Jannik Sinner (ITA) Wins 2024 Nitto ATP Finals (Year End Championship)

Definition of Tennis from Artificial Intelligence (AI)

"Tennis is a captivating sport with a rich history and unique scoring system. The term "love" in tennis means zero, and its origin is unclear, with theories suggesting it comes from the French word "l'oeuf" meaning egg, or the phrase "playing for love," meaning without stakes. A tennis match consists of sets, games and points, with a set won by the first player or doubles team to win six games with a two-game margin. The scoring system involves calling points with unique terms like "15", "30", and "40", apparently derived from medieval French. Whether you are a recreational player, seasoned player, professional or simply an everyday enthusiast, tennis offers continuous excitement and challenge." 

Tennis Quote of the Day: Better Than You Were Yesterday

Tennis Quote of the Day: Tennis is a Mental Game

Tennis Quote of the Day: Control Your Emotions

Coco Gauff (USA) Wins Year End Championship | 2024 WTA Finals Riyadh Final

Tennis Quote of the Day: Go for Your Shots and Have Fun

Tennis Quote of the Day: Play the Ball and Be Free

Rafael Nadal is One of the All-Time Greats in Professional Tennis

Jannik Sinner (ITA) Wins 2024 The Six Kings Slam Title 🏆

                           Courtesy: Tennis TV

Tennis Quote of the Day: Billie Jean King on What Champions Do

Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) Wins 2024 Wuhan Final Championship Title

Jannik Sinner (ITA) Wins Rolex Shanghai Masters 2024 Title (Highlights Video)

Rafael Nadal, One of the All-Time Greatest Players, Announces Retirement After Davis Cup Final in November 2024

Tennis Video of the Day: The History of Tennis

                   (Apx. 8 mins.)(Courtesy: tennisfamer) 

Definition of Tennis for Today: Self-Growth

Reprise: Top Ten Rules of Success, by Coach Allistair McCaw (for tennis athletes and everyone)

1. Find and pursue a greater purpose
2. Do what you love
3. Stay open-minded
4. Add value to others
5. Surround yourself with people who make you better
6. Develop a winning attitude
7. Build and nurture relationships
8. Practice gratitude and and humility
9. Always be learning
10. Appreciate the moments 

From: The Allistair McCaw Podcast (Apx. 13 mins.)
*Found on Your Favorite Platforms for Podcast Downloads
Courtesy: Coach Allstair McCaw, on Facebook

Reliving the Best Points at the Paris Olympics 2024 🏆 🎾

Tennis Image of the Day: The Point of Contact Underwater

Tennis Video of the Day: Roger Federer on Laver Cup, Women's Tournament, Investment Advice for Nadal

                        Courtesy: Bloomberg Television

2024 US Open Single's Championship Winners

2024 US Open Men's Singles Championship | Jannik Sinner (ITA) Wins Title and 2nd Grand Slam Trophy

2024 US Open Women's Singles Championship | Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) Wins Title and 3rd Grand Slam Trophy

Get Ready | 2024 US Open

The Best Sport for Health, Fitness and Longevity - Tennis!

Photo Credit: wundervisuals, Getty Images

"Playing tennis can lead to healthier bones, greater range of motion, increased cognitive function, and greater longevity than other sport." 

"Tennis demonstrates the power, grace, intellect, wit, balance, speed, joy, sorrow, and sheer determination of human beings."  

"Tennis has endured for so long because it can be played at multiple levels - from social doubles to competitive singles - and challenges the whole body in many ways including speed, endurance, strength, technical skills, and strategic planning." 

"Playing tennis has been shown to supply a host of physical benefits including reduced obesity and diabetes risk, improved coordination, increased energy levels, and a stronger heart." 

"Unlike other sports, tennis requires multifaceted use of the musculoskeletal system to play well including with quick starting and stopping, and sudden changes in direction." 

". . . tennis players live longer than participants in other sports [based on research] . . . Incredibly, tennis players extended their lives by 9.7 years . . ." 

Excerpts from: "How tennis uniquely benefits your body - compared to other sports", By Daryl Austin, National Geographic, August 06, 2024 

The Power of Tennis!

