Wimbledon 2025: Sports News Blitz’s beginners guide to tennis
Our Sports for Dummies series has previously explained ice hockey, korfball and the NBA.
We now turn our attention to the terrific sport of tennis, serving up some key pointers.
With Wimbledon 2025 in full swing down in SW19, Sports News Blitz writer Abhiram Varanasi takes a look at everything you need to know about tennis.
What is tennis?
Tennis is a sport where two or four players use a racquet to hit a ball over a net and into a marked area on the court.
The aim is to hit the ball in such a way that your opponent can't return it within the rules.
It’s played either as singles (one player per side) or doubles (two per side).
The sport is played on three different surfaces: grass, clay, or hard courts.
Each surface affects how fast the ball travels and how it bounces, which adds a layer of strategy to the sport.
Tennis combines athleticism, tactics, and mental sharpness in every match.
Rules
A match begins with a coin toss to decide who serves first. The server must stand behind the baseline and hit the ball diagonally into a marked box on the other side of the court.
If the first serve fails, the player gets one more try. If both attempts miss the mark, it's called a double fault, and the point goes to the opponent.
Once the ball is in play, both players rally by hitting it back and forth.
The ball has to go over the net and land within the court’s boundaries. If it lands outside or hits the net and doesn't go over, the point is lost.
The rally continues until one player fails to return the ball correctly.
In doubles, the court is slightly wider, using extra side lanes called alleys. Aside from that, the rules are mostly the same.
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Match structure
Tennis matches are built in layers: points make up games, games make up sets, and sets decide the match.
To win a game, a player must win four points, but instead of using regular numbers, tennis uses a unique scoring system: 15, 30, 40, and game.
The first to win four points with at least a two-point lead wins the game.
If both players get to 40, it becomes “deuce”, and a player must win two points in a row to end the game, the first one being advantage and second point to close out the game.
A set is usually won by the first player to win six games, with a two-game lead.
If the score reaches 6–6, a tiebreak is often played, where players race to seven points (winning by two).
Final set tiebreakers, also known as match tiebreakers, are first to 10 points.
Usually, matches are best-of-three sets, but in men’s Grand Slam tournaments, matches are played as best-of-five.
Mistakes and violations
There are some common ways to lose points or face penalties in tennis.
Serious offenses, like yelling at officials, breaking racquets, or unsportsmanlike behavior, can lead to code violations.
These can escalate from warnings to point or game penalties, and in rare cases: match disqualification.
Top players (men and women)
Carlos Alcaraz (Spain)
Born in El Palmar, Murcia, Alcaraz is one of the most exciting young talents in tennis.
He won the US Open in 2022 and Wimbledon in 2023 , showing a fearless and explosive style of play.
In 2022, he became the youngest world number one in ATP history.
Jannik Sinner (Italy)
From San Candido, Sinner is known for his calm attitude and precise groundstrokes.
He won the Australian Open in 2024 and 2025 along with the 2024 US Open and has climbed to world number one, earning respect for his consistency and discipline on court.
Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
Though no longer the fresh face of the sport, Djokovic - born in Belgrade - remains a serious contender in every tournament.
With 24 Grand Slam titles and over 400 weeks as world number one, his influence still looms large over the game.
Iga Świątek (Poland)
Born in Warsaw, Świątek has dominated the clay court scene, winning the French Open multiple times, along with the US Open in 2022.
She became world number one in 2022 and is widely seen as the most complete player on tour.
Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)
From Minsk, Sabalenka is famous for her powerful serve and raw intensity.
She won the Australian Open in 2023 and reached world number one later that year.
Her aggressive style makes her one of the most feared players on any surface.
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Tennis legends
Roger Federer (Switzerland)
Federer, born in Basel, was known for his effortless grace and flawless technique.
He won 20 Grand Slam titles, held the world number one ranking for 310 weeks, and helped elevate tennis to a global stage.
Rafael Nadal (Spain)
From Mallorca, Nadal is unmatched on clay, winning the French Open 14 times out of his 22 Grand Slam titles.
He is admired for his fight, passion, and sportsmanship, and he held the world number one spot multiple times throughout his career.
Serena Williams (USA)
Born in Saginaw, Michigan, Serena won 23 Grand Slam titles and became an icon far beyond tennis.
She reached number one in the world in 2002 and remained a dominant force for two decades.
Her strength and willpower reshaped what athleticism looked like in women’s sports.
Steffi Graf (Germany)
Graf, born in Mannheim, won 22 Grand Slams and achieved the unmatched Golden Slam in 1988, winning all four majors and Olympic gold in the same year.
She was world number one for 377 weeks, a record still standing today.
Iconic matches
Federer vs Nadal – Wimbledon final 2008
This five-set thriller is still considered the greatest match of all time. Played over nearly five hours, Nadal defeated Federer 9–7 in the final set as night fell on Centre Court.
The tension, drama, and quality of tennis was beyond belief.
Djokovic vs Federer – Wimbledon final 2019
In the longest Wimbledon final ever, Djokovic saved two match points and beat Federer in a fifth-set tiebreak at 12–12.
It was a stunning mental battle, and one of the most heartbreaking defeats for Federer.
Steffi Graf vs Monica Seles – French Open final 1992
Two legends clashed in a fierce three-set match, with Seles ultimately winning.
It was a match filled with intensity and power from the baseline - women’s tennis at its absolute peak.
Coco Gauff vs Venus Williams – Wimbledon first round 2019
A 15-year-old Gauff stunned the world by beating her idol Venus in straight sets.
It wasn’t just an upset - it was a passing of the torch, and the start of a brand-new star’s journey.
Summary
Whether you're playing for the first time or watching a fifth-set tiebreaker, tennis has a way of pulling you in.
With Wimbledon hogging the headlines and TV schedule for the next fortnight, this is the perfect time for a beginner to get into the beautiful sport of tennis.
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