The Circuit Read online

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  For Louisa Thomas

  I tell him how the game is organized, the circuit of minor tournaments and the four majors, or Grand Slams, that all players use as yardsticks. I tell him about the tennis calendar, how we start the year on the other side of the world, at the Australian Open, and then just chase the sun.

  —ANDRE AGASSI, Open

  The court. (Courtesy of the author)

  PREFACE

  THIS BOOK DOESN’T intend to provide a blow-by-blow account of the entire season of the 2017 ATP Tour. It doesn’t cover every tournament. The objective of this book wasn’t to report on things for their own sake or out of professional obligation. Other writers do that and some very well. My intention was only to write on what within that year captured my attention repeatedly and in a sustained fashion. For example, Rafa beating everyone senseless on the red clay of Roland-Garros didn’t, but the red clay itself did. 2017 was one of the most remarkable years in the history of the ATP Tour. I watched every single match from that year. I don’t know how I did it, but I did. I do know why I did it, though. I’d tell you but I’d rather let the tennis tell you.

  Arthur Ashe (right) celebrating his 6–1, 6–1, 5–7, 6–4 win over Jimmy Connors in the 1975 Wimbledon men’s singles final. (Photograph by Ed Lacey / Popperfoto / Getty Images)

  A BRIEF NOTE ON SCORING

  TO CAPTURE THE music, mayhem, and magic of the 2017 season we’ll have to go over quite a few final scores and relive scores in the process. If you’re familiar with how tennis scoring works, feel free to skip ahead. If you’re not and find yourself asking, What’s in a score?, well, I’m glad you asked.

  Tennis scores are depicted in this book in the traditional way. This means many things. Scores in tennis are not simply put in numerical order as they are in baseball, basketball, and many other sports. Those are sports in which the final score is a compilation of the points (or runs), and whoever has the most at the end of the game wins. Tennis is a game in which it’s possible to win more points in a match and still lose. Roger Federer has managed to pull off this feat—or have this feat pulled on him—more than twenty times over the course of his career. That’s the funny thing about tennis: all points are worth one and only one point but not all points are created equal. Instead, the fate of a tennis match is overwhelmingly decided by moments, and by how players navigate the big points. Therefore, how a scoreline is relayed to others provides a little sense of the ebb and flow of a match. Its very design not only outlines the essential narrative details—who is serving; who is winning; who is losing—but also gives some sense of a match’s momentum.

  This means that the final score is ordered according to the subject of the sentence. If I write that Player X defeated Player Y by a final score of 6–4, 2–6, 6–1, this means that Player X won the first and third sets 6 games to 4 and 6 games to 1 and lost the second set 2 games to 6. Similarly, if I write that Player Y had lost this same match to Player X, I would write that the final score was 4–6, 6–2, 1–6, with Player Y having lost the first and third sets 4–6, 1–6. Let’s pause for a second to make sure we’re clear here. While baseball, basketball, and football contests are called games, a tennis game is something different: a tennis game is only a small part of the whole. These numbers you see here represent the number of games each player has won in a given set; each grouping of two numbers—4–6 being one group and 1–6 another—represents a set. Therefore, tennis is a match made up of sets which are made up of games which are made up of points. Most matches are structured so that the player who wins two of three sets wins. Grand Slam matches on the men’s tour are best-of-five: the player who wins three sets first wins. A player who wins a Grand Slam match 3–6, 7–5, 1–6, 7–5, 7–5 lost the first and third sets; the player who lost that same match lost it 6–3, 5–7, 6–1, 5–7, 5–7. Look back at the picture on page xii: Arthur Ashe was serving for the match and had double championship point (i.e., two straight chances to win the match and consequently the title). A tennis score is an imperfect storyteller, but it’s a storyteller just the same.

  Finally, during a game the server’s score always goes first: 15–40 means the server has won only one point in this game while the returner won three (this particular score is also known as “double break point”—feel free to consult the glossary that follows for other such terminology). Also, any set showing the score 7–6 indicates that a tiebreaker was played. The number in parentheses next to the 7–6 score reflects the final score of the tiebreaker: 7–6 (11–9), 6–7 (9–11), 7–6 (7–5).

  Got it? Good. Here we go down the rabbit hole. Love–love. Don’t hold on to anything, things will be better that way.

  A GLOSSARY OF TENNIS TERMS

  250s: The smallest tournaments on the top circuit are the ATP World Tour 250 tournaments, where the winner is awarded 250 ranking points. Compare this to a Masters 1000 tournament, where the winner is awarded 1,000 ranking points; and a Grand Slam, where the winner is awarded 2,000 points. See Grand Slam; Masters 1000.

  Ace: A serve that, after having landed inside the service box, subsequently makes it past the returner without having been touched by the returner.

  Ad court: The left side of the court: the entirety of a tennis court from the center mark to the left. This is the side of the court from which a player serves when the score is advantage, regardless of whose advantage it is. See Deuce court.

