/o Santochirico Nunzia, Via del Sanniti 5, 75100 Matera, Italy http://amor.rz.hu-berlin.de/~h0053fac/se.html JACCO ELTINGH - Advantage THOMAS ENQVIST - IMG http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Field/4509 GIGI FERNANDEZ c/o The Sharf Marketing Group, 822 Boylston St., Suite 203, Chestnut Hill, MA 02167, USA MARY JOE FERNANDEZ - IMG http://www.stack.urc.tue.nl/~wil/mary-joe.html WAYNE FERREIRA - IMG AMY FRAZIER - Advantage http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/medschool/students/gstein/Frazier ANDREA GAUDENZI - AMI ZINA GARRISON JACKSON - Advantage INES GORROCHATEGUI http://www.epix.net/~bknizer/ines.html STEFFI GRAF Steffi Graf Fan Club - c/o Michael Giesinger, Lm Schletter 2, A-6844 Altach, Austria - c/o Furloni Clemens, Via Ugo Foscolo 28, 25040 Cividate Camuno (Bs), Italy Steffi Graf International Supporters' Club -- Jackie Tanner, 12108 Stoney Spur, San Antonio, TX 78247-3439, USA (e-mail: 73753.2571@CompuServe.COM) Chris Skelton, 308-2077 Prospect St, Burlington, Ontario L7R 1Z4, Canada (e-mail: cskelton@hookup.net) Peter Burton, 6 Kershope Close, Goldington, Bedford MK41 OAQ, UK Anke Rossol, OT Gadenstedt, Meierstrasse 8, D-31246 Lahstedt, Germany Alexandre Cheral, 15, parc du Chateau, F-78430 Louveciennes, France http://www.hookup.net/~cskelton http://www.octonet.com/~jo http://www.informatik.uni-tuebingen.de/internet/sport/tennis/graf.html PAUL HAARHUIS - Advantage KARINA HABSUDOVA - c/o Robert Kaplan, 145 East 18th Street, New York, NY 10005, USA TIM HENMAN - IMG http://www.advantage-tennis.com/henman/memdet.htm MARTINA HINGIS - IMG http://www.hingis.ch http://www.stack.urc.tue.nl/~geertt/martina.html http://www2.active.ch/~markus/martina.html http://falcon.cc.ukans.edu/~ransari/martina.htm http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Metro/5190/index2.html RIKA HIRAKI http://www2b.meshnet.or.jp/~deuceit ANKE HUBER - c/o MS Consulting GmbH, Bayernstrasse 383, 5071 Salzburg, Austria - Anke Huber Fan Club, 19 Cosgrove Crescent, Failsworth, Manchester, M35 OJX, England http://www.pncl.co.uk/~a.huber/index.html http://www.calvin.edu/~tslage78 http://student.uq.edu.au/~s335129/huber/huber.html GORAN IVANISEVIC - c/o Thomas F. Betz, Jr., T-V Enterprises Ltd., 2525 Dominion Tower, 999 Waterside Drive, Norfolk, VA 23510, USA - Goran Invanisevic Fan Club, Aljinoviceva 28, 58000 Split, Croatia http://www.waterw.com/~sbhakta/goran.htm LUKE & MURPHY JENSEN - ProServ YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV - IMG JANA KANDARR - IMG http://www.tref.nl/1378/sport/jana1.htm PETR KORDA - ProServ RICHARD KRAJICEK - Advantage AARON KRICKSTEIN - ProServ ANNA KOURNIKOVA - IMG http://www.healey.com.au/~bgrosman/anna GUSTAVO KUERTEN http://www.virtuacomm.com/gugakuerten FLORENCIA LABAT http://members.tripod.com/~Chris_G/index.html HENRI LECONTE Henri Leconte Fan Club, c/o Daniela Franke, Seyboldstr. 9A, 2050 Hamburg, Germany IVAN LENDL Ivan Lendl Italian Fans' Club, c/o Claire Cena, Via Don Minzoni 47, 41043 Formigine (Mo) IVA MAJOLI - IMG http://srcm1.zems.fer.hr/~majoli MAGDALENA MALEEVA - Advantage TODD MARTIN - Advantage CONCHITA MARTINEZ - Advantage http://ogyalla.konkoly.hu/staff/zsoldos/Conchita/home.html LORI MCNEIL - IMG ANDREI MEDVEDEV c/o Paul Theofanous, 114 West 86th Street, Suite 12C, New York, NY 10024, USA CARLOS MOYA http://www.laredcafe.com/jasm/moya.html THOMAS MUSTER - AMI Thomas Muster Fan Club, c/o Giovanna Gaudio, via Galieno 46, 80053 c/Stabia (Na), Italy http://www.geocities.com/Paris/9644/muster.html http://www3.sympatico.ca/laflamme3/Muster.htm MARTINA NAVRATILOVA - IMG JANA NOVOTNA - Advantage http://www.waterw.com/~sbhakta/novotna.htm LEANDER PAES http://www.its.uci.edu/~jaykay/leander.html BARBARA PAULUS - IMG MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS - Advantage http://www.primenet.com/~zed/mp/mp.htm http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/9519/MP.html http://www.geocities.com/Paris/LeftBank/3279/MARK.HTML MARY PIERCE - IMG : Mary Pierce Fan Club, c/o Jack Torpey, 11 Neilson Rd., Wantage, NJ 07461, USA http://www.alphalink.com.au/~benatar/pierce.htm PATRICK RAFTER - IMG: PR UnLtd, Official Patrick Rafter Supporter's Club, 5 Degilbo Street, Maryborough QLD 4650, Australia http://www.ntplx.net/~radagast/rafter LISA RAYMOND - Advantage Raymond Racquet Force; 47 Carol Place; Bloomfield, NJ 07003 MARCELO RIOS - IMG : http://www.entelchile.net/mrios http://www.marcelorios.cl http://cec.uchile.cl/~irivera/chino.html http://www.cmet.net/mrios.htm MARC ROSSET - IMG CHANDA RUBIN - Advantage : http://www.satchmo.com/nolavl/chanda.html GREG RUSEDSKI http://www.csv.warwick.ac.uk/~mauds/greg.html GABRIELA SABATINI - ProServ: Gabriela Sabatini Fan Club; App. Int. 14, Suc. 27; 1427 Buenos Aires; Argentina The Gabriela Sabatini Fan Club; c/o Sue LaShomb; P.O. Box 7016; Newburgh, NY 12550 http://www.satlink.com/sabatini http://www.louisville.edu/~jsjuno01/gaby.html PETE SAMPRAS - IMG: Pete Sampras Worldwide Fan Club, 19 Cosgrove Crescent, Fallsworth, Manchester, M35 OJX, England http://www.sportsline.com/u/sampras (Official) http://www.australia.net.au/~gumby/index.htm ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO - IMG http://members.tripod.com/~CMSTRONG/index.html MONICA SELES - IMG: European Fan Club of Monica Seles (EFCMS): Olivier Ferrando (President of EFCMS); 26 rue des Lilas, F-06 100; Nice, France http://www.primenet.com/~zed/seles/seles.html http://users.aol.com/Rostco/monica/monica.htm http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/7491/index.html VINCE SPADEA - IMG MICHAEL STICH : - c/o MS Consulting GmbH, Bayernstrasse 383, 5071 Salzburg, Austria JASON STOLTENBERG - Advantage KATARINA STUDENIKOVA - AMI AI SUGIYAMA : http://www.opel.co.jp/AI/Aihome.html http://www.goldwin.co.jp/atlanta/sugiyama/index.html HELENA SUKOVA - AMI GUILLERMO VILAS http://www.overnet.com.ar/Users/vilas.html MALIVAI WASHINGTON - ProServ DAVID WHEATON - IMG JUDITH WIESNER - Advantage MATS WILANDER - IMG VENUS WILLIAMS http://surf.to/venuswilliams TOOD WOODBRIDGE Official Todd Woodbridge Fan Club, 4 Chaplin St, Stafford Heights, Qld 4053, Australia http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/7298 4.1 - Buying a Tennis Racquet -- Issues to Consider (This section is a condensed version of an article originally posted by Charles Lin, clin@eng.umd.edu - modified by csmith@cc.gatech.edu). The following article discusses various criteria individuals may want to examine when considering buying a new tennis racquet. The following topics are covered: * Price * Where to buy (mail order vs. local store) * Racquet size * Flexibility * Racquet material * Vibration dampening * Racquet strings and stringing * Grips * Head balance * Weight If you are looking for a racquet, the short advice is to hit with as many racquets as you can, and pick the one you like best. Like anything, choosing racquets is a highly subjective decision, and you will get pickier as you get better in tennis. As a beginner, you may not have as much information as you would like. This article summarizes issues you should think about when buying a racquet. Price Racquets range anywhere from 30 US dollars all the way up to 250 US dollars and more. They may roughly be divided into two classes - those costing $90 US or less, and those costing more than $90 US. Generally, a reasonable racquet will cost at least $90 US (not on sale). Most racquets in this price range are made of graphite material or a graphite composite. A few inexpensive racquets may be composed of a metallic material such as aluminum. Usually the more expensive racquets (200 to 300 US dollars) will have fancier features, but a less expensive model may well suit your needs. Mail order or not Should you mail order or not? The main advantage of mail order is cost savings and more selection variety. Disadvantages: (1) you might get ripped off; (2) no-return policies; (3) you can't play-test the racquet before buying. If you do choose to mail order, you may want to call the Better Business Bureau (in the US) in the city where the company operates from to see what kinds of complaints you get. Buying from sports stores allows you to take the racquet home right away. You may be able to come close to a mail-order price if you find the racquet you want on sale. You can sometimes get discontinued racquets at great prices. Also, you can usually return the racquet if not satisfied. Size of racquet The "racquet size" refers to the area bounded by the oval part of the racquet frame (the racquet head). Sizes may be roughly divided into four categories: * Standard (approx 66 sq. inches -- the old wood racquets) * Midsize (80-90 sq. inches) * "Mid-overs" or "Mid-plus" (95-105 