Tennis Terms T - Z

• Tanking – to purposefully lose a match, because of poor mental game or others. Or, to simply purposefully lose one unnecessary set, so as to focus energy and attention on the final and match-deciding set
• Tennis Ball – a soft, hollow, air filled rubber ball coated in a synthetic fur used in the game of tennis
• Tiebreak – a special game at the score 6-6 in a set to decide the winner of the set; the winner is the first to reach at least 7 points with a difference of 2 from the opponent.
• Topspin – spin of a ball that goes forward over the top of the ball, causing the ball to dip and bounce higher
• Underspin – spin of a ball that goes forward under of the ball, causing the ball to float and bounce lower
• Umpire – (during play) – an independent person designated to enforce the rules of the game.
• Unforced error – during play, an error in a service or return shot that cannot be attributed to any factor other than poor judgement by the player.
• Wild card – a player let by organizers to play in a tournament, even if his/her rank is not adequate or does not register in time
• Winner – (rally) a forcing shot that can not be reached by the opponent and wins the point; (service) a forcing serve that is reached by the opponent, but is not returned properly, and wins the point
• WTA – Women's Tennis Association, the women's professional circuit