What Is the Standard Size of a Tennis Court?
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A tennis court is typically 78 feet long and 36 feet wide, for a total area of 2,808 square feet. However, the size of a court can vary depending on the type of game being played. For example, a regulation singles court is only 60 feet long.
The International Tennis Federation
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is the governing body of tennis worldwide. It was founded in 1913 as the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) by twelve national associations. The ITF’s global headquarters are in London, and its administrative headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, United States. The name was changed to the International Tennis Federation in 1977.
The Four Grand Slam Tournaments
The Four Grand Slam tournaments, also called majors, are the most important annual tennis events. They offer the most ranking points, prize money, public and media attention, the greatest strength and size of field, and protection of professionals’ year-round rankings. Each tournament is played over a period of two weeks. The Australian and United States tournaments are played on hard courts, the French on clay courts, and Wimbledon on grass courts.
The United States Tennis Association
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the United States. The USTA’s mission is to promote and develop the growth of tennis. The USTA’s membership consists of more than 700,000 members. The USTA is responsible for the regulation of tennis in the United States. The USTA oversees the US Open, the largest tennis tournament in the world. The USTA also offers junior tennis programs and supports the development of American tennis players.
The US Open
The United States Open Tennis Championships, commonly known as the US Open, is a major tennis tournament held annually at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City. The event is the modern-day version of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the U.S. National Championship, for which men’s singles and men’s doubles were first played in 1881.
The Lawn Tennis Association
The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) is the national governing body of tennis in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It was founded in 1900 and is based at the Roehampton Club in southwest London. The LTA’s mission is to “grow tennis” and it achieves this by encouraging more people to play tennis and ensuring that high standards are maintained on the court.
Wimbledon
Wimbledon, the oldest of the four Grand Slam tournaments, is held on grass courts at the All England Club in London. The tournament, played over two weeks in late June and early July, ischoreographed to perfection. The lawns are mowed in a cross-hatch pattern that runs perpendicular to the baseline. This pattern helps to minimize wear and tear on the court during play. The court’s grass is kept at a precise height of 8 millimeters.
The Australian Open
The Australian Open is played on a hardcourt at Melbourne Park. The court is 78 feet wide and 120 feet long. The extra space around the court is called the alley, which is used by players during doubles matches.
The French Open
The French Open, also known as Roland-Garros, is a major tennis tournament held over two weeks at the Stade Roland-Garros in Paris, France. The tournament is the second of the four annual Grand Slam tournaments, preceded by the Australian Open and followed by Wimbledon.
