For the most part, Tennis is considered a fair sport. Supposedly, players, according to Nick Powell,
who wrote the Code of Tennis Etiquette, were required to settle any question of
doubt of a ball being considered “In” or “Out” [no pun intended] was always to
be decided, awarded, given, unquestionably, in favor of your opponent. That’s fairness, Right?
Playing two on one, or what’s called Australian Tennis, is
not considered fair, right; but, good practice for singles and doubles! But usually, when a qualified fourth comes
along, they might be invited to play, Right?
What if the fourth is not as talented, or is just learning to play; that
competition would not be considered fair either.
Competition is pitting your ability, talents, skills,
agility and mental prowess, against an opponent of equal stature; if not, what’s
the purpose? If the players are not
equal, the “game” or “pursuit” is not competition at all, it’s bullying. No one
likes, or wants to be bullied.
Many will tell you that tennis is the fairest sport of all.
They will argue that there are linesman, or lines-women lines persons [Let’s be
fair] in the Umpire’s Chair, calling the many lines, keeping the score,
deciding who is to serve first, all in the exercising of fairness.
Ball persons at the ready with towels, new balls, giving
equal time and attention to the professional player.
In all competitive sports, the element of fairness is taken
into consideration to make the competition equal; or to “level” the playing
field, to be politically correct, as real journalist like to say.
Depending upon the sport, most team chose players, depending
upon their ability, skill, speed, agility, height, weight. Take the sport of
Baseball. Nine players, of different,
but known abilities and talents assembled as a unit to play a game. The same requirements are to be found in most
team sports like Football, Basketball, Hockey and La Crosse.
Tennis, the sport of a life time, [and there is a reason
it’s called the Sport of a Lifetime time], does not chose its players in this
fashion. As anyone knows, in an
individual sport, i.e., Skiing, Ice Skating, Boxing, Wrestling; you can be as
good as you want to be, without exception. Practice, Practice determination,
and hard work are all that is required and, perhaps an entry fee.
Think about the team sports per se, these players are
physically trying to hinder the opposing player. Catchers, Pitchers, other opposing team
members, are trying to spoil the batters attempt to get a hit or get on base, through
movement, different fielding positions and signaling.
In Football, the coaches might call the plays, or the
Quarterback might stutters is signal calling to get a penalty advantage of
being off sides, etc.
Tennis given all of its effort to be fair, and claiming to a
professional sport, has missed one opportunity to be fair. While you might not make the team because of
your height in Basketball, because of your weight in Football or Boxing. Tall or taller Tennis players do gain a
distinct advantage in height because of the serve elevation.
Thus, pitchers have decided advantage over hitters because
of the raised pitching mound.
For this reason the Better Tennis Bureau, a creation of the
National Tennis Teacher’s College, believes and advocates, that all tennis
players should be given just one serve per point.
Think of it. One
serve per point would shorten matches, would eliminate double faults, and the
wait, while another ball is retrieved. One serve would save wear and tear on the
arm, back, shoulders and knees. Players would have more stamina, for the third,
or fifth set, if they serve and volley, by not having to go back to serve the second
ball.
One serve would take away the server’s advantage, we’ve all
heard about, and receivers would be mentally set to receive serve, and the
rally would be immediate.
Finally, if these are truly, professional players and
capable of doing what you and I aren’t capable of doing, they should be able to
be just as effective with one serve; however, in the interest of drama, the
Better Tennis Bureau would suggest awarding two points for a one serve “Ace.”
That's my perspective. What's yours?
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