sq. inches) * Oversize (Approx 110 sq. inches) (1 square inch = 6.452 square cm) You can no longer find the standard size racquets which are the old wooden racquets of the past. Ever since Pam Shriver and others started using larger-sized racquets, other pros and amateurs have made the switch. What does size mean to you? An oversized racquet means you have more area to hit the ball, and the racquet is more forgiving on off-center shots. Many baseliners use oversize racquets because they hit many strokes and tend to utilize the extra area to help with topspin production. These racquets can lead to sloppy stroke production and can be too powerful for some players. This is usually not a big problem for most players. A midsize racquet is usually a little better for volleyers who play against hard hitters because it provides a bit of control. On the other hand, the oversized racquet still provides more area to hit with, and some serve and volleyers will use oversized racquets. The mid-over is a compromise -- more powerful than the midsize but not as powerful as the oversized. These racquets are becoming more popular than midsize racquets. Some companies have introduced super-oversized models, which are a bit larger than oversize (typically about 115-120 sq. in.). There are even a few models around 130 sq. inches, which are probably much too big for reasonable play and should be avoided. The best way to determine the right size for you is to play-test with the different sizes. There are a great number and variety of mid-over and oversize models to choose from. Widebodies The "widebody revolution" started in the late 80's with models such as the Wilson Profile. Different companies have produced various racquets that vary in their widebody construction (e.g., equally wide - Classic Beam; wide on top - Prince; wide on bottom - Head). Generally, Wider -> More powerful, stiffer, more expensive. Wide- bodies are usually 18mm (very narrow) up to 30mm wide. The general rule of thumb is that the quicker and longer a stroke motion you have, the narrower a racquet you should use (not a hard-and-fast rule, though). It should be noted that you are not going to find non-widebodies around. Almost every racquet is wide to some extent. One problem with widebodies occurs when people try to hit the ball edge on as in extreme sliced shots or topspin shots. You tend to hit the side of the racquet a lot more. You can compensate through a bit of practice. Extra Long Racquets Manufacturers of racquets have been looking for many different ways to add power to racquets. The aluminum racquet, the oversized racquet, the graphite racquet, widebodies, and now extra long racquets. A standard racquet measures 27 inches, and the rules permit a racquet to be as long as 32 inches. (Note: The International Tennis Federation has proposed a reduction in maximum allowable racquet length from 32 inches to 29 inches). The new longer racquets are typically about 28 inches long. Given that most tennis racquet manufacturers now produce a longer racquet, it's safe to say that this idea does work. It seems to help add a little power to the serve. The only tricky part is making sure that you can still hit the same kind of stroke with the longer racquets that you can with a normal racquet. It seems manufacturers have been paying attention to this. Stiff or flexible Stiff racquets bend and torque a lot less than flexible racquets and thus usually generate more power. Stiff racquets will also produce a bit more accuracy than a flexible racquet because they twist less on impact so the response is more predictable. Primarily though, flexibility translates to comfort. Stiff racquets tend to be more uncomfortable (i.e., produce more shock to the arm) than flexible racquets. The widebodies all tend to be fairly stiff racquets though many of these racquets now have some kind of dampening system (see Vibration Dampening below). Material Racquets are usually composed of graphite and metal. There are no racquets made of wood being made today. Ceramic racquets, which used to be made, are reported too brittle and are more likely to break than graphite racquets. Almost all metal racquets are junior sized racquets or lower priced racquets. Graphite racquets are sometimes combined with other materials such as fiberglass to affect the flexibility. Generally, if you want to play "seriously", you choose graphite. The graphite racquets tend to have better vibration technology than metal. Vibration dampening Vibration dampening appears to be the current industry fad (e.g., Head - Vibrasorb, Dunlop - ISIS, Prince - liquid crystal polymers). The method for dampening a racquet's vibration is provided either in the material of the racquet, the material underneath the grip, or some method of "isolating" the head of the racquet with the body. Vibration dampening affects the "feel" of a racquet by alleviating the "shock" of ball impact and can help alleviate a common cause of tennis elbow (improper stroke production is another cause). You can also buy vibration dampeners which can be sponge inserts, plastic inserts, or you can even tie a rubber band to the racquet like Agassi. These dampeners probably work, but it's a matter a personal judgment as to whether you need these devices. Strings Basically there are three kinds of strings you can get: (1) Nylon, (2) Gut, and (3) Synthetic Gut. Nylon is cheap and durable, but it is not overly resilient and tends to lose tension before it snaps. Gut is the choice of many pros, but it is rather expensive and generally not recommended unless you can afford to buy in bulk and have your own stringing machine. Gut strings are resilient, hold tension better, and players like the feel better. However, humidity affects the strings and cause them to degrade. Gut doesn't last as long as nylon. The compromise is synthetic strings. Basically, gut is made by long thin strands of cow or sheep gut, and it is twisted together in much the same way twine or string is made. Synthetic gut does the same thing with nylon strings to achieve the same effect. They cost more than nylon but less than real gut. They play and hold tension better than nylon. Strings come in various thicknesses, called "gauges." You have 15, 15L, 16, 16L, and 17. Larger numbers mean thinner strings. "L" means light and can be thought of as half as size (so 15L can be considered 15 1/2). Thick strings have less resilience and feel than thin strings but last longer. So-called "topspin" strings are mostly gimmicky and should probably be avoided. These are rough surfaced strings designed to grab the ball better. The feel or durability of the strings are not necessarily improved. Cost of strings range from about $10-$15 (US) for nylon to $12-$30 for synthetic gut to $30-$50 for gut strings. Strings can be purchased in large reels for stringing at home for less. String snapping The main cause of strings breaking is excessive spin. If you play with lots of spin, you cause the strings to slide. Under the tensions these strings are under, this causes notches which you can actually see. The notches eventually break. The harder you hit, and the more spin you hit, the more likely the strings will break sooner. One way to avoid this problem (or at least prolong string life) is to use inserts called "String-a-lings" that prevent the strings from sliding too much. You can place this device at points where the string crosses. Another possibility is to use thicker strings or to string at a higher tension (next section). Higher tensions means less string sliding but can mean a greater likelihood that a string will snap (because of higher tensile pressure). String tension Note: 1 pound (lb) = 0.448 kg * 9.8 m/s^2 = 4.39 Newtons String tension is usually measured in pounds (in the US). Recommended string tensions have varied with the times but these days usually run in the range of the mid 60's (pounds) for oversize and high 50's to low 60's for mid-overs. How do you choose a tension? If you're unsure, choose a tension that is halfway between the manufacturer's ranges. You can then adjust up or down until you find the tension most suitable for you. Exceeding the limits of manufacturer's recommended string tensions might void the racquet warranty (check with the racquet company if you have questions), but most racquets can withstand a great range of tensions before damage sets in. Higher tensions will probably cause a little more damage than lower tensions. Basically, higher tensions decrease the size of the sweetspot and reduce the power (thus increasing control a bit). The higher the tension, the more boardlike the feel. Some people like this. Desired tension is pretty much a matter of personal