der  Tennisplatz

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈtɛnɪsˌplats/

🎾 What exactly is a Tennisplatz?

A Tennisplatz (article: der) is a specially prepared and marked rectangular area where the game of tennis is played. It is divided into two halves by a net.

There are different types of tennis courts, mainly differing in their surface:

• Sandplatz (clay court, often red brick dust)
• Hartplatz (hard court, made of acrylic, asphalt, or concrete)
• Rasenplatz (grass court)
• Teppichbodenplatz (carpet court, mostly indoors)

The article is always der, because the base word Platz (place, square, court) is masculine (der Platz).

Article rules for der, die, and das

📖 Grammar Guide for "der Tennisplatz"

The noun „Tennisplatz“ is masculine. Here is the declension:

Example Sentences

1. Der nächste freie Tennisplatz ist erst um 17 Uhr verfügbar. (The next available tennis court is not free until 5 PM.)
2. Wir spielen lieber auf einem Sandplatz als auf einem Hartplatz. (We prefer playing on a clay court rather than a hard court.)
3. Die Linien auf dem Tennisplatz müssen neu gezogen werden. (The lines on the tennis court need to be repainted.)
4. Im Sommer sind die Tennisplätze im Club immer gut besucht. (In summer, the tennis courts at the club are always busy.)
5. Der Ball landete knapp außerhalb des Tennisplatzes. (The ball landed just outside the tennis court.)

👟 When and how to use "Tennisplatz"?

The term Tennisplatz is used in the context of the sport of tennis to denote the specific location where the game is played.

• Context: Sportanlagen (sports facilities), Tennisclubs (tennis clubs), private gardens, public parks with sports facilities.
• Distinction: While „Tennisplatz“ refers to the individual playing area, a „Tennisanlage“ or „Tennisclub“ can encompass multiple courts, a clubhouse, and other facilities. „Tennisfeld“ is often used synonymously, but is less common than „Tennisplatz“.
• Surfaces: Often, the surface type is added for more specific description, e.g., „Wir treffen uns auf dem Sandplatz“ (We'll meet on the clay court) or „Ich bevorzuge Hartplätze“ (I prefer hard courts).

💡 Mnemonics for "der Tennisplatz"

For the article: Think of der Platz (the place/square/court). A tennis court is a specific type of Platz, and Platz is masculine. Imagine: Der (the masculine) gentleman plays on dem Platz.

For the meaning: The word is a compound of „Tennis“ (the sport) and „Platz“ (the place/court). Simply: A place for tennis = Tennisplatz.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

Potentially Confusing Words

• Tennisanlage (tennis facility/complex): Often includes multiple courts and buildings, not just the single playing field.

😂 A Little Tennis Joke

Warum nehmen Tennisspieler nie einen Kredit auf?

Weil sie immer auf dem eigenen Platz stehen und keinen „Court“-Bürgschaften trauen! 😉

Translation:

Why do tennis players never take out a loan?

Because they always stand on their own Platz (court/place) and don't trust 'court' guarantees! (Pun: 'Court' sounds like court/legal proceedings, and 'Platz' means both court and place/standing).

✒️ Poem about the Court

Auf dem Tennisplatz, rot, grün, ganz klar,
fliegt der Ball, Jahr für Jahr.
Linien weiß, das Netz gespannt,
hier wird gekämpft, Hand in Hand.
Der Platz ruft, mit Schläger bereit,
für Aufschlag, Spiel und Heiterkeit.

Translation:

On the tennis court, red, green, so clear,
the ball flies, year after year.
Lines white, the net stretched tight,
here battles are fought, hand in hand, with might.
The (masculine 'der') court calls, with racket ready,
for serve, game, and spirits steady.

❓ Little Court Riddle

Ich habe Linien, aber keine Straßen,
ein Netz in der Mitte, um Bälle rasen
zu lassen hin und her, im Spiel.
Man braucht Schläger, das ist das Ziel.
Ich bin meist draußen, manchmal drinnen,
welcher Ort lässt Sportler gewinnen?

Lösung: Der Tennisplatz

Translation:

I have lines, but no streets,
a net in the middle, for balls' racing feats,
back and forth, in the game they fly.
You need rackets, that's the aim, up high.
I'm mostly outside, sometimes indoors,
which place lets athletes win their scores?

Answer: The Tennisplatz (tennis court)

ℹ️ Trivia about the Tennisplatz

• Word Composition: The word is a compound noun formed from Tennis (the sport, originally from English) and Platz (place, square, court).
• Standard Dimensions: A singles tennis court is 23.77 meters (78 feet) long and 8.23 meters (27 feet) wide. For doubles, the width is extended to 10.97 meters (36 feet).
• Surface Impact: The surface of a Tennisplatz greatly influences the speed of play and the ball's bounce. Grass courts are considered the fastest, while clay courts are the slowest.