六 9-3

3. Tennis's Heritage

Everything about tennis, except its essential rules, has changed from the way it was played 100 years ago, when balls, clothes, players and spectators all were white. Andre Agassi's baggy1 shorts and Serena Williams' bright, skintight halter tops are the latest fashion, far cries from the days when decorum[1] demanded pleated white trousers and ankle-length dresses.

Women routinely serve at 110 mph, rather than merely plopping[2] the ball in safely with spin. Pete Sampras serves more aces[3] in a match than turn-of-the-century players did in a season.

Middle class professionals, not upper class amateurs, rule the courts, and hundreds of thousands of dollars, not merely silver cups and platters, are at stake[4] at the majors.

The Grand Slam events, once small, provincial3 affairs, now boast multiple stadiums and draw tens of thousands of fans each day, along with worldwide television audiences and millions in corporate4 sponsorships[5].

Rackets are bigger, lighter5 and stronger, crafted from space-age composites rather than wood. The once ubiquitous[6] racket press, with its nuts and bolts and washers in four corners to keep wooden rackets from warping6, is a curiosity found only in antique shops. Optic yellow balls made white ones obsolete7 30 years ago.

Even the lawn in "lawn tennis" has disappeared, except for Wimbledon and a few other events, replaced by hardcourts and clay.

Although a few wrinkles in the rules have come along, most notably8 the tiebreaker, tennis still has the same quaint9 scoring -- love, 15, 30, 40, deuce, advantage. The dimensions of the court and the height of the net haven't budged10. Faults and double-faults bedevil[7] players today as they always have.

Cyclops[8], the electronic eye, guards the service lines at the bigger tournaments, but linesmen still squat11 in every corner of the court and matches still are called by the umpires perched high in their chairs.

The pride of tennis, and its curse, through the century has been its heritage as a sport of the upper crust.

注释：
1．Decorum：
礼貌；高雅的举止；得体的行为
2．plop：
象声词，是"扑通"一声落下的意思。
3．Ace2：
发球得分。
4．at stake：
濒临危险；得失攸关。
5．Sponsorships：
赞助者的地位，任务等。
6.ubiquitous：
十分普遍的
7.bedevil:
使迷惑
8.Cyclop：
独眼，电子眼

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  
1 baggy CuVz5     
adj.膨胀如袋的，宽松下垂的
参考例句：
My T-shirt went all baggy in the wash.我的T恤越洗越大了。
Baggy pants are meant to be stylish,not offensive.松松垮垮的裤子意味着时髦，而不是无礼。
2 ace IzHzsp     
n.A牌；发球得分；佼佼者；adj.杰出的
参考例句：
A good negotiator always has more than one ace in the hole.谈判高手总有数张王牌在手。
He is an ace mechanic.He can repair any cars.他是一流的机械师,什么车都会修。
3 provincial Nt8ye     
adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人
参考例句：
City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。
4 corporate 7olzl    
adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的
参考例句：
This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。
5 lighter 5pPzPR    
n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级
参考例句：
The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。
6 warping d26fea1f666f50ab33e246806ed4829b    
n.翘面，扭曲，变形v.弄弯，变歪( warp的现在分词 )；使（行为等）不合情理，使乖戾，
参考例句：
Tilting, warping, and changes in elevation can seriously affect canals and shoreline facilities of various kinks. 倾斜、翘曲和高程变化可以严重地影响水渠和各种岸边设备。 来自辞典例句
A warping, bending, or cracking, as that by excessive force. 翘曲，弯曲，裂开：翘曲、弯曲或裂开，如过强的外力引起。 来自互联网
7 obsolete T5YzH    
adj.已废弃的，过时的
参考例句：
These goods are obsolete and will not fetch much on the market.这些货品过时了，在市场上卖不了高价。
They tried to hammer obsolete ideas into the young people's heads.他们竭力把陈旧思想灌输给青年。
8 notably 1HEx9    
adv.值得注意地，显著地，尤其地，特别地
参考例句：
Many students were absent,notably the monitor.许多学生缺席，特别是连班长也没来。
A notably short,silver-haired man,he plays basketball with his staff several times a week.他个子明显较为矮小，一头银发，每周都会和他的员工一起打几次篮球。
9 quaint 7tqy2    
adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的
参考例句：
There were many small lanes in the quaint village.在这古香古色的村庄里，有很多小巷。
They still keep some quaint old customs.他们仍然保留着一些稀奇古怪的旧风俗。
10 budged acd2fdcd1af9cf1b3478f896dc0484cf    
v.（使）稍微移动( budge的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）改变主意，（使）让步
参考例句：
Old Bosc had never budged an inch--he was totally indifferent. 老包斯克一直连动也没有动，他全然无所谓。 来自辞典例句
Nobody budged you an inch. 别人一丁点儿都算计不了你。 来自辞典例句
11 squat 2GRzp    
v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的
参考例句：
For this exercise you need to get into a squat.在这次练习中你需要蹲下来。
He is a squat man.他是一个矮胖的男人。