taste, and as you improve the level of your game, you are apt to notice small fluctuations in string tensions. Also note that the same string tension will have a different "feel" for different racquets. Overwraps Most racquet grips used to be made of leather and would become hard to grip when the pores became clogged with dirt from your sweat. A solution to this problem is the use of an overgrip. Overgrips are *temporary* grips, and it is not recommended that you attempt to actually replace a racquet's existing grip. Overgrips fit over the existing grip (and thus increase the grip size a bit - see next section) and absorb the sweat better. Some overgrips are "tacky" or sticky. Some are even essentially gauze with tape and some sticky powder. They should be replaced about every five times of playing or sooner. Otherwise, they get a little icky. Some overgrips feel rubbery, others cloth like, others a bit powdery. They are about 5 US dollars for a set of three. Nowadays there are synthetic grips which are much easier to grip than leather, thus possibly removing the need for overgrips. Replacement Grips Replacement grips are meant to replace the original (leather or synthetic) grip that your racquet came with. Typically, this requires someone with experience to do this for you. Replacing a grip requires more skill than using overwraps. Replacement grips should cost less than 20 US dollars. Grip size There are, generally speaking, three basic grip sizes: 4 3/8, 4 1/2, and 4 5/8 inches (1 inch = 2.54 cm). Despite the 1/8 inch difference in circumference, you can really notice the difference. A general rule of thumb is to choose the largest grip you feel comfortable with, but again there are exceptions to every rule. In some cases you might can obtain grip sizes as diverse as 4 1/8 or 4 7/8 inches through a mail order company or a local pro shop. Head balance Take a racquet and find the length half way. A racquet is typically 27 inches long so this is 13 1/2 inches. If the racquet balances halfway, then it is even balance. If it tilts to the racquet head, it is head heavy. If it tilts toward the handle, it is head light. The balance of a racquet can make two racquets of equal weight feel different. The head heavy racquet will feel heavier than the lighter one when you swing (think of the difference in holding a hammer at either end). A head light racquet is better for serve and volleyers who need to move the racquet quickly. A head heavy racquet is a little better for baseliners who want to place more mass behind the racquet. Most racquets are only marginally head heavy or head light. Some terminology. Find the half way point (13 1/2 inches). If the balance point of your racquet is 3/8 inch closer to the racquet head than the halfway point, then it is 3 points head heavy (1 point = 1/8 inch). If the racquet balances 3/8 inch closer to the handle, then is is 3 point head light. Weight As a rule, the trend in weight is toward lighter and lighter racquets, particularly with the introduction of graphite. Racquets right now weigh about 11 and 1/2 ounces and decreasing with time. Some racquets are even less than 10 ounces. The lighter a racquet, the easier it is to swing. However, light racquets place less weight behind the shot, and hence you have to swing faster to get a more powerful shot. This has been the main way (along with balance) to tame the power of widebodies. Conclusion This discussion is not meant to provide you with the method for selecting your racquet, rather to present the various issues you will confront as you make your choice. Good luck with the racquet hunt. 4.2 - Explanation of Racquet Grips (This material provided by Charles Lin, clin@eng.umd.edu, and modified by csmith@cc.gatech.edu.) It is a bit difficult to explain the various racquet grips without a little "show and tell," so to speak, but the following discussion may be of help to beginners or players who are experimenting with racquet grips. Some diagrams to help with the discussion: Here's two views of a racquet, with numbered labels shown which are referred to in discussions below. --------- / 1 \ _______ View from / 8 2 \ grip / \ bottom / \ 1__________/ racquet \ ------ | | |__________ face | racquet | 7 3 | 5 \ / butt | | \_______/ \ / \ 6 4 / "Face-On" view... racquet face is \ 5 / in the same plane as imaginary -------- line connecting sides 1 and 5. The grips are explained below by relating the knuckle of the index finger to the relative racquet butt position the knuckle lines up over. In other words, to obtain a certain grip, place the index knuckle on the indicated butt edge and then slide your hand upward on the racquet grip. In case there's any confusion, here's a diagram of the (right) index finger: thumb (located about here) -- - \ ---------------------------------- | | --- \ X ||| | | | | (first finger) | | --- / ---------------------------------- "X" marks the bottom of the knuckle. Imagine that you are making a fist, and staring at the knuckles. X is the location where this bend would occur on the first finger. Summary of locations (refer to racquet butt diagram for positions) -------------------- 1 Eastern backhand 1-2 Continental 2 Eastern forehand 2-3 Semi-Western 4 Western 5 Exaggerated Western (note this is also the Eastern backhand) The plain numbers like 1, 2, 3 refer to the flat portions of the grip while the 2-3 refer to the corner. Place the bottom knuckle of the first finger of your right hand to get the desired results. Left handers need to number 1 through 8 counter-clockwise rather than clockwise, and the locations should still hold. Description of grips Eastern forehand grip This is the grip that is considered the classical forehand grip and is taught mostly in English speaking countries such as the US. It is also called the shake-hands grip because you should be able to shake hands with the racquet (assume the racquet is lying on the floor on its edge). The grip should also let you hit a ball that is about waist high and a little in front of you with a "relaxed" grip, and this grip should leave the face of the racquet perpendicular to the plane of the ground. You can hit flat, moderate topspin, to moderately heavy topspin with this grip. While it is rare to use this grip for serving, it can be used. It's pretty good for flat serves, but you need to work at it more to produce spin shots. For the remainder of this article, this grip will be referred to as the "conventional position." Eastern backhand grip This grip allows you to place more of your palm behind the racquet which gives the racquet more stability than using the Eastern forehand grip. This grip is also commonly taught. If you hit the ball a little more in front of you than when you hit the forehand shot (hitting the backhand "properly" usually requires hitting the ball a little more in front than the forehand), and the ball is at waist height, then you will be able to hit the ball with a relaxed grip with the plane of the racquet perpendicular to the ground. The Eastern backhand grip is often used for serving. It feels awkward at first, but allows for serving with slice (since it feels like hitting the ball edge on initially). Continental grip The continental grip is halfway between the Eastern forehand grip and the Eastern backhand grip and used to be much more popular (in the 1960's) than it is now. The advantages are that you can use one grip for the forehand and backhand. This is especially useful when volleying when you require fast reflexes and don't have time to switch grips. The disadvantage is that the grip is more "open" on the forehand side than the Eastern backhand grip. In other words, grip to the "conventional position". Then, switch to a Continental grip. The racquet should tilt upwards slightly. If you're still not sure what an "open" position is, try the following exercise: sit at a desk, turn left so that the desk is on your right-hand side, and place your right hand on and perpendicular to the desk (as if you were going to do a karate chop). Tilt your hand a bit upward so that the palm faces upward. Imagining that your palm is the racquet face, this is an "open" racquet position. If you tilt your hand the other way so that the palm aims downward, you'll have a closed or more closed position. The more "open" the racquet face is, the more "up" it points, and vice versa. The Continental grip is useful for hitting late forehand shots because it allows you to hit late shots with a more perpendicular face. Note that the "idealness" of a grip (i.e., hitting it with a perpendicular face) depends on the location of where you hit the ball. The Eastern forehand and backhand grip are best for waist-high shots hit just