Jake Rowland 
The answer depends on what counts as a “title.” Ken Rosewall won a major men’s singles title at 37, and a top-level tournament title at 43. Roger Federer holds the oldest-champion mark in the ATP Tour era, while Martina Navratilova won a Grand Slam mixed-doubles title at 49. The records look different because singles, doubles … Read more
Roger Federer was one point from losing seven times—and still won. His Australian Open quarterfinal against Tennys Sandgren in 2020 is the modern Grand Slam example most often cited when fans ask how many match points a player can save in one match. It also shows why a single, definitive “all-time record” is harder to … Read more
The biggest serving record in Grand Slam tennis came from a match so long that the scoreboard stopped working. John Isner hit 113 aces against Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010—the most by one player in a Grand Slam singles match. Mahut struck 103 of his own, making their first-round contest an extraordinary record for … Read more
A men’s singles champion and a women’s singles champion can earn exactly the same prize money at a Grand Slam, yet that doesn’t mean men and women earn the same amount across professional tennis. The answer depends on which tournament you mean, how its prize fund is set, and whether you’re counting only on-court winnings … Read more
A men’s tennis match can last much longer than a women’s match, but the difference is mostly about the format—not how hard the players compete. On the regular ATP and WTA tours, both men and women usually play best of three sets. At Grand Slam singles events, men play best of five while women play … Read more
A Grand Slam match can look identical on the scoreboard for several games, then the format creates a very different test. In singles, men play best-of-five sets and women play best-of-three. That one rule affects how many sets a player must win, how a match can swing, and how much time and stamina it may … Read more
A racket can feel perfectly fine one week and strangely board-like the next. If your shots are landing short, your arm feels more tired, or the strings have started to fray, it may be time for a restring—even if nothing has snapped. A useful starting point is to restring about as many times per year … Read more
A tennis court’s painted lines take up less space than most people expect. The catch is that players need room beyond those lines to chase down a lob, reach a wide serve, and slow down safely. For a comfortable full-size court, plan on a clear, level area about 120 feet long by 60 feet wide—roughly … Read more
A promising junior can spend more on tennis in one season than many people earn in a year—and still finish outside the rankings that make the sport financially sustainable. For an aspiring professional, the realistic cost can range from around $15,000 to more than $200,000 a year, depending on coaching, travel, tournament schedule and support … Read more
A tennis ball feels light in your hand, but even a few grams can affect how it travels and bounces. For a regulation tennis ball, the answer is precise: it must weigh between 56.0 and 59.4 grams—about 1.98 to 2.10 ounces. That range applies to approved balls used in standard tennis. The ball’s type, felt, … Read more