Faster, Higher, Stronger: Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Men's Singles Tennis - Gold: Novak Djokovic (SRB), Silver: Carlos Alcaraz (ESP), Bronze: Lorenzo Musetti (ITA)

 
Novak Djokovic (SRB) completes "Golden Slam."
Click here for Highlights on You Tube
Courtesy: NBC Sports 

Faster, Higher, Stronger: Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Women's Singles Tennis - Gold: Qinwen Zheng (CHN), Silver: Donna Vekic (CRO), Bronze: Iga Swiatek (POL)

Click here for Highlights on You Tube 
Courtesy: NBC Sports

Wimbledon 2024 Champions

Wimbledon 2024 | Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) Wins 2nd Mens Single's Wimbledon Title and 4th Grand Slam Championship

  

                                      Courtesy: Wimbledon

Wimbledon 2024 | Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) Wins Women's Singles Wimbledon Title and 2nd Grand Slam Championship

                                      Courtesy: Wimbledon

Wimbledon 2024 | Roger Federer talks Alcaraz and Sinner, his Dartmouth speech and more!

                                       Courtesy: ESPN

Wimbledon 2024 | Thank You Andy: An Emotional Tribute to Andy Murray Wimbledon Champion

                                    Courtesy: Wimbledon 

Wimbledon 2024 - Always Like Never Before

                                    Courtesy: Wimbledon

Who is a Tennis Player?

 

New ATP Men's Professional World No.1: Jannik Sinner (ITA) (June 2024)

 

Tennis Speech of the Day: Lessons in Tennis & Life - 2024 Commencement Address by Roger Federer at Dartmouth College

         Video (Apx. 25 mins.) Courtesy: Dartmouth College

Commencement Address by Roger Federer
Dartmouth College 2024
June 09, 20024

Awarded Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters

Roger Federer's address is a masterclass on emotional intelligence and lessons in life from one of tennis' legendary players. 

Summary

1. Effortless is a myth. (It's really about hard work.)
2. It's only a point. (Keep moving forward to the next point, the next task, the next objective.)
3. Life is bigger than the court. (Life is larger than any one topic or activity.)

1. Effortless is a myth.

Things might only appear "effortless". Actually, hard work, and smart work, is the foundation of confidence and success in tennis and life. Talent is not simply a "gift". It's also about grit, discipline, patience, trust in yourself and the method, loving the process and managing your life. 

2. It's only a point.
Any single point is just a point. Keep moving forward to the next point, the next task, the next objective. Federer played 1,526 professional matches. But he only won 54% of the points in those matches! Moral of the story: even the top professionals miss points - and a lot of them. Thus, learn not to dwell on a missed point. Teach yourself to think: it's only a point. The same in life. Keep moving ahead. This is how to overcome self-doubt and negativity - fully commit to the next point with intensity, focus and clarity. 

3. Life is bigger than the court.

Never forget that life itself is larger and more consequential than any one topic or activity. Family, friends, teammates, coaches, relationships, travel, experiences, vacations, relaxation, nature and much more form a meaningful and rewarding life. "Life is a team sport. . . your success depends on your team, your coaches, your teammates, even your rivals. All these help . . . to make who you are." 

"The Most Beautiful Stroke in Tennis": The Immortal One-Handed Backhand

From: "The Most Beautiful Stroke in Tennis",

by Thomas Chatterton Williams,

The Atlantic, June 4, 2024

"What is so compelling about the one-handed backhand is the way a talented player can use the motion, especially on the run, to conceal until the last possible moment the direction of his shot. Power and consistency aren't the only skills involved; there's also subterfuge, and therefore artistry. More than any other stroke in tennis, the one-handed backhand is as good as the player using it. Its value rests on their ability to veil intent, change direction and pace, and foresee unusual angles. In other words, it is more dependent on a player's creativity than on his strength. It becomes a kind of signature that no else can forge."  

Tennis Quote of the Day: Success Depends on a Team

 

Roland-Garros 2024: Champions

Roland-Garros 2024 | Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) Wins 1st Roland-Garros Mens Single's Title and 3rd Grand Slam Championship

Roland-Garros 2024 | Iga Swiatek (POL), World No. 1, Wins 4th Roland-Garros Women's Singles Title & 5th Grand Slam Championship

OFFICIAL TRAILER | FEDERER: Twelve Final Days

Roland Garros 2024: Who is Roland Garros?

Roland Garros (1888-1918) was a trailblazing World World I aviator and French war hero, after whom is named the principal stadium in Paris - France where each year one of the world's premier professional tennis tournaments is played.

Among many other recognitions, Garros is best remembered for helping to develop fighter planes capable of machine gun fire through the propeller, which helped France and the Allies win the war. 

In 1928, when France and the famous "Four Musketeers" (French champions Rene Lacoste, Henry Cochet, Jean Borotra & Jacques Brugnon) prepared to defend their Davis Cup World Championship Title, the stadium was constructed and named after this celebrated war veteran. 

The famous "red" clay courts are actually made of layers of sand and volcanic rocks, with a few inches of white limestone and red brick dust.

One of the unique features of the Roland Garros stadium is its relative small size, comprising of only 21 acres housing 21 courts and related tennis facilities, compared with most of the world's great tennis stadiums.

While comparatively small, the stadium and the Roland Garros event is readily and easily accessible to visitors and fans due to its proximity to the city center of Paris, one of the world's most majestic and beautiful cities. 

The King of Clay: Rafael Nadal - Never Give Up ᴴᴰ

                              Courtesy: Owl Production

The Spirit of Roland Garros (The French Open): Roland-Garros - L'esprit

Tennis Quote of the Day: Tennis Teaches About Life

 

Tennis Life Lessons

 
               (Click to Enlarge) 

Definition of the Day: Tennis Player

 

Tennis Tip of the Day: The Only Two Points that Matter in Tennis

 

2024 Miami Champions: Men's and Women's Singles

 

2024 Miami Finals: Jannik Sinner (ITA) Wins Men's Singles Championship

2024 Miami Finals: Danielle Collins (USA) Wins Women's Singles Championship

Tennis Video of the Day: Novak Djokovic on Perseverance, Resilience, and Maximizing Potential (Apx. 28 mins.)

                                 Courtesy: Upfront Ventures

Goals produce clarity. Clarity produces discipline. Discipline produces results. 

Tennis Video of the Day: The Greatest Boxers teach us . . .

                                            Courtesy: Boxing TV

Observe carefully. The Greatest Boxers Muhammad Ali & Sugar Ray Robinson teach us about extraordinary levels of rhythm, timing, balance, rotation, footwork, handspeed, and leveraging power from the ground - all critical skills in tennis. 

2024 BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells) | Carlos Alcarez Wins and Defends Mens' Singles Championship

2024 BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells) | Iga Swiatek Wins Womens' Singles Championship

Tennis and Artificial Intelligence (AI): Three Powerful "Use Cases" with the Promise of Taking the Game to a New Level

 Photo Courtesy: promptshine.com

I. What is Artificial Intelligence or AI?

Artificial Intelligence or AI refers to computer systems that perform tasks of human intelligence such as visual perception, speech recognition, sensory intake and even decision-making. 

Sometimes called machine-learning, AI utilizes powerful semi-conductor chips called GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) matched with high-speed advanced software to produce accelerated computing - which is a computer system "learning from itself", and doing tasks at faster speeds and greater precision than what humans can do. 

Meanwhile, Generative AI is a methodology of harnessing and synthesizing complex data, and then generating some new information or idea, in the form of text, image or video. These new results are unbound by organic biochemistry and thus human imagination, and look astonishing. And promise to get even better. 

The purpose and promise of AI is to improve productivity and enhance performance in any field of work, business or human activity. 

Of course, most of us are familiar in our daily lives with the most rudimentary artificial intelligence - baby AI - such as Google and Amazon searches, iPhone Siri inquiries, and fitness tracking such as in Apple Watch or Fitbit. 

But AI technology has now reached a higher stage.  

II. What about Tennis and AI?
Let's take the sports arena of tennis. 

Tennis is among the most data-intensive of sports, generating tons of informational data in each player match or practice session. 

For example, the data consists of: groundstrokes, forehands, backhands, volleys, serves, returns, overheads, player movements, errors and winners, ball spin, pace, depth and placement, and much more. In short, millions of available data points are ripe for harnessing and analysis. 

AI applies the tools of motion analysis, statistical review and historical information retrieval. And generates patterns, trends and fresh insights. 

Let's see how AI data-driven technology is now being used and can further be developed in tennis. 

III. How is AI applied to Specific Uses in Tennis?

Use Case #1: PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

Player development can be improved with AI, from the recreational to the professional level. For example, Digital Video can capture strokes and movements on a granular, even individual pixel, scale. 

And AI motion analysis can spot patterns and deficiencies in movements and strokes. Individual player strengths and opponent weaknesses can be identified. 

Indeed, even injury potential in a player’s strokes can be revealed, to help prevent injury. 

Player video can be juxtaposed with video of correct and effective player technique consistent with natural human biomechanics movement. 

Thus, a clear and cogent visual illustration is generated to guide and develop player technique. 

A multitude of Apps are currently blazing a trail in these areas, and working to improve their offerings, including: Coach’s Eye, Baseline Vision, Tennis Plus, AI Tennis Trainer, Smashpoint, PlaySight, MotionCloud and others.