a little in front of the body. This grip is also used for serving for similar reason to the Eastern backhand. Western (forehand) grip This is known as the frying-pan grip. Imagine you lay the racquet down flat as if it were a frying pan. Lift it up. This grip should be pretty close to the Western forehand grip. Repopularized by Borg, this is the grip of most players who like to hit with a lot of topspin (though Connors uses this grip and he hits it flat). In the conventional position, the Western forehand grip would almost be faced down (parallel to the ground). You can hit with a perpendicular face if the ball is near shoulder height and a bit in front, or if the wrist and arm is contorted. The act of changing from a closed position to the perpendicular position in a smooth upward stroke helps to produce topspin. The grip plays one role in hitting topspin, but it is not the most crucial part. You can hit topspin with a Continental grip too, but most people hit it with a Western grip. Semi-Western (forehand grip) This grip is about halfway between a Eastern forehand and a Western forehand. If you used the conventional position, the racquet would be at about a 45 degree angle faced down. It's halfway being perpendicular and being parallel to the ground. A lot of self taught players use this grip. Often players with big forehands use this grip (though Eastern and Western grips will both work). Exaggerated Western (forehand grip) This is a pretty awkward grip. It is more clockwise than the Western grip, and you can use the same face to hit a backhand too. Note that most people hit forehands and backhands with both sides of the racquet. The exaggerated Western forehand grip meant for those who want excessive topspin and the grip that goes with it. Two handed backhand grip Typically, you use an Eastern backhand grip for the right hand (for a right hander) and a left-handed (using the adjustment in the diagram mentioned above) Eastern forehand grip for the left hand. This allows you to remove the left hand if needed to hit the backhand, and hit it one- handed. Some players use a forehand grip with the right hand, and the left hand is a left-handed forehand grip. This makes it easier to hit returns of serves, since the left hand can be removed and a conventional forehand hit, but is a little more difficult for hitting a one-handed shot. A final note Although these grips are associated with certain styles of play (Eastern and Continental for flat forehands. Western for topspin forehands), there are players who use these grips for other styles (Lendl and Sampras hit Eastern forehands but with topspin. Connors hits flat Western forehands. Martina and Rod Laver hit topspin forehands with Continental grips). The basic rule of thumb is this, though. Given a "relaxed" grip, the idea position for a Eastern forehand is waist high, a little in front. The ideal Continental position is a little late or a little behind you. The ideal Western is a bit more in front and about shoulder height. However, with the Western and Continental grips, there is usually a compensation by the person so that one does not use a "relaxed" position, but still hits with a perpendicular face. 4.3 - Facts About Frames and Strings (The following material is provided by Alan Vinh, avinh@user1.mnsinc.com.) Here are some good facts for us tennis players to know: Racquet Facts: * Heavier frames generate more power. * Heavier frames vibrate less. * Heavier frames have larger sweetspots. * Stiffer frames generate more power. * Stiffer frames have larger sweetspots. * Stiffer frames transmit more of the shock load to the arm than flexible frames. * Stiffer frames provide more uniform ball response across the entire string bed. * Larger frames generate more power. * Larger frames are more resistant to twisting. * Larger frames have larger sweetspots. * Larger frames break strings sooner due to the string lengths. * Longer frames have higher swing weight than the same frames that are shorter hence the longer frames are less maneuverable. * Longer frames generate more power than the same frame that is shorter. * It is recommended by the USRSA that widebody frames use multifilament strings (ie. "soft" strings) or gut to compensate for some of the stiff attributes hence better playability. * It is recommended by the USRSA to string widebody frames at lower tension for better playability and to help keep strings from breaking too soon. String Facts: * Lower tensions generate more power. * Higher tensions generate more ball control. * Longer string lengths (string bed) produce more power. * Decresed string density (fewer strings) generates more power. * Thinner strings generate more power. * Elastic strings generate more power and absorb more shock at impact. * Softer strings or strings with softer coating tend to vibrate less. * Thinner strings tend to produce more spin by biting the ball more. * Decreased string density (fewer strings) generates more spin. * Multifilament strings are more elastic than solid core strings. * Longer strings on a string bed move more hence break easier (see larger frames from above). * Solid core strings are more durable than multifilament strings with kevlar string technology being the most durable. * Kevlar strings are the stiffest and least flexible. * Multifilament strings play better than solid core strings. * Multifilament strings lose tension more quickly than strings with a center core. * Textured strings tend to produce more spin. * Gut strings hold tension the best. * Gut strings are the most fragile strings comparing to other similar gauged strings. 4.4 - Lead Tape and Its Application (The following material is provided by Alan Vinh, avinh@user1.mnsinc.com.) As a reference, lets draw a clock on our racquet's head. Let 12 o'clock be at be the center of our racquet head's tip and 6 o'clock be at the center of our racquet head's throat. * Lead tape *normally* weighs 0.5 gram per inch. * 8 inches of standard 1/2-inch [wide] lead tape adds around 3.5 grams of weight (28 grams = 1 ounce). * "H" shaped tape that fits around grommets weighs 3 grams each. * To add power, add weight at 12 o'clock (to equalize balance, if desired, place weight near the butt of the racquet - under the grip/wrap). * For less dramatic perception of weight change, add weight at 10:30 and 1:30 (shoulder area). Note that the sweetspot will follow the direction of the added weight - so if your sweetspot is low and you tend to hit closer to the tip of your racquet, then adding weight near the tip (12 o'clock) will bring the sweetspot towards 12 o'clock. * To gain torsional resistance (to help steady off-center shots), add weight at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock. * If you want a heavier racquet without changing the feel or playing characteristics, add weight at the throat (6 o'clock) or closest to the frame's even-balance point. * The best place for lead tape is under the bumper guard or inside the head's rim (or throat area if applicable) so that the lead tape won't be scratched. * The power element is produced with added weight because the extra mass tends to propel the ball deeper. * Control is achieved with added weight because the ball beds or grips deeper into the string face at contact adding 1 to 2 milliseconds of extra contact time which results in more reliable placement of the shot. * Off center hits on too-light a frame tends to twist or torque the racquet face hence twisting the racquet in the player's hand. The more weight available to resist the torsion of off-centered contact, the more energy returned to the ball rather than energy lost by the ball's control of the racquet. You not only produce a better shot, but less stress is being placed on the arm since the racquet isn't twisting as much on contact. * 3 to 4 grams is enough weight to *noticeably* increase power or improve torsional stability and of course you'll have to adjust to the newly placed weight and its feel on your serves/strokes which might take a little while. * If you add 10% more mass, you'll get 10% more torsional stability according to Steve Davis (Director of Research and Development for Prince). * If you want a racquet to *feel* heavy without increasing its weight very much, add weight to the top and the butt of the racquet to achieve the *polarized* effect without offsetting the frame's balance. * Adding the same amount of weight distributed at the tip and butt of a racquet will cause the swing weight of that racquet to increase and feel/ play heavier while adding the same amount of weight at the center balanced point of the same racquet will give the player more power without making the racquet play a lot heavier and the swing