Tennis 101: A Cheat Sheet

New to tennis or just need a refresher? We got you.
These short, sharp, actually-funny explainers will help you understand what’s happening on court — and what everyone’s yelling about.

🍼 Day One Questions

The most common questions casual fans ask — no judgment, we promise.

🎾 What Does “Love” Mean in Tennis?
🎾 How Does Tennis Scoring Work?
🎾 What Is “Deuce” and “Advantage” in Tennis?
🎾 What Is a Break Point in Tennis?
🎾 What’s a Hold vs. a Break?
🎾 What’s a Break of Serve?
🎾 What Is Match Point, Set Point, and Game Point?
🎾 What’s a Tiebreak?
🎾 What’s a Double Fault?
🎾 What’s a Forehand vs. Backhand?
🎾 Why Do Players Grunt So Much?
🎾 Why Do Players Bounce the Ball Before Serving?
🎾 What’s a Rally in Tennis?
🎾 What’s the Difference Between ATP and WTA?
🎾 What’s a Grand Slam vs. a Masters 1000 (vs. 500, 250)?

🎓 Not Your First Rally

You’ve watched a few matches. Now you want to know what’s really going on.

🎾 What’s a Bagel (and Breadstick) in Tennis?
🎾 What’s a Retirement in Tennis?
🎾 What’s a Default in Tennis?
🎾 What’s a Walkover in Tennis?
🎾 What’s a Qualifier?
🎾 What does ‘Seeded’ Mean in Tennis?
🎾 What’s a Let in Tennis?
🎾 How Long Is a Tennis Match?
🎾 What’s a Drop Shot?
🎾 What’s Serve and Volley?
🎾 What’s the Tennis Ranking System?
🎾 What Is Hawk-Eye in Tennis?
🎾 What Is a Wild Card in Tennis?
🎾 What Is a Protected Ranking in Tennis?
🎾 What Is a Lucky Loser in Tennis?

🧠 Deep in the Draw

Coming soon — where the nerdy stuff lives.