As part of motion detection, these Apps can also track and record metrics such as percentage of forehands vs. backhands, breakdown of topspin vs. slice vs. flat, down-the-line shots vs. cross-court, winning points vs. losing points and more. 

Motion analysis is even being incorporated into the next generation of player equipment. For example, racket manufacturer Babolat has engineered a line of rackets with built-in sensors which track data during play. And connects to a smart phone application via Bluetooth to provide feedback. 

Even racket dampeners and wrist bands are now are being modified with sensors to track data during play and practice. Qlipp is an example of the next generation of “smart” dampener. While Babolot Pop  is an example of the “smart” band. 

Tennis courts themselves can now be transformed into a "smart court", with specialized electronic netposts able to record data, collate statistics and make line calls. An example is: Wingfield (AI Powered Tennis).

Sensors capture and record information such as stroke speed, ball spin, match statistics, and even racket vibration, and reveal patters and discrepancies to improve player performance. 

Beyond the physical game, AI-inspired Apps now even seek to improve mental performance on court with skills training, such as with Apeak Tennis. 

Use Case #2: MATCH PLAY

AI can improve match play as well. Millions of data points are generated in every match, including about player styles, preferences, predilections and quirks. AI can then harness this information, and offer it up to help improve match play and spectator knowledge. 

Sense Arena for instance is an immersive “virtual reality”  platform enabling the user from the comfort of home to literally play against players with different player styles, such as an aggressive baseline or a heavy net player. It can also help injured players stay sharp as they recover. 

Researchers at Stanford and elsewhere are developing this type of virtual reality to a new level where you would play a simulation of Andy Roddick’s serve or Roger Federer’s net play or Serena Williams’s groundies. 

Meantime, apps such as Swing Vision and Sevensix allow you to capture video from your smart camera and replay your match forehands, backhands, volleys and so on. And they display metrics such as win percentage, ball placement and depth, and type of ball spin (flat, slice, topspin). 

Meanwhile, for the benefit of fans, IBM Watson technology offers Open Questions and Match Insights. Open Questions is a large language model which can moderate fan discussions such as “is Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal the best player in the history?”. 

Match Insights collects and analyzes millions of news and journalism articles and tennis videos about major players. And offers fans fresh and data-rich insights about players and matches. 

Examples include items such as a “tip sheet” on players and matches, a ranking of entertaining points based on crowd and commentator reactions, and even predictive information about what type of shot or play a player might likely use.  

AI algorithms are being developed to even include how variables such as environmental noise, crowd reaction or quiet, weather events or merely the psychological threat of bad weather might affect a given player’s game and results. 

As for game officiating, the technology of Electronic Line Calling (ELC), a familiar form of AI which the tennis public knows as Hawk-Eye, has radically altered how matches are conducted. 

Digital video coupled with computerized 3D instant replay on TV has revolutionized officiating and player disputes. In fact, the ATP has committed to full ELC in all official matches by 2025, doing away with human umpires. 

Use Case #3: COACHING & STRATEGIZING

An obvious and emerging outcome of AI development is how it can help in coaching and strategizing. AI plainly tracks player movements and their balls. As such, coaches can use AI information to quickly spot and correct their player weaknesses, or identify and fortify strengths. 

On the other side, an opponent player’s movements and their balls can also reveal subtle patterns and discrepancies. AI-tracked data for example can immediately spot how often a player runs around his backhand or what kind of second serve he typically falls back on. Players can then be coached to attack and exploit such opponent patterns.

AI can be also used to help optimize and implement winning game strategy. For example, AI would start by accumulating exhaustive data on each player. In particular, AI might focus on their match losses, and what type of winning strategies most often worked against them, and under what court or weather conditions. 

You could then scan that particular player on your smart phone or watch, and immediately see an “augmented reality” overlay displaying suggested actions against that player to consider in the match. 

AI suggestions might include: the best strategy to employ and under what court or weather conditions; the best ball spin and direction that could be used for optimal success; the best style of play to use to maximize probability of winning the point such as moving to net or aggressively slicing the ball and so on. 

Furthermore, in the same way, AI-tracked data can also be instrumental during a match, as play develops sometimes unpredictably. With the same historical information and player behavior, AI can suggest strategic adjustments and tactical changes in real time while match play is ongoing. Examples are: where to serve, which type of shot to play and when to attack the net. 

IV. Conclusion 
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has now undeniably emerged in the arena of tennis, and offers the promise of taking the sport to a whole new plateau. 

Players can be trained faster and developed more effectively. Matches can offer a higher level of play based on player access to better court knowledge. 