  Advantage: In terms of scoring, the point won immediately after deuce and therefore the point that leaves a player one point from winning the game. Advantage always begins with a serve from the left side of the court. See Ad court; Deuce; Game.

  All: In terms of scoring, a synonym for a tied score. When both players have won the same number of points, games, or sets. Said instead of repeating the number: i.e., 15–all is 15–15; 4 games–all in the first set is 4–4 in the first. The exception to this is 40–all, which is referred to as deuce. See Deuce.

  All-court game: A style of play conducive to grass, clay, and hard court tennis. Implies the player has a well-rounded skill set. An all-court game allows a player to be competitive during all four seasons of the circuit.

  Approach shot: A shot hit by a player who intends to follow said shot to the net with the intention of finishing off the point there. Approach shots tend to have a different pace and spin than typical groundstrokes.

  ATP: The Association of Tennis Professionals. The principal organizing body of men’s professional tennis. Its counterpart for women’s professional tennis is the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).

  ATP World Tour: The highest circuit of men’s professional tennis.

  Backcourt: The area of the court between the baseline and the service line.

  Backhand: A groundstroke, when the ball is oriented to the nondominant side of a player, where the back of the stringbed is used to hit the ball. For a right-handed player a backhand would be used to hit a ball from the player’s l
eft. For a left-handed player a backhand would be used to hit a ball from the player’s right. Originally a one-handed stroke, the two-handed backhand began to rise in popularity with its use in the 1970s by stars such as Björn Borg, Jimmy Connors, and Chris Evert. Now the two-handed backhand is used by the vast majority of professional players. The backhand is often, though by no means always, a player’s weaker side and thus the focus of an opponent’s tactical approach during a point.

  Backspin: The rotation of the tennis ball in the opposite direction of the one in which it’s heading, causing the ball to bounce backward when it lands. Slices, chips, and drop shots make pronounced use of backspin.

  Balance, stability, focus. Roger Federer’s one-handed backhand (left) and David Goffin’s two-handed backhand (right). The Nitto ATP World Tour Finals, London, November 2017. (Photograph of Federer by Clive Brunskill / Getty Images; photograph of Goffin by Julian Finney / Getty Images)

  Backswing: The action of drawing back the racket to hit the ball. The initial action of a groundstroke. See Follow-through.

  Bagel: To be winning or have won no games in a set. Alludes to the shape a bagel shares with the zero on the scoreboard. Often used as a verb. See Breadstick.

  Ball toss: Also known as a toss, this is the action of the server throwing the ball into the air to begin a serve.

  Baseline: At thirty-nine feet, the farthest parallel line from the net on the tennis court. The line from which a player serves. The point of reference by which a player orients herself or himself on the court.

  Baseliner: A player whose game is based on playing from the baseline. While it might be inferred that a baseliner is uncomfortable approaching the net, baseliners such as Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal are excellent volleyers as well.

  Block: An instinctive and short motion by which a player suddenly places the racket in front of the body in response to a hard shot from the opponent. Usually employed at the net by a player with very little time to react. Also used in the return of serve by players caught by surprise or simply incapable of taking a full swing at the ball. Players with one-handed backhands will often block back hard serves directed to that side of the body.

  Breadstick: To be winning or have won only one game in a set. Alludes to the shape a breadstick shares with the number one on the scoreboard. Often used as a verb. See Bagel.

  Break: To win a game in which the opponent was serving. Often a pivotal moment in the outcome of a set. At the professional level, a break can be a key turn of events, since professionals are expected to protect their service games. Referred to as a “break of serve.” To be “up a break”: in a set, when a player has one break more than the opponent. To be “down a break”: the opposite of being up a break. To be “up a double break”: in a set, when a player has two breaks more than the opponent. See Break point; Hold; On serve.

  Break point: A point that, if won by the returner, wins the game for the returner. The point prior to any break of serve. For example, 30–40 and advantage for the returner are break-point opportunities. The pendulum on which matches often swing. Scores such as 15–40 and love–40 offer multiple break points in a game, known respectively as “double break point” in the case of 15–40 and “triple break point” in the case of love–40. When a server wins a break point it is referred to as a save. See Break; Hold.

  Buggy whip: The follow-through on a forehand that, instead of crossing the body, returns to the same side of the body from where it began. Think of it as, for a right-handed player, instead of swinging the arm from right to left, rather swinging the arm from right to left and back to the right again with the arm passing over the head as it returns. The shot creates tremendous amounts of topspin. Many of Rafa Nadal’s forehands are hit with this style of follow-through. When he wants to hit a flatter ball he follows through across his body instead of using the buggy whip. Roger Federer has used the buggy whip more often in the late stages of his career. See Backswing; Follow-through.

  Bye: An automatic pass into the next round of a tournament. The highest seeds benefit from byes in certain tournaments and therefore don’t begin play until the second round. Players at Grand Slam tournaments do not receive byes.

