Inspired by the Buzzfeed series
Love
What it usually means: That warm, cozy feeling you get when the person across from you is looking into your eyes.
What it means to tennis players: That warm, cozy feeling you get when the person across from you has won zero points this game.
Poach:
What it usually means: A delightful way to make eggs, usually accompanied by an English muffin and hollandaise sauce.
What it means to tennis players: A delightful way to win a point at the net in doubles, usually accompanied by a fist pump and “C’mon!”
Grunt
What it usually means: “A short, low sound from the throat” (merriam-webster.com).
What it means to tennis players: A long, high-pitched screech from WTA players.
Deuce(s)
What it usually means: Something that Chris Brown throws when he’s trying to say goodbye to his lady love, as in: “I know you mad but so what? I wish you best of luck. And now I’m bout to throw them deuces up.”
What it means to tennis players: Something that always seems to happen when you were just up 40-love and your opponent’s like, “I know you mad but so what?”
Slice
What is usually means: A serving of pizza.
What it means to tennis players: It’s a stroke in tennis, but also, pizza.
Inside out
What it usually means: It’s totally not your day at the office and your sweater is on the wrong way, but you play it off like the seams are meant to be showing.
What it means to tennis players: It’s totally not your day on the court and your backhand is doing all the wrong things, but you play it off like running around it to hit a forehand is your strategy.
Tiebreaker
What it usually means: The way you decide who wins a competition. This can be as simple as “rock, paper, scissors” or drawing straws, for instance.
What it means to tennis players: The way you decide who wins a a tennis match. This can be as complicated as playing to seven or 10 points and switching sides every six points or switching sides every four points, depending on whether you’re playing by regular, super or Coman rules.
Bagel
What it usually means: A satisfying ring-shaped bread roll if you live in New York and a hard-to-swallow lump of dough if you live anywhere else.
What it means to tennis players: A satisfying 6-0 triumph if you’re the one with six games and a hard-to-swallow loss if you’re the one with zero.