Officiating can be made more precise and accurate, thus making spectator viewing more satisfying. And coaches can strategize and advise their players more cogently and productively. 

A Whole New World of Tennis is here and growing bigger!

Tennis Video of the Day: How Artificial Intelligence (AI) is Serving up Data-Driven Tennis | FT Tech

"Feel the Magic": 2024 BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells)

Tennis and Robotics: Robo Tennis

                     Photo Courtesy: jackodawson

Check Out this Video: Robo-Tennis Play (Courtesy: Stefan Bojic)

Click Here: Robo Tennis Play  

Tennis Book: "Modern Tennis Instruction: A Historical Guide to Play Your Best Tennis Vol. I (1874 - 1907)" by Coach John B. Carpenter

Modern Tennis Instruction: A Historical Guide to Play Your Best Tennis Vol. I (1874 - 1907) (Limited Collector's Edition), John B. Carpenter, PTR Pro and USPTA Elite Pro with Chuck Tomlin, PTR Certified (Advanced Tennis Foundation Productions, LLC: Fairburn, GA 2023) (Editor Richard Hillway), Featuring the Congruent Tennis Model by Chuck Tomlin, 304 Pages, 7 Chapters, Bios, Tribute, Table of Contents, Appendixes A - J, Dedication, Acknowledgements, Foreword, Author's Preface, Intro and Articles by Various Contributors. 

Based on 18 years of exhaustive research, Coach John B. Carpenter has published a massive compendium on tennis instruction history, weaving together analyses of historical and modern players, tennis trivia, anecdotes and quotes. 

The teaching model featured is drawn from Coach Chuck Tomlin and dubbed the "Congruent Teaching Model" which seeks to link effective modern technique with appropriate past instruction and historical examples. 

The book is a premium Limited Edition Hardcover, profusely illustrated with stunning color and black & white photographs, relevant diagrams, and illustrations of players from the historical past to the modern age, together with their strokes and matches. 

And it includes contributory articles and commentary by Tennis Historian Richard Hillway, Major Champion Johan Keiek, and others, as well as an extensive Appendix ranging from tennis history to trivia quizes. 

For more information and to order the Book, visit Coach John Carpenter's Facebook Page. 

Tennis Concept of the Day: What is Truly Essential in Tennis or Life?

What is truly essential in tennis or life is not technique, style, strategy, mentality, nutrition, fitness or even health. In the end, it’s Passion and Inspiration. That is what justifies existence and makes life worth living! 

Australian Open Champions 2024

 

Champion at AO2024: Jannik Sinner Wins Mens' Singles Championship & 1st Grand Slam Title!

Champion at AO2024: Aryna Sabalenka Wins Womens' Singles Championship & 2nd Grand Slam Title!

Ten Tennis Commandments- Coach Allistair McCaw

(Click to Enlarge) 

Courtesy: Coach Allistair McCaw 

Tennis Quote of the Day: “Tennis [like life] is a game of result.” - Bill Tilden

“Tennis is a game of result. Put back the ball in a match, even if you do it with no more effective weapon than the handle or frame of your racket . . . What is a great tennis player? And by that I mean a great match player? . . . [T]he one with the ability to "scramble" in the pinch . . .  the ability of a player to go out after the impossible shot and return it in the pinch, return it no matter how, but still return [it]." 

- Bill Tilden, the first great Superstar of Tennis, World No. 1, 10 Grand Slam Championships in the 1920s

From “Passing Shots”, American Lawn Tennis, March 15, 1924  

Massive Rally at AO2024: Zverev Wins Incredible 51-Shot Rally Against Medvedev!

Rockin' Rally at AO2024: Qinwne Zheng Wins Gritty Rally!

Big Serve and Follow-Up at AO2024: Huge Coco Gauff Serve Clocks 201km/h

Powerful Rally at AO2024: Incredible 42-Shot Marathon Wheelchair Tennis Rally!

Scintillating Backhand at AO2024: Qinwen Zheng Hits Huge Backhand Winner!

Overpowering Forehand at AO204: Carlos Alcaraz Hits Incredible Cross-Court Winner!

Forehand Rocket at AO2024: Jannik Sinner Smashes an Incredible Winner!

Incredible Play at AO2024: Stefanos Tsitsipas' Bizzare Shot Over the Net Hits Umpire's Chair!

The Two Most Important Shots in Tennis: The Serve & The Return

Courtesy: Coach Doug Lewis, USPTA Elite

Australian Open 2024: Play!

Australian Open 2024: Hits Different!

Australian Open 2024: Game On!

Happy New Year 2024 from Timeless Tennis!