14 August 2023 Issue 8 Year 85

1.

Entertainment entertainment@pdby.co.za

Rebecca van Besouw

Sport sport@pdby.co.za

Franco Marais

Copy copy@pdby.co.za

Karla van Dyk

Deputy Copy Editor copy@pdby.co.za

Jade Fabri

Visuals visuals@pdby.co.za

Katharine O’Ehley

Multimedia multimedia@pdby.co.za

Cletus Mulaudi

Video multimedia@pdby.co.za

Sharon Dumba

Video editing multimedia@pdby.co.za

Sechaba Ntshehi

Layout layout@pdby.co.za

Joshua Hunter

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SRC elections 2023

Carel Willemse

The start of the 2023 SRC elections were officially announced on Monday 24 July. Students had the opportunity to nominate themselves and nominations closed on 5 August. The final candidate list released by the Independent Electoral Committee (IEC) on 11 August shows only 28 students contesting the 10 election portfolios (some students are running for more

than one portfolio).

Elections are set to take place from 5 to 7 September through the same online voting system (eBallot) as used in previous SRC elections.

Make sure to get a copy of the next edition of PDBY where the election manifestos of the various candidates will be published.

Women at UP

With 9 August being Women’s Day, here is a look at the role of women at the University of Pretoria.

Although the first Student Representative Council of 1909 boasted three female members, the first female chairperson, Irma du Plessis, was only elected in 1995. Before the election of new members in 1970 a call was made for more women to be elected to the SRC, as “ladies are a great asset at receptions and other meetings, because we know that a lady can often achieve certain things that a man just cannot”, such as “arranging flowers and making tea”!

The perception that most female students came to university to study “man-vang” (how to catch a husband), started to change by the late 1960s. A column specifically aimed at female students made its appearance in Die Perdeby (PDBY), and the female students’ position on campus was openly discussed for the first time. In one article, female students were reminded that it was assumed that they were fairly intelligent since they made it to university and that they are here to study after all. Although they all knew that no man wanted a “female Einstein” at his side, they were encouraged to broaden their general knowledge as it was impossible to have a proper conversation with someone who had no knowledge apart from life in the residence and the length of her skirt. The

Women @ UP Questions

The first academic course specifically aimed at female students was Domestic Science as it would “prepare them to be good wives and mothers”. The subjects included Laundry and Housewifery; Household Management and also Chemistry, even though it was unusual for female students to take such a difficult subject.

student newspaper therefore suggested that in order to “develop their brain”, they could take up chess and force themselves to read the sport pages at least once a week and while at it, they could also take a glimpse at the business section. A new all-female club, the “Tukkies Chat Club” was founded to teach ladies good communication skills, including how to fulfil the role of a guