The Australian open tennis is one of the most challenging of all the Grand Slam tournaments due to the often extreme hot weather that often descends on Melbourne each January when the tournament is played. Being the first Grand Slam Tennis Tournament on the international tennis calendar the tournament attracts most of the big name players on the international circuit regardless of the heat. The temperature can easily reach, and often exceed, 40 degrees Celsius. Management of the Australian Open Tennis tournament have included various ‘heat clauses’ in the tournament rules as well as installing a retractable roof over the main court that can be closed if the heat becomes to extreme or rain threatens play. The main stadium for the Australian Open is Rod Laver Arena, named after the only person, and an Australian, to have twice won all four Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments in one year. The Australian Tennis Open is held in January each year at the Melbourne Tennis Stadium. Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena are the two main courts with other matches played on the outer courts. The other international grand slam tennis tournaments are: the French Open played in Paris, Wimbledon in London and the US Open played in New York.

As tennis continues to grow its fans and players will always be arguing on what determines a good player and which skills are the most important to have.

It can be fun considering the different perspectives and opinions of the many arguments that evolve from the different aspects of the game.

I have listed a few elements to consider. Which do you think are important?

Looking back at top players in history such as John McEnroe, the question to ask is, is it volleying? All things considered, a regular game may be a danger for either opponent and end a point without trouble.

Is baseline play across the net favoured by modern games? A Lot of tennis experts would argue in favour. Andy Roddick would spend time playing the game from the net but he now prefers the baseline play. And take the example of Rafael Nadal who also takes control from the rear of the court.

There are a handful of different tennis court surfaces. Each one has its own unique set of attributes, adding an interesting element to this already exciting sport.

The most popular surface in the world at the moment is the hard court. This is typically a green or blue court with painted lines and a concrete surface. You’ve likely seen it at the US Open and many other events.

What are some of the unique attributes of hard courts, and how should the game be played on them? Here are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind.

The ball moves really quickly on hard courts, and you’ll be in for a surprise if you typically play on clay courts. Those who excel in the serving department always enjoy the advantages of this surface, as fast serves will be even harder to hit back.

As far as baseline play goes, hard courts don’t really work for or against people with this strategy. This is a good thing in many regards, as it won’t ruin your chances of winning a match should you choose to stay back. Hard hitting can be an asset here.

With the Australian Open kicking off the new 2010 tennis year, the action is officially back. There are many players rounding out a field that finds itself more competitive than it’s been in quite a few years.

While recent years seemingly belonged to Federer and Nadal and their classic rivalry with one another, there are a few more players in the mix who should pose a threat to them both.

Though Federer and Nadal occupy the top two spots in the world, there are a few players who could end up the year ranked at number one. Let’s take a look at the most likely finishers now.

Obviously, there’s Roger Federer. He should always be considered the favorite to finish at the top of the rankings, as he’s done so nearly every year during the course of the last decade. Still, his age of 29 means he’s getting up there in years.

If you’re an avid tennis player, perhaps you’ve enjoyed the privilege of playing on red clay courts. This is an old surface with a deep rooted history of tradition that dates back to the origins of the sport in parts of Europe like Spain and France.

Playing on clay can be an extremely enjoyable experience, though anyone living in North America may have a hard time finding a court. Regardless, it’s a surface that many lovers of the sport truly cherish.

Many people wonder about the differences between clay courts and other surfaces like hard and grass courts. If you’re wondering the same thing, you’re about to learn the key characteristics of these courts and how they may impact your strategy.

First of all, the most effective strategy on this surface has always been one from the baseline. Players traditionally rely on powerful ground strokes as a means of winning their matches.

Modern tennis has gone through many changes, and the 1980s were the years that served as the transition for this. Racquets quickly went from wooden ones to graphite ones, and much more happened as well.

This brief article will focus on my favorite 5 tennis players from the 1980s. These aren’t ordered by who was best, simply by my favorites. I hope you enjoy it!