weight isn't affected as much. * Frames with a greater swingweight tend to feel heavier and tend to be less maneuverable. However, the greater the swingweight, the more power available to be generated. * Steve Davis feels the optimum compromise is to add weight between 10-11 and 1-2 o'clock on the frame to increase a frame's swingweight/power and torsional stability. * Steve Davis suggests a "crude" method to calculate swingweight as follows: "Multiply the weight of the frame by the distance of the balance point from the butt end of the frame. Working in metric units, you'd multiply the weight in grams by the distance in centimeters. This would give you a rough estimation and would provide a basis for comparison from frame to frame." If I remember correctly, 28 grams = 1 ounce and ~2.54 cm = 1 inch. For my racquet, (say 1/2 a racquet for a long body) 14 inches = ~35.56 cm, 12 ounces = 336 grams, so 336 * 35.56 = 11,948.16 (not sure in what units here). I have had my racquet's swingweight measured on a Babolat's Racquet Diagnostic Center (RDC) machine and its swingweight was somewhere in the mid 300 range (not sure what units Babolat is using either). Using the crude method described by Davis above on all racquets for comparison purposes is probably sufficient though for people like myself who don't want to spend $4-5K on a Babolat RDC machine. * How much weight change is discernible by the average player? 4 grams is often noticeable among the pros but 10 grams is more realistic for club players. I am in no way advocating the use of lead tape with your racquets! This note is for your informational purposes only. Experimentation is really the only way to arrive at the best weight, balance and swingweight for an individual player, and all players are different in their perception of what feels right. The materials I've read suggest that players should play with the heaviest racquet that is *comfortable* and *maneuverable*. Add weight until your racquet becomes too heavy to play with then back off small amounts at a time. You won't have to work as hard playing with a heavier racquet and heavier racquets are more stable. 4.5 - Racquet Stringing Information (The following writeup was provided by Dan Simoes (dans@ans.net). Followups, suggestions, requests, etc., about this article should be addressed to him.) A brief summary of what you need to know: * stringing can be done by mere mortals * it's not as easy as it looks * you can break your frame(s) if o you make a big mistake (not clamped right) o you have a cheap machine and it breaks (TR Stringer) * there are no learn to string books that I know of. You might get chummy with a local stringer in a pro shop, and ask him to teach you for free, for money or for beer :) * you should join the US Racquet Stringers Association, they provide a big manual with all the patterns you could ever dream of, good technique tips, and regular updates, as well as discounts and sometimes freebies. Call them at 619 481 3545. Oh, join before you buy a machine - you will find the Stringer's Updates are an excellent source for used machines. * The Klippermate is an excellent choice for a personal stringer. It is sturdy, well built, relatively easy to use (for a tabletop) and well worth the price. As far as tabletops go, I would hesitate to spend more - I own one myself. The 2 point mounting system used on the Klippermate is perfectly acceptable, and according to them, is better than a 4 or 6 point. The next step up would be a used upright like an Ektelon or a Winn Pro, for around $500 or so, if you have the space and need the speed advantage - you can string quicker with an upright. You will find an ad for the Klippermate and many other similar machines in the back of Tennis magazine. Q: How do I become a 'certified stringer?' A: By the USRSA (US Racquet Stringers Association). There are actually 2 types: * USRSA Certified: anyone can get this if you pass the test * USRSA CRT (Certified Racquet Technician) You must belong to an established shop where stringing is performed, and you must pass a (harder) test. The CRT designation was created to add credibility to the stringers who work at shops and therefore charge extra, as opposed to home-based stringers (like me) who string on the kitchen table and have no overhead. You can contact the USRSA at (619) 481-3545. Q: In a tabletop stringer, such as the Klippermate, is there any advantage to a 6 clamp mounting system as opposed to a 2 point? A: According to Klippermate, no. Even with upright models you will find differences in the way frames are mounted. The Winn Pro, for example, uses a 2 point mounting system with lateral support. The 2 point system used on the Klippermate works fine, and according to Klipspringer is a better method. It's sort of like the debate over front vs. rear wheel drive... No matter what system you use, make sure your clamps are tight or it won't matter how many mount points there are :). Comments on machines: The USRSA is preparing a review of portable stringing machines. I've seen a draft of this material and the review seems to rank the Gamma Pro 100 ($179) at or near the top. Other machines reviewed that did well were the Alpha Pro Partner ($200) and the AG Gutterman Easy I ($145). They also reviewed the Klippermate and did not feel that it was a good choice for first time stringers. I cannot endorse one machine over another since I have only used the Klippermate (in the portable category) but I continue to use my Klip for my personal stringing with no problems. Do your research, make sure the company stands behind its product, and take your time to do a good job, and I'm sure you'll be a skilled stringer in no time. 5.1 - Online Tennis Information - World Wide Web [If you would like to contribute information about a WWW site to this FAQ listing, please forward the information to cs30@oit.gatech.edu.] Starting Points The following World Wide Web sites are good starting points for exploring online tennis information. 1. The World Wide Web Tennis Server (provided by the Tenagra Corporation) The WWW Tennis Server is the primary tennis server on the Internet. The server provides access to an online tennis store as well as a substantial amount of tennis-related information, including: The WTA Tour Newsletter; archives and files on tournaments covered on the Tennis Server; Monthly tennis columns including player tips from Windemere Racquet & Swim Club Head Pro John Mills; Graphics of players; sponsorship by a "Web order" tennis store; Hyperlinked versions of the Rules and Code of Tennis; The Tennis FAQ; Happenings at the Windemere Racquet & Swim Club in Clear Lake Texas; and links to other tennis info on the Web and Internet. http://www.tennisserver.com 2. ATP Tour The official ATP Tour web site provides up-to-date information about the men's professional tour, including the latest tournament results and tour news, rankings, player biographies, tournament and broadcast schedules, and official merchandise. http://atptour.com 3. COREL WTA TOUR The Official Corel WTA TOUR web site provides the latest information on the professional women's tennis tour. The site contains up-to-date statistics, biographies, news items, cool photos and graphics, as well as ticket and travel information. http://www.corelwtatour.com 4. International Tennis Hall of Fame The www.tennisfame.org web site provides a brief overview of the history of the game and players that awaits visitors to the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum in Newport, R.I. At this site, you will find a description of the newly-renovated Museum galleries and see the names of the 168 Hall of Fame Enshrinees (as of 1997). A complete Calendar of Events highlights "Newport Tennis Week" and a full slate of activities at the Hall of Fame and the historic grass courts of the Newport Casino. You can learn how to become a member of the Hall of Fame and even browse through some of the merchandise available from the Museum Gift Shop. http://www.tennisfame.org 5. University of Toronto - Tennis Information maintained at this site includes ATP/WTA tournament information, weekly ATP/WTA singles and doubles rankings, and player FAQs containing detailed information about several professional tour players. http://www.cs.utoronto.ca/~cwong/tennis/tennis.html 6. The Men's Rankings and Statistics Web The Men's Rankings and Statistics Web, maintained by Jacqueline Dupree, contains extensive ATP Tour tournament results and Top 1000 rankings for 1993-1996. http://www.jdland.com/tennis.html 7. Tennis Worldwide Magazine Tennis Worldwide is the first magazine to be compiled and published exclusively for and by "netters" around the world. Edited by Bill Hethcoat, the