  Career Grand Slam: To win all four majors (aka Grand Slam tournaments) over the course of a player’s career. Since the beginning of the open era, only five men and six women have achieved this in singles: Rod Laver, Margaret Court, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, and Novak Djokovic. See Grand Slam.

  Carve: To hit a shot with a mixture of spins.

  Center mark: The notch in the middle of the baseline. It separates the sides of the court from which a player must serve on any given point.

  Challenge: When a player appeals to the chair umpire over a line call and Hawk-Eye camera technology is used to review the appeal. A player receives three challenges per set and an additional challenge if the set extends to a tiebreak. Not all tournaments have Hawk-Eye technology and not all courts at a tournament that uses Hawk-Eye technology may have Hawk-Eye technology available. The clay court tournaments still opt for a physical spot check by the chair umpire, who descends to the court to inspect the mark left by the ball in the clay when questionable calls arise. See Line call; Line judge.

  Championship point: Match point of a tournament final. See Match point.

  Changeover: The ninety-second period during which players can sit, rest, and refresh themselves prior to switching sides of the court. This occurs after each odd-number game. A changeover between sets lasts slightly longer: 120 seconds.

  Chip: To hit a low shot with backspin, often deployed as an approach shot.

  Chip and charge: A tactic by which a player hits a chip shot and rushes to the net behind it.

  Clay: One of the three main playing surfaces of tennis, and the slowest. Made of numerous crushed materials, including brick, clay, shale, and stone. The visible top layer makes up only a small percentage of the surface. Clay is famed for its reddish-orange color but professional tournaments have also used green, blue, and gray. Due to the processes required to produce these changes in hue, different colors affect the bounce of the ball. The slow-playing surface also causes the ball to bounce higher than it does on the other surfaces and as a result tends to extend game play, which is beneficial to grinders and baseliners while detrimental to serve-and-volleyers. Because the clay surface gives, sliding is an effective technique in game play both for reaching the ball and conserving energy. Overall, the surface rewards players with excellent footwork. Conversely, it tends to hinder more cumbersome players. See Grass; Hard court.

  Closed stance: Regarding foot positioning, hitting a groundstroke with the front foot crossed in front of the back foot, leaving the shoulder facing the net. This was classic groundstroke technique until balls started being hit with so much pace that using this footwork was impractical, as it robbed time (and angles) from the player. See Open stance.

  Code violation: As observed by the ATP and WTA, a penalty for a rule violation generally in regard to on-court decorum and protocol. Examples include smashing a racket, uttering an obscenity, smashing balls into the stands during the match, inappropriate clothing, using a cell phone, communicating with one’s coach, etc. Code violations escalate in penalty: the first violation results in a warning to the player in violation; the second results in a point penalty; the third in a game penalty; and the fourth in forfeiture of the match.

  Crosscourt: A shot that travels from the ad court to the deuce court or vice versa. See Ad court; Deuce court; Down the line.

  Davis Cup: Annual international men’s team competition in which countries compete in staggered single-elimination events throughout the year. The Davis Cup is organized by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and not the ATP.

  Deuce: In terms of scoring, after 40–all, when both players have the same number of points in a game. When the player who has advantage in a game loses the next point
, the score returns to deuce. See Advantage; Game.

  Deuce court: The right side of the court: all of the court from the center mark to the right. This is the side of the court where a player serves when the score is deuce. See Ad court.

  Dirtballer: A clay court specialist. Not quite as pejorative as it sounds. The term “dirt rat” is also common. While it means the same thing as “dirtballer”—a player whose success is almost exclusively on clay courts—“dirt rat” is a more pejorative term.

  Double break point: See Break point.

  Double fault: Missing the service box on both opportunities to serve, resulting in the loss of a point. The ultimate unforced error.

  Doubles alley: The space on the court between the singles and doubles sideline.

  Down the line: In singles, a shot that runs parallel to the singles line. In doubles, a shot that runs parallel to the doubles line. I was tempted to describe it as a straight shot, but players have become adept at hitting “banana shots” by striking the outside of the ball in such a way that the ball arcs out and then curves back in to catch the sideline.

  Draw: The arrangement and sequence of matches, from round to round, in any tournament as organized by a combination of seeding and random selection. Tournaments have qualifying rounds prior to the official tournament for lower-ranked players from which players enter the main draw as qualifiers. A select few wild cards are also given entry at the discretion of the tournament organizers. Qualifiers and wild cards are usually unseeded, the exception being a high-ranked player who is granted wild-card entry into a tournament. For example, when Novak Djokovic joined the draw of the 2017 Aegon International in Eastbourne, England, late as a wild card in order to tune up for Wimbledon, he was seeded first. The better a player’s seeding, the better, theoretically, his or her draw. Only the first round of a draw is known at the start of a tournament, although possible opponents in the succeeding rounds can then be deduced by the structure of the sections of the draw. There are different sizes of draws depending on the tournament. All Grand Slams are 128-draw tournaments. Others include 64-draw tournaments, 56-draw tournaments, and 32-draw tournaments. See Qualifier; Round of sixteen; Seeding; Wild card.