The early 1980s were dominated by Bjorn Borg before his early retirement. At the top of his game, he was undoubtedly the best in the world and one of the best to ever play the sport.

Next on my list is Stefan Edberg, whose career began in the 1980s and lasted into the 1990s. The Swedish net player was one of the best volleyers in the history of the sport, and one of the last pure volleyers as well.

Winning a title at Wimbledon is one of the highest honors a professional tennis play can achieve. This is an event known in every corner of the world and there are many different events which players can compete in, there are awards, fame and of course, the chance to come away with the glory of being a winner at Wimbledon.

The oldest of the four tournaments which make up the Grand Slam, the Wimbledon tournament is hosted by the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Quite a few tennis players think of even competing in this prestigious tournament as one of the highest honors in the sport. The major events at this tournament are held, as they always have been on grass courts for a period of over two weeks in midsummer; starting in late June and concluding in early July.

The matches at Wimbledon are played in both best of three and best of five set formats. In the event of a tie, a tie breaking game is held. The players who win the most of their sets are the winners of the tournament.

One of the world’s oldest (and largest) tennis tournaments, the US Open has been held annually since 1881. This is the fourth and final tournament of the Grand Slam tour and is held beginning in late August and concluding in early September. There are championship events in the following categories which are held at the US Open: Men’s and Women’s Singles, Men’s and Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles. IN addition, the tournament features Seniors, Juniors and wheelchair events.

Unlike the other Grand Slam tournaments, the winners of the events which make up the US Open are the players who win the final set tie break, rather than the best of five for men’s events and best of three for women’s.

Even though it does not draw the crowned heads that one may see at Wimbledon, this is a tournament with a lot of prestige attached and the event draws thousands of spectators from every part of the world as well as many locals. With more than $20 million in prize money awarded in this tournament, it’s easy to see why over 600 players compete in this tournament each year.

With 4 Tennis Master’s Cup titles, 13 Grand Slam singles titles, 14 ATP Masters Series titles and an Olympic Gold Medal, Roger Federer is nothing if not a champion. Between Wimbledon in 2005 and the 2007 US Open, Federer appeared in 10 consecutive Grand Slam men’s singles finals and has won 19 of these titles in his career. Federer currently hold the record for most consecutive Grand Slam singles titles (an incredible 19) and currently ranks as the number 2 tennis player in the world; he held the top spot from February 2004 to August 2008 and won the coveted Laureus World Sportsman award in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Roger Federer was born in August 8, 1981 in Basel, Switzerland. He spent most of his childhood in Munchenstein, Switzerland near the French-German boarders with his parents- Swiss-German Robert Federer and South African Lynette Federer. He was raised as a Roman Catholic and was even given the honor of meeting Pope Benedict XVI while playing at the 2006 Internazionali BNL d’ Italia tournament held in Rome. Although Federer considers French-Germa as his native language, he can speak German, French and English fluently.

Serena Williams really needs no introduction. At present, she is the number one ranked female player in the world of professional tennis. At only 27, she has won a total of 20 Grand Slam titles (8 women’s doubles, 2 mixed doubles and 10 singles), has held all four Grand Slam titles at once and is the current champion in the Australian Open and the US Open. Williams is nothing less than a living legend in tennis and was named Tennis magazine’s 17th best athlete of all time in 2005. She is sure to achieve much more yet as an athlete and enjoys incredibly popularity with fans.

Serena Williams was born in September 26, 1981 in Saginaw, Michigan by parents Richard and Oracene Price Williams. She is the youngest of the five siblings; Lyndrea, Isha, Yetunde and Venus. When the family moved to Los Angeles, Richard has dreamed of making one of his daughters a tennis superstar. Serena, along with her other siblings, was personally coached by parents and began playing tennis at young age and trained at the public courts in Compton, California. She participated in numerous clinics, particularly those that are targeted for at-risk youth. At the age of four and a half, Serena already won her first tournament. By the age of 10, she already participated in 49 tournaments and has won 46 of them.