Sports Gambling Guide: 5 Reasons Why Women Tennis Players Keep Balls In Their Skirts
Love watching tennis? You’re not alone.
It’s one of the most popular spectator (and sports betting) sports in the world! Millions of people around the world love watching tennis. Especially when it’s one of the 4 major Grand Slams namely the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon or US Open.
Read More on Sports Betting and Get to Know Top 5 Famous Football Star
>> Football Gambling Guideline: Top 5 Famous Football Star List
We all love watching tennis for lots of reasons.
Maybe it’s to enjoy the adrenaline of watching their favourite players (think big names like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and more!) battling it out for coveted titles.
Perhaps it’s because they like a fast-paced, entertaining sport – with lots of hot, good looking players.
Or, it could be that they enjoy the excitement of sports betting on online betting Malaysia, which lots of people do. Because similar to bookie football, tennis betting lets fans enjoy the best of both worlds – watch an entertaining sport while having the chance to make big money on a tennis bet at the same time!
Whatever the reason, we’re sure this question has crossed your mind at least once: Why do women tennis players keep balls under their skirts?
Like seriously.
Thanks to sizzling and stunning players in recent years like Caroline Wozniacki, Eugenie Bouchard, Wang Qiang, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams, women’s tennis is known for its oomph, style, fashion and most definitely its hot players. The greatest combination of beauty with brains is witnessed on the tennis courts as these ladies battle it out for glory, fame and victory. The kind of excitement we feel while watching the beautiful ladies fight each other for the most coveted titles is unmatched. Of course, the stylish tennis outfits is another reason for the huge popularity in women’s tennis too.
And yet, why do these beautiful players keep a second ball under their skirts while serving?
Good news. We’ve Found All The Answers For You!
- Sports Betting Reason #1: Women’s Tennis Wear Has No Pockets
- Sports Betting Reason #2: Risk of Losing Points for Dropping the Ball
- Sports Betting Reason #3: Habit, Concentration and Serving Rhythm
- Sports Betting Reason #4: Players Like to Choose the Balls They Serve with
- Sports Betting Reason #5: They Don’t Want to Break Their On-court Routine and Superstitions
Sports Betting Reason #1: Women’s Tennis Wear Has No Pockets
Men’s tennis players wear shorts which usually have pockets on them. So it’s very convenient for them to keep the balls in their pockets.
But in women’s tennis, players wear skirts that don’t have pockets on them. The easiest place is for them to keep the balls is to tuck it under the shorts they wear under their skirts. (Yes, for the record, women players don’t keep the balls in their underwear. They wear special shorts under their skirts.)
Most pro women players we see on TV wear tennis shorts that are specially designed with elastic pockets to hold the ball firmly, or compression shorts which is an easy and secure place to keep the tennis balls.
Sports Betting Reason #2: Risk of Losing Points for Dropping the Ball
“Why not have built-in pockets on the skirts?” Good question.
Tennis skirts are short. This means the pockets will be shallow too. And the ball can fall out easily during play, especially given the sheer speed and power of tennis shots.
“So why can’t players just pick up the ball if it falls out?” Another good question.
Under tennis rules, which apply to the men as well, if the ball is dropped accidentally during the game, it may affect the opponent’s play. So if a player drops the ball for the first time, it’s a replay. But if it happens more than once, the player loses the point (!).
Losing a point unnecessarily? That’s something that can cost them the whole match! (Remember Serena Williams’s meltdown in the 2018 US Open women’s finals?)
Sports Betting Reason #3: Habit, Concentration and Serving Rhythm
Why don’t they just ask for a second ball from the ball-boys or ball-girls?
The plain and simple reason is they’re used to it. These athletes have been practising tennis since they were kids – back when there were no ball-boys or girls to pass them balls. Although they are now pros, they have their own personal habits and serving rhythm they’ve developed since young.
Also, according to tennis rules, the maximum interval between the two serves is 20 seconds for Grand Slam and 25 seconds for ATP tour. Turning to the ball-kid to get the ball would be a waste of time.
More importantly, it might break the player’s concentration, focus and rhythm – which may increase their chance of double faulting and losing the point – eventually costing them the championship, their ranking and lucrative prize money. And that an unnecessary risk most professional players won’t want to take.
This concept of ‘risk’ is something professional poker players or experienced sports bettors on online betting Malaysia are familiar with. It is not just about making a tennis bet. It’s about taking calculated and strategic risks to win lucrative rewards.
Sports Betting Reason #4: Players Like to Choose the Balls They Serve with
Before every serve for both men and women, ever noticed how some players typically request for 3, 4 or more balls, examines them and then only keeps 2 to serve?
This choosing of the balls is a long-held tennis ritual, a process built on science and superstition. In general, players look for the newest, least-fluffed balls of the 6 in use during a match. The belief is that a fluffier ball has more “drag” – therefore less aerodynamic, causing the ball to travel slower through the air.
As a tennis player, when you’re serving, you want the ball that can travel through the air as fast as possible. For example, Andy Roddick, who has one of the fastest serves in the game, always looks for the sleekest ball that might go an extra mile per hour.
On the other hand, Caroline Wozniacki, one of the hottest players in the sport, often picks the fluffiest ball if she’s playing against a strong returner, believing that a slower return is more advantageous than a faster serve.
Many players admit that it probably doesn’t make much of a difference which ball they choose, but the process offers glimpses into the psyche of successful players.
Sports Betting Reason #5: They Don’t Want to Break Their On-court Routine and Superstitions
Tennis players are super famous for their on-court quirks and superstitions. Fans of online sports betting Malaysia or sports betting who research on the players know this.
Maria Sharapova avoids stepping on lines between points, as did her rival, Ana Ivanovic. Novak Djokovic’s ball bouncing obsession is legendary. Roger Federer likes the number 8 (just like how fans of online betting Malaysia or sports betting believe in lucky number 8). Serena Williams has her ball bouncing regime – five times before her first serve and twice before her second. And let’s not even get started on Rafael Nadal!
These are just some superstitions we know of. Perhaps tucking the ball under the shorts is a superstition or on-court routine for some of the beautiful women’s players too.
These routines may seem odd to us, but it has been said that tennis is 10% physical and 90% mental. Much like professional poker players, tennis players have to read their opponents, strategise, stay calm and focused – all in their minds. Any disruption to the mental component of their performance may sometimes even be the deciding factor in whether or not a player wins and losses.
