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How's Your Tennis IQ? Trivia Quiz

With tennis getting lots of exposure, this might be a good time to test your knowledge of how the game is played. Newcomers can learn, but I hope old hands will enjoy serving aces.

A multiple-choice quiz by mickeygreeneyes. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
mickeygreeneyes

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
87,865

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
12 / 15

Plays
8161

Last 3 plays: Guest 175 (8/15), larahairnet (15/15), Guest 68 (12/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. How many serves is a player allowed in a game? Hint

Twelve

There is no limit

Four

Sixteen

NEXT>

Question 2 of 15

2. You serve, your opponent tries to return serve, but the return goes long. What is this called? Hint

An ace

A service winner

A volley

A let

NEXT>

Question 3 of 15

3. If you're playing a serve and volley game, what are you doing a lot of? Hint

Hitting from the baseline

Making drop shots

Rushing the net

Hitting lobs

NEXT>

Question 4 of 15

4. You stay at the back of the court and make shot after shot during a lengthy point. What is this called? Hint

Net Play

Spinning your serve

A service break

A baseline rally

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Question 5 of 15

5. You are serving. Your opponent wins the first two points, you win the third, and opponent wins the fourth. What is the score? Hint

15-40

20-10

40-15

deuce

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Question 6 of 15

6. When are the side alleys or lanes (the long, narrow strips at the sides of the court) "good" (When are balls hit they are fair or playable)? Hint

Only during doubles matches

Only on return of serve

Only on serve

Only on lobs

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Question 7 of 15

7. During a match, how often do the players change ends of the court? Hint

After every game

After the first game of set one and after every two games thereafter for the rest of the match

After every set

After every two games

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Question 8 of 15

8. True or false: The exact center of the net is where the net is lowest, measuring from the ground or floor.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 9 of 15

9. Which of these shots is legal? Hint

Player makes return by striking the ball between his/her legs while facing away from the net

player kicks ball over net instead of striking it with the racquet

player leans over net to return ball but touches the net

player returns shot but touches the net with his or her hand

NEXT>

Question 10 of 15

10. What is the minimum number of games do you need to win to take a set? Hint

NEXT>

Question 11 of 15

11. What are the requirements for winning a tie-breaker? Hint

Win seven points

Win six points with a margin of two points

Win six points

Win seven points, or more if margin less than two points

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Question 12 of 15

12. You serve, the ball brushes the net and lands in the appropriate service box, but opponent fails to return it. What is this called? Hint

A let

An ace

A point for you

A drop shot

NEXT>

Question 13 of 15

13. If you miss what should have been an easy shot, what is this called? Hint

A forced error

A fault

An unforced error

A let

NEXT>

Question 14 of 15

14. How many matches does a player have to win to take the Wimbledon championship or U.S. Open crown? Hint

NEXT>

Question 15 of 15

15. From what language do we get the word "love," in its tennis sense meaning "zero"? Hint

German

Scottish

French

Italian

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 15 2024 : Guest 175: 8/15
Apr 14 2024 : larahairnet: 15/15
Apr 12 2024 : Guest 68: 12/15
Apr 12 2024 : FREEDOM49: 13/15
Apr 11 2024 : Guest 187: 9/15
Apr 10 2024 : Guest 99: 14/15
Apr 03 2024 : Guest 97: 8/15
Apr 02 2024 : Guest 82: 12/15
Apr 02 2024 : Guest 142: 13/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. How many serves is a player allowed in a game?

Answer: There is no limit

With deuce, ad in, and ad out, there's no telling how long a game might go on or how many serves will be involved.

2. You serve, your opponent tries to return serve, but the return goes long. What is this called?

Answer: A service winner

It's not quite as impressive as an ace, but the service winner is just as easy for the server. If the receiver of serve gets the racquet on the ball and the return isn't good, it's a service winner. An ace is a serve the receiver does not even touch.

3. If you're playing a serve and volley game, what are you doing a lot of?

Answer: Rushing the net

Serve-and-volley, an exciting but risky brand of tennis, requires lots of approaches to the net.

4. You stay at the back of the court and make shot after shot during a lengthy point. What is this called?

Answer: A baseline rally

The baseline is the line at the back of the court. Baseline rallies are common in singles in pro tennis.

5. You are serving. Your opponent wins the first two points, you win the third, and opponent wins the fourth. What is the score?

Answer: 15-40

The first point is called 15, then comes 30, then 40. I have no idea why. Ping-pong scoring is a heck of a lot easier! 40-15 is wrong because the server's score is always given first. Deuce means whoever makes two consecutive points will win the game.

6. When are the side alleys or lanes (the long, narrow strips at the sides of the court) "good" (When are balls hit they are fair or playable)?

Answer: Only during doubles matches

You need a larger court for doubles. The alleys are best known as doubles alleys.

7. During a match, how often do the players change ends of the court?

Answer: After the first game of set one and after every two games thereafter for the rest of the match

This practice is designed to equalize whatever advantages or disadvantages there might be between the two ends, such as wind, sunshine, etc.

8. True or false: The exact center of the net is where the net is lowest, measuring from the ground or floor.

Answer: True

They always make sure of this.

9. Which of these shots is legal?

Answer: Player makes return by striking the ball between his/her legs while facing away from the net

Only the racquet may be used to strike the ball. Touching the net with a body part or object is illegal, as is leaning over the net into the opponent's court.

10. What is the minimum number of games do you need to win to take a set?

Answer: 6

A set can end at 6-4, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 or 6-0. A set can also end at 7-5. If the score stands at 6-6, a tie-breaker is needed, and the winner of the tie-breaker takes the set 7-6.

11. What are the requirements for winning a tie-breaker?

Answer: Win seven points, or more if margin less than two points

The tie-breaker is usually the most exciting part of a tournament match. It was instituted to prevent sets which ran very long because you had to win by two games. They sometimes ended in scores like 14-12 and 16-14. The tie-breaker might be the biggest reason for the success of modern tennis. If one player scores seven and opponent has six, they continue until somebody wins by two.

12. You serve, the ball brushes the net and lands in the appropriate service box, but opponent fails to return it. What is this called?

Answer: A let

In the schoolyard, a let might be called a "do-over." You get to serve again with no penalty. If the ball strikes the net and doesn't drop in the service box, it's a fault.

13. If you miss what should have been an easy shot, what is this called?

Answer: An unforced error

A tough chance would not be counted as an unforced error.

14. How many matches does a player have to win to take the Wimbledon championship or U.S. Open crown?

Answer: 7

They have to win the first, second, and third rounds, the round of sixteen, the quarterfinals, the semi-finals, and the finals. As Ringo said, "It don't come easy."

15. From what language do we get the word "love," in its tennis sense meaning "zero"?

Answer: French

It's from the French "l'oeuf," meaning "the egg." Nothing to do with romance.

Source: Author mickeygreeneyes

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ozzz2002 before going online.
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