Glossary of Tennis Terms - D

D

• Davis Cup: International, annual men's tennis competition in which teams from participating countries compete in a single-elimination format, with matches occurring at several stages during the year.
• dead net (dead net cord): Situation in which a player scores by inadvertently hitting the ball in such a way that it touches the upper cord of the net and rolls over to the other side; the player is said to have "gotten (caught) a dead net (dead net cord)" and considered to be lucky.
• dead rubber: Davis Cup match which is played after the victor of the tie has already been decided. Dead rubbers may or may not be played, depending on the coaches' agreement to do so, and are usually best of three, instead of five, sets. Typically, players who play the dead rubber are lower-ranked members of the team looking to gain Davis Cup match experience.
• deciding point: In doubles, the point played when the game score reaches deuce and there is no ad play; the game is decided in favor of whichever team wins the deuce point.
• deep: Shot that lands near the baseline, as opposed to near the net.
• default: Disqualification of a player in a match by the chair umpire after the player has received four code violation warnings, generally for his/her conduct on court.
• deuce: Score of 40–40 in a game. A player must win two consecutive points from a deuce to win the game, unless the tournament employs deciding points, as in the 2010 ATP World Tour Finals. See also advantage.
• deuce court: Right side of the court of each player, so called because the deuce point is always served from this side of the court.
• dink: Shot with no pace, usually hit close to the net.
• dirtballer: A clay court specialist.
• disadvantage: Player or team which is 40-advantage down.
• double bagel: Two sets won to love; see bagel.
• double fault: Two faults in a row in one point, causing the player serving to lose the point.
• doubles: Matches played by four players, two per side of the court.
• down the line: Ball hit straight along the sideline to the opponent's side of the court.
• drop shot: Play in which the player hits the ball lightly enough to just go over the net, usually with backspin; designed to catch a player who is away from the net off guard.
• drop volley: Drop shot executed from a volley position.