magazine contains a wide variety a features about professional and amateur tennis, newsletters from the ATP Tour, WTA Tour, and other sources, news and tennis tips from various contributors, and much more. Updated several times per month. http://www.tennisw.com 8. Australian Open Information Information about the Ford Australian Open, inclusing comprehensive 1996 results and draws and ticket information, is maintained by Jason Simmons. http://www.squirrel.com.au/tennisnet/austopen 9. WTA Tour 1997 This series of web pages details singles tournament results for all players on the 1997 WTA Tour, comprising of qualifying and main draw results. Comprehensive cross-referencing links are provided between player and tournament results pages. This site is not affiliated with the Corel WTA TOUR. http://www.ibmpcug.co.uk/~michaeld/wta.htm Additional Tennis Web Sites Here are some additional Web sites which host tennis-related information or products. This list is not exhaustive, and new tennis sites are appearing on an almost daily basis. A more comprehensive version of this list may be found at http://blue.oit.gatech.edu/~cs30/TennisWeb.html Professional Tennis Tournaments * Australian Open * French Open * Wimbledon * U.S. Open * 1996 Olympic Games * Links to many other Professional Tournaments Tennis News * ESPN SportsZone * Nando Sports Server * Sports Ticker * USA Today * Yahoo Sports Tennis Information Servers * Cross Court Tennis * Men's Rankings and Results * Men's Rankings and Results (Archives) * The Mining Company - Pro Tennis Guide * SRI Tennis Rankings * Tennis Online * TennisONE * The Tennis Server * Tennis Information * TennisNetwork * The Tennis Server * WTA Tour 1997 Periodicals * Bob Larson's Tennis News * Corel WTA TOUR Notes & Netcords * Exposure * International Tennis Weekly (ATP Tour) * Junior Tennis World * On The Line * Sun Tennis Magazine * Tennis Industry Magazine * Tennis Magazine * Tennis Week * Tennis Worldwide * Top Tennis Professional Organizations * ATP Tour * Corel WTA TOUR * Deutscher Tennis Bund * Fédération Française de Tennis * Intercollegiate Tennis Association * International Tennis Hall of Fame * Koninklijke Nederlandse Lawn Tennis Bond * National Foundation of Wheelchair Tennis * Nuveen Tour (Seniors) * Swedish Tennis Association * Tennis Australia * Tennis Canada * United States Professional Tennis Association * United States Professional Tennis Registry * United States Tennis Association * Women's Sports Legends * World TeamTennis Player Information and Fan Clubs See the FAQ, Section 3.8 for player and fan club web site information. Equipment * ATS Total Sports * Dunlop Sports * Gamma Racquet Sports * Global Caps * Head USA * Holabird Sports * Midwest Sports and Tennis Supply * Mitt USA * Mizuno Tennis * PlayPro * ProKENNEX * Ray's Tennis Shop * SuperSmash * The Tennis Company * Tennis Nashbar * Tennis Warehouse * Wilson Sports - Tennis * Your Tennis Advantage Court Construction and Maintenance * DecoTurf * Fast-Dry Companies * Har-Tru\056 Corporation * N.J.P. Sports * No Fault Sports Products * Nova Sports * Tennis Court News - S and S Developers * XSPORTS Software * CAT - Computer Assisted Tournaments * Greencourt Software * ProRank and ProMatch Tennis Software * SCS Sport Computer Systems * SD Sports Software * SportHit * Tennis Analyst * The Tennis Information System * Tennis Software * TOPDOG Tennis * Triangle Software Academies and Camps * Bradenton International Tennis Academy Resort * John Newcombe Tennis Center * Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy * Nike Junior Tennis Camps * Nunez Tennis Training * Palmer Tennis Academy * Richard Thomson International Tennis School * Saddlebrook Academy * Van der Meer Tennis University * Vic Braden's Tennis College Non-Profit and Amateur Organizations * Bobby Riggs Tennis Museum * Chris Evert Charities * Gay & Lesbian Tennis Alliance * Kid's Stuff Foundation Travel * ASTI Tours * Championship Tennis Tours * Grand Slam Tennis Tours * Steve Furgal's International Tennis Tours * TravelBase Tennis Vacation Guide Miscellaneous * Real Tennis (Court Tennis) * Tennis Country * Tennis Links * Tennisnet 5.2 - Online Tennis Information - Other Sources Here are some additional sources of online tennis information. INTERNET NEWS GROUPS 1. rec.sport.tennis The 'rec.sport.tennis' news group is the most widely used Internet news group for the discussion of the game of tennis. Various information and discussions related to professional tennis (ATP tour, WTA tour, etc.), as well as occasional discussions about amateur tennis topics (techniques, equipment, etc.), may be found in this news group. 2. clari.sport.tennis The 'clari.sport.tennis' news group provides professional tennis news and scores from the Associated Press (AP) newswires. Check with your Internet provider to determine if you have access to the 'clari.sport.tennis' newsgroup. 3. alt.tennis The 'alt.tennis' newsgroup is a scarcely used newsgroup which was the precursor to rec.sport.tennis. ELECTRONIC MAIL 1. Tennis Server INTERACTIVE Includes notification of updates to the World Wide Web Tennis Server, monthly tennis tips, news about new tennis information on the Net, as well as other tennis information of general interest. Periodically, tennis related polls and surveys may also be e-mailed to people on the list. Parts of the newsletter contain commercial information from Tennis Server sponsors. Mailings occur approximately once a month and there are currently over 10,000 subscribers. To receive this free newsletter, use the online form at http://www.tennisserver.com/tennisform.html or send email to racquet-notices-request@tennisserver.com 5.3 - ATP and WTA Media Guides The ATP Tour and COREL WTA TOUR publish media guides at the beginning of every year. These guides contain tournament information, player biographies, historical records and statistics. They can be ordered directly from the ATP Tour and COREL WTA TOUR, respectively. The price includes postage within the US. The following information is correct for the 1997 edition of the guides. (1) The ATP Tour Player Guide costs US$20 (discount available). Send a check to ATP's address in this FAQ. (2) The COREL WTA TOUR Media Guide is also US$20 (discount available). The WTA accepts VISA/MC. One can order by phone, fax, or send a check to the COREL WTA TOUR. 5.4 - Addresses of TV and Tennis Organizations ABC, 77 West 66th St., New York, N.Y. 10023 (no phone; try NY's KABC) CBS, 7800 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036 (213)460-3000 NBC, 3300 West Alameda Blvd., Burbank, CA 91523 (818)840-4444 ESPN: 935 Middle St., Bristol, CT 06010, (203)-585-2000 HBO: 1100 Ave. of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, (212)512-1000 ATP: 200 ATP Tour Boulevard, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 (904)285-8000 WTA: 133 First Street NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (813) 895-5000 USTA: 70 West Red Oak Lane, White Planes, NY 10604 USA (914) 696-7000 5.5 - Ticket Information The following ticket information for major tournaments is provided as a service to those who may have no other source of information. The FAQ authors assume no responsibility for sudden changes in some of the ticket source information. Availability of tickets will vary from event to event and sometimes depend on how well in advance tickets are sought. In particular, for the Grand Slam events, tickets must usually be obtained well in advance (unless you plan to scalp for tickets). For Wimbledon and the French Open, it is recommended that applications for tickets be submitted in the early Fall preceding the event. Australian Open tickets go on sale early in the Northern Hemisphere Autumn (October), and US Open tickets usually go on sale starting sometime in the month of May. WIMBLEDON: The All England Lawn Tennis Club, PO Box 98, Wimbledon, SW19 5AE, UK (Application for ballots due 31 Dec; ballots due 31 Jan; payment after notification - early March - in Pounds Sterling by bank draft.) More information: http://www.wmin.ac.uk/~braziej/wimbledon.html FRENCH OPEN: Ticket reservation forms (best if requested by October): Stade Roland Garros, Service Reservation, 2 Avenue Gordon Bennett, 75016 Paris, France. Enclose a self-addressed envelope with a 95-cent or equivalent international coupon. Payment in Francs (bank draft) should be enclosed with reservation forms when they are sent back. US OPEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (212) 239-6250 or (888) 673-6849 Tickets for the U.S Open usually go on sale to the public in late May, about three (3) months before the start of the tournament. In 1997, the USTA will increase allowed attendance at the event by