Re: Tennis Matters

1. Tennis Ball

l Studies have shown the fluffier a ball gets, the slower it flies which is why you often see top players such as Tim Henman check several balls to find the least fluffy before serving.

l When not in use, tennis balls should be stored in the can they came in.

l This won't prevent them from losing pressure, but can slow it down.

2. Tennis Shoes

l Unlike running shoes, proper tennis shoes allow for side-to-side sliding.

l Added side-support is crucial to keep your foot stable even when playing shots on the run.

l Some players like to have extra ankle support, so mid-cut shoes are a good option. Breathable mesh insets in the leather will also make the shoes less sweaty.

l Women tend to have higher arches in their feet than men so female players should look for extra support underneath the arch.

l Choose cushioned socks that give extra protection to the bits of your feet that take all the impact - the ball and the heel.

l This spongy cushioning also absorbs sweat, taking it away from your skin making blisters and conditions such as athlete's foot less likely.

3. Tennis Outfits

l Don't be swayed by labels when it comes to choosing your gear.

l For instance, tight-fitting tops look good for girls, but it may be more comfortable to wear a looser shirt which is more breathable.

4. Tennis Courts

a. The Australian Open

l It is the first Grand Slam event of the year - and is used as a benchmark for the rest of the season.

l The tournament is played on a specially-designed hard court surface called Rebound Ace.

l Hard court surfaces are made of asphalt or concrete and covered with coloured acrylic paint mixed with sand to give it texture.

l Unlike on grass and clay, the bounce and the speed of the ball is consistent - which makes it ideal for beginners to play on.

l Hard court surfaces are considered a great leveller.

l Many of the top seeds have been knocked out during recent years at the Australian Open.

l They complained that the surface was too sticky, leading to injuries.

l Others put the injuries down to the timing of the event with players not having had enough time to recover since the end of the previous season.

b. The French Open

l The distinctive red suface of clay is made of crushed brick packed together and covered with a loose, rough layer.

l This causes the ball to stick to the court, slowing it right down.

l It also gives the ball a big bounce - with players often having to play the ball at shoulder height or above.

l This gives players more time to reach the ball and makes it harder to put shots away.

l It's difficult to win points with one big shot.

l That's why patience is a virtue on clay courts.

l Indeed, research shows that rallies measured at the French Open are longer than at any other Grand Slam event.

l It is not unusual for a rally to last 10 to 15 strokes, compared with two or three on grass.

l Because the ball has such a big bounce on clay, it is important to play the ball deep and to put plenty of spin on it.

l The slippery surface can force players to skid into shots and points can often be won by wrong-footing your opponent.

l Like grass, clay must be watered

c. The Wimbledon

l From the slow clay courts of Roland Garros, the Grand Slam series heads straight for Wimbledon which has the fastest of all the playing surfaces - grass.

l Wimbledon is the only major tennis tournament in the world still to be played on grass.

l It gives the ball a low bounce which can also be very unpredictable.

l You can never expect the same bounce twice on grass.

l Because of the low bounce, players with short, compact strokes that do not need as much time to prepare have an advantage.

l Those who can mix up their game, using slice as well as top spin, drop shots as well as lobs, also do well.

l Fast, powerful shots are also very effective on grass.

l Big servers such as the 2001 champion Goran Ivanisevic have even more of an advantage.

l And players who can back up their serve by attacking the net ready to volley away a weak return are best suited to grass.

d. The US Open

l The US Open, played at New York's Flushing Meadows, is the final Grand Slam event of the tennis year.

l It's also the richest tennis tournament in the world with over $17m of prize money up for grabs in 2003.

l It is played on a green hard-court surface known as Decoturf.

l At the US Open though - it is often the raucous atmosphere and not the playing surface that wrong-foots the players.

l Maybe that's why it's sometimes referred to as the world's toughest tennis tournament.

l It's certainly the biggest.

l The Arthur Ashe Stadium holds 23,000 spectators - and they can sure be intimidating.

l Britain's Greg Rusedski was completely unnerved when the Flushing Meadows crowd got behind his opponent Todd Martin three years ago.

l After being in control he ended up losing the match after the crowd started hurling abuse at him.

l Added to the noise of the crowd, planes from nearby La Guardia Airport also used to take off right over Flushing Meadows.

l The US Open also features night matches played under floodlights - and that can also have an affect on some players.

l Bjorn Borg, who won 11 Grand Slam titles during the 1970s and early 1980s, never won the US Open because he could not stand playing under floodlights.