In tennis, what is a "rally"?
VerifiedAnswer: The continuous exchange of shots between players after a serve until a point is won.
Explanation:
A rally in tennis is one of the most exciting parts of the game! It begins immediately after a successful serve and continues as players hit the ball back and forth across the net. Think of it as a conversation between two players, but instead of words, they're using tennis shots to communicate.
The rally starts when the receiver successfully returns the serve. From that moment, both players engage in a continuous exchange of shots, trying to outmaneuver each other. Each shot during the rally must clear the net and land within the court boundaries. Players use various techniques like forehands, backhands, volleys, and sometimes even spectacular overhead smashes to keep the ball in play.
Rallies can be incredibly short, lasting just one or two shots, or they can be marathon exchanges lasting dozens of shots. The longest recorded rally in professional tennis lasted over 70 shots! During a rally, players demonstrate their athletic ability, strategic thinking, and technical skills as they move around the court, positioning themselves for the next shot.
A rally ends when one of several things happens: a player hits the ball into the net, sends it out of bounds, fails to return the ball before it bounces twice, or hits a winner that the opponent cannot reach. The player who forces their opponent into one of these situations wins the point.
Many tennis fans consider rallies the heart of tennis because they showcase the pure skill and endurance of the players. During a rally, you'll see players running from side to side, hitting powerful groundstrokes, delicate drop shots, and sometimes making incredible defensive saves. The tension builds with each shot as both players fight for control of the point, making rallies some of the most thrilling moments in sports.
