Calculability in Tennis

Tennis, my favorite sport, is a clear example of calculability. Calculability highlights the quantitative features of the goods and services that are sold (Ritzer, 2018). A serve in tennis measured in Mph represents the power and efficiency of the serving tennis player. The number of unforced errors and winners is applicable in mathematically determining set scores: Calculability in Tennis.

The players’ rankings are based on a point system that reflects the outcome of the matches, allowing for a quantitative comparison of competitiveness. Overall, I believe that calculability in tennis is helpful in terms of monitoring performance, but there are moments when it omits psychological factors in the game.

I consider systems such as the first-serve percentage and unforced errors self-explanatory because they describe objective outcomes that can impact the game strategy. This also applies to the standard rating system as it provides a quantitative approach to players’ performance over time. Prize money earnings could be exciting, but these numbers do not always indicate talent; there are sponsorships.

On the other hand, the aces hit during a match may not tell the whole picture because not necessarily a sign that one is dominating (Wang et al., 2024). Specific statistical categories seem rather ridiculous, such as “distance covered during a match,” which does not influence the outcome of a game. However, these do not necessarily speak of the mental and tactical nitty-gritty of the game.

As a tennis fan, I believe that numerical data, in general, helps to improve the quality of the audience’s perception and understanding of tennis by helping to explain events and outcomes during and after matches. Employing metrics like the first-serve percentage and unforced errors allows me to track performance during the game and compare players’ virtues and vices.

For example, Wimbledon has partnered with IBM to incorporate futuristic tools in analyzing player capabilities and probable match outcomes to enhance the fans’ experience (Fitzpatrick et al., 2024). While data-driven insights are valuable, they have to be there to accent rather than replace the narrative side of the sport.

References

Fitzpatrick, A., Stone, J. A., Choppin, S., & Kelley, J. (2024). How are elite tennis matches won at Wimbledon? A comparison of close and one‐sided contests. EJSS/European Journal of Sport Science, 24(2), 190–199. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.12063

Ritzer, G. (2018). The McDonaldization of society: Into the digital age. Sage publications.

Wang, J., Guo, S., & Zhou, Y. (2024). A multidimensional momentum chain model for tennis matches based on difference equations. PLOS ONE, 19(12), e0316542. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316542

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Do Stats Enhance the Fan Experience?

Think about your favorite sport, and give examples of how calculability is present in that sport. What do you think about it? What are numbers you find particularly useful/relevant, and particularly annoying/useless/ridiculous?

Calculability in Tennis