approxiately 60 percent. AUSTRALIAN OPEN: Australian Open Ticket Sales, c/o BASS Victoria, GPO Box 762G, Melbourne 3001, Australia. BASS local numbers (valid for 1995 Australian Open): 11500, 11522, or 008 338 998. --- Tennis Australia, National Tennis Centre, Batman Avenue, Melbourne 3000, Australia More information: http://www.squirrel.com.au/tennisnet/austopen WTA TOUR CHAMPIONSHIPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (212) 465-6500 More information: http://www.corelwtatour.com/championships/index.htm LIPTON (KEY BISCAYNE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (305) 361-5252 Additional WTA Tour Events General ticket information for COREL WTA TOUR events may be found at the web site http://www.corelwtatour.com/calendar/!tickets.htm. 5.6 - Tennis Book Bibliography The tennis book bibliography has been removed from the FAQ. Larry Larson maintains an extensive tennis book bibliography at the following web site: http://www.tennisbooks.com 6.1 - Tennis Elbow The following information, compiled by David Poyourow (poy@irvine.dg.com), may be useful to readers suffering from tennis elbow. Tips for alleviating tennis elbow: * Ultimately, you have to rest it for a long time for it to recede. * A doctor can prescribe anti-inflammatories like naprosin, although you might find ibuprofin works for you. A doctor can also give a shot of cortisone, or even arthroscopic surgury for it, but that is treating the symptom, not the cause. * Stretch the tendon before you play by extending your elbow and then extending and flexing your wrist. * Ice your elbow down after you play. * Strengthen your grip to relieve the stress on your elbow with one of those blobs or springs you crush in your hand. * Relearn your strokes to remove 'wristy-ness'. Use a locked wrist type stroke. * Try a shock absorber on the strings. * I have done all of the above and my elbow seldom bothers me; however, once you get it, you will always have a tendency to have it. * Those bands that people put on their forearms change the position of the tendon, which allows you to abuse a fresh part of the tendon; perhaps while doing this, the old irritated part will heal. 6.2 - USTA Self Rating System Self-Rating Guidelines: The National Tennis Rating Program provides a simple, initial self-placement method of grouping individuals of similar ability levels for league play, tournament, group lessons, social competition and club or community programs. The rating categories are generalizations about skill levels. You may find that you actually play above or below the category which best describes your skill level, depending on your competitive ability. The category you choose is not meant to be permanent, but may be adjusted as your skills change or as your match play demonstrates the need for reclassification. Ultimately, your rating is based upon your results in match play. To place yourself: A. Begin with 1.0. Read all the categories carefully and then decide which one best describes your present ability level. If your abilities range between two catagories, then choose the lower one. B. Be certain that you qualify on all points of all preceding categories as well as those in the classification you choose. C. When rating yourself assume you are playing against a player of the same sex and the same ability. D. Your self-rating may be verified by a teaching professional, coach, league coordinator or other qualified expert. E. The person in charge of your tennis program has the right to reclassify you based upon match results, if your self-placement is thought to be inappropriate Rating Categories: 1.0 This player is just starting to play tennis. 1.5 This player has limited playing experience and is still working primarily on getting the ball into play. 2.0 This player needs on-court experience. This player has obvious stroke weaknesses but is familiar with basic positions for singles and doubles play. 2.5 This player is learning to judge where the ball is going although court coverage is weak. This player can sustain a slow rally with other players of same ability. 3.0 This player is consistent when hitting medium pace shots, but is not comfortable with all strokes and lacks control when trying for a directional intent, depth, or power. 3.5 This player has achieved improved stroke dependability and direction on moderate pace shots, but still lacks depth and variety. This player exhibits more aggressive net play, has improved court coverage, and is developing teamwork in doubles. 4.0 This player has dependable strokes, including directional intent, on both forehand and backhand sides on moderate shots, plus the ability to use lobs, overheads, approach shots and volleys with some success. This player occasionally forces errors when serving and teamwork in doubles is evident. 4.5 This player has begun to master the use of power and spins and is beginning to handle pace, has sound footwork, can control depth of shots, and is beginning to vary tactics according to opponents. This player can hit first serves with power and accuracy and place the second serve and is able to rush the net successfully. 5.0 This player has good shot anticipation and frequently has an outstanding shot or attribute around which a game may be structured. This player can regularly hit winners or force errors off of short balls, can put away volleys, can successfully execute lobs, drop shots, half volleys and overhead smashes, and has good depth and spin on most second serves. 5.5 This player has developed power and/or consistency as a major weapon. This player can vary strategies and styles of play in a competitive situation and hits dependable shots in a stress situation. 6.0 These players will generally not need NRTP rankings. Rankings or to past rankings will speak for themselves. The 6.0 player typically 7.0 has had intensive training for national tournament competition at the junior level and collegiate levels and has obtained a sectional or national ranking. The 6.5 player has a reasonable chance of succeeding at the 7.0 level and has extensive satellite tournament experience. The 7.0 is a world class player who is committed to tournament competition on the international level and whose major source of income is tournament prize winnings. With this list you can rate yourself. Should you realize that your abilities range between two categories, then the lower one should be used to determine your playing level. Have fun and keep enjoying this great sport. 6.3 - USTA Rules and Code Online For those who wish to obtain an online copy of the complete USTA Rules and Code, this information is now available via the World Wide Web: http://www.tennisserver.com/rules.html (Rules) http://www.tennisserver.com/code.html (Code) 6.4 - Origin of the Scoring System in Tennis The traditional scoring system in a tennis game is 15-30-40-deuce-ad-game. The scoring system is said to derive from the usage of the four quarters of a clock (15-30-45-60) used to score a game in the pre-modern era. 60 would signify game, while 45 was, in time, "shortened" to 40. A common (but unproven) explanation for the term "love" to signify a score of zero is that it originates from the French term "l'oeuf." Another explanation is based on the idea that to do something for love is to do something for nothing (zero). The tie-break in tennis originated with Jimmy Van Alen in the late 1960s. Van Alen wished to eliminate interminable deuce sets (sets where the score reaches 5 games all and, under traditional rules, play continues until the winner of the set acquires a two-game advantage). After some experimentation at Newport, R.I., a "sudden death" tie-break was introduced at the US Open in 1970. The winner of the tie-break was the first person to reach five points with an advantage of at least one. The current version of the tie-break -- first to seven with an advantage of two -- was implemented in 1975. 