20 - Percentage Play in Tennis
from VIII - Tennis
Summary
Abstract
Tennis scoring makes tennis different from most games in that scoring at the point level is not cumulative and it is thus possible for a player scoring fewer points than her opponent to win a match. In this paper, a probabilistic model for a tennis match is constructed in which the probabilities associated with winning points are used to analyze the chances of winning matches. Charts are used to illustrate the consequences of the model and some numerical outcomes are highlighted to indicate how raw match data might be used to indicate how a player might improve his game. The notion of a “big” shot is examined within the model and the possibility of a “big” shot turning a losing game into a winning game is addressed.
Introduction
One of the intriguing supplements to television commentary for tennismatches these days is the computer analysis from software packages that compile the results from the charting of matches. Charting is not new, but the facility that the computer provides in creating, tabulating, and cross-referencing data from the charts has made more information easily accessible. The computer can use the charts to provide ready information on the progress of a match or data for the analysis of a player's strengths and weaknesses over several or many matches. Furthermore, software that can provide such data is readily available. A fundamental question that follows is “What does a player need to know to put the data to best use?”
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Mathematics and Sports , pp. 241 - 256Publisher: Mathematical Association of AmericaPrint publication year: 2010