6.5 - Tennis Tie-Break Rules (Source: USTA) If announced in advance of the match, a tie-break game operates when the score reaches six games all in any set. In singles, the player who first wins seven points wins the game and the set provided he or she leads by a margin of two points. If the score reaches six points all the game is extended until this margin has been achieved. Numerical scoring is used throughout the tie-break. The player whose turn it is to serve is the Server for the first point; his or her opponent is the Server for the second and third points; and, thereafter, each player serves alternately for two consecutive points until the winner of the game and set has been decided. In doubles, the player whose turn it is to serve is the Server for the first point. Thereafter, each player serves in rotation for two points, in the same order as determined previously in that set, until the winners of the game and set have been decided. Starting with the first point, each service is delivered alternately from the right and left courts, beginning from the right court. The first Server serves the first point from the right court; the second Server serves the second and third points from the left and right courts respectively; the next Server serves the fourth and fifth points from the left and right courts, respectively; and so on. Players change ends after every six points and at the conclusion of the tie-break game. The player (or doubles pair) who served first in the tie-break shall receive service in the first game of the following set. (In other words, the tie-break counts as a service game for the player who serves the first ball.) 6.6 - Dimensions of a Tennis Court The singles court is 78 feet (23.77 m) long and 27 feet (8.23 m) wide. The doubles court is 36 feet (10.97 m) wide (thus the doubles alleys are about 4-1/2 feet - 1.37 m - wide). The service lines on either side of the net are at a distance of 21 feet (6.40 m) from the net. The center service line is halfway between the singles (or doubles) sidelines. The net is supported by two net posts (at least three feet - 0.91 m - outside the doubles sideline - or 3 feet outside the singles sideline for a singles-only court) to a height of 3-1/2 feet (1.07 m) and supported at the center service line to a height of 3 feet by a white strap. Additionally, for singles matches, the net is supported by two "singles sticks" (posts) about 3 feet outside the singles sidelines to a height of 3-1/2 feet. The ITF stipulates that for ITF competitions (the Grand Slams and Davis and Federation Cups) the space behind the baseline should be at least 21 feet (6.40 m) and the space outside of the furthest sideline should be at least 12 feet (3.66 m). 6.7 - Professional Tournament Seeding The following diagram shows the typical formula used to determine the draws for 16-seed men's and women's tournaments (for meetings in the round-of-16). Sometimes there are some minor modifications employed; e.g, the #3/4 seed might be placed in the part of a quarter opposite the indicated position. As indicated, more restrictions are placed on men's draws. For instance, in a men's draw, the only seeded player #1 and #2 can possibly meet in the round of 16 is either #15 or #16; whereas, in a women's draw, #1 and #2 can meet any one among the #9 to #16 range. In general, women's seeds are distributed such that seed #n and seed #(n+1) are distributed in opposite halves of the draw, where n is an odd number. Seedings and draw information for 16-seed pro tournaments Women Men 1 1 --------+ |--------+ one of 9-16 15 or 16 --------+ | |--------+ one of 9-16 9 or 10 --------+ | | |--------+ | one of 5-8 7 or 8 --------+ | |--------+ 3 or 4 3 or 4 --------+ | | |--------+ | | one of 9-16 13 or 14 --------+ | | | |--------+ | one of 9-16 11 or 12 --------+ | | |--------+ | one of 5-8 5 or 6 --------+ | +--------> one of 5-8 5 or 6 --------+ | |--------+ | one of 9-16 11 or 12 --------+ | | |--------+ | one of 9-16 13 or 14 --------+ | | | |--------+ | | 3 or 4 3 or 4 --------+ | | |--------+ one of 5-8 7 or 8 --------+ | |--------+ | one of 9-16 9 or 10 --------+ | | |--------+ one of 9-16 15 or 16 --------+ | |--------+ 2 2 --------+ 6.8 - World Team Tennis World Team Tennis is a concept, devised by Billie Jean King, which came to fruition in the 1970's and has recently made somewhat of a comeback. World Team Tennis was at it's peak in the mid 1970's, with the likes of Evert, Connors, and Borg among its ranks. The concept gradually died for various reasons in the late 70's but has been revised in a scaled-down form. The basic Team Tennis concept is as follows: The Team Tennis franchise is similar to US baseball and football, where teams based in various US cities compete against one another. Unlike baseball and football, team members get paid based on their performance rather than a fixed amount. Bonuses are also awarded to playoff teams and to the award winners (Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year). In 1995, a rookie could earn up to $57,500 while a returning player could earn up to $53,500. Teams consist of two male and two female players plus a coach. Each team usually has one local player of each gender who serves as an alternate at home matches. There are two five-team divisions. Teams play two teams in the other division only once while playing home and away against the other seven teams, over a 4-week period following Wimbledon. The division winners, two wild card teams (teams having the best records among the remainder), and the Championship weekend host team square off in single-elimination playoffs at the end of this period. The champion for the season is the team surviving the single-elimination playoff tournament. A Team Tennis match consists of five sets: one set each of men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles. The order of match play is doubles-singles-doubles-singles-doubles, with the coach of the host team determining the exact order of sets (e.g., women's doubles first). Prior to each set, a certain amount of time is allowed for player warmups. A change of sides occurs every fourth game after a set starts, rather than every odd game played. The scoring is "no-ad," meaning that 40-40 is a "game point" instead of deuce. If the set score reaches 5-5, a 9-point tie-break is played (first to 5 points with an advantage of only 1 point required) to determine the winner of the set. Match score is determined by total games won by a team, not by how many sets are won. At the close of the match, the team leading in games won must win the last game played to win the match. Otherwise, fifth-set play continues until this happens or until each team is equal in number of games won. In the latter case, a 13-point super tie-break is then played to determine the match winner. 6.9 - Common Pro Tennis Acronyms The following are some of the acronyms you may see in a discussion of pro tennis and their meanings: ATP - ATP Tour, the men's professional tennis organization. The ATP Tour includes tour events outside of the Grand Slam events, Grand Slam Cup, and Davis Cup. Mark Miles is the current CEO of the ATP Tour. WTA - COREL WTA TOUR, the women's professional tennis organization. The COREL WTA TOUR includes Grand Slam events and the Fed Cup. Ric Clarson is the current Chief Executive Officer of this body, succeeding Anne Person Worcester in early 1998. WTC - Women's Tennis Council - A board comprised of executive types from the WTA (4), directors of women's tournaments (4), and the ITF (see below - 2), that carries a lot of weight in the organization and politics of women's tennis. There is no equivalent in the men's game, although there used to be. In 1995, the WTC was renamed the WTA TOUR Council. ITF - International Tennis Federation - the body that oversees the Grand Slams, Grand Slam Cup, Davis & Fed Cup, and the Olympics. IMG - International Management Group - one of the large Sports Management agencies that manage the affairs of a large number of tennis players and run some of the pro tournament events. Advantage International and ProServ are the other main Agencies with tennis playing clients, although there are also a number of smaller agencies. USPTA - United States Professional Tennis Association. USPTR - United States Professional Tennis Registry. USRSA - United States Racquet Stringers Association. Appendix A.1 - How to Obtain the FAQ via FTP/WWW A copy of this FAQ is available via anonymous ftp on the machine rtfm.mit.edu [180.70.0.209]. The FAQ is contained in six files in the directory /pub/usenet/rec.answers/sports/tennis-faq. This FAQ is maintained at the following World Wide Web site: http://www.mindspring.com/~csmith/TennisFAQ.html A.2 - Acknowledgements The following individuals contributed to this FAQ or provided significant information used in compiling portions of the FAQ: Christopher Smith Shun Cheung Natasha Austria Vijay Baliga Roberto Barros Clark Coleman Arijit Das Mike Horgan Srinivasamurthy Kasibhotla Larry Larson Jimmy Lim Charles Lin Mei-Ling Liu David Poyourow Glenn Stein Dan Simoes Howard Zivotofsky Albert Murdiono Alan Vinh A.3 - Send comments to... Please send comments, suggestions, corrections, and additions to this FAQ to Christopher Smith at: scsettle@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca DISCLAIMER This FAQ is intended solely for the private use of individuals and may be distributed on a non-profit basis. The authors request that the FAQ be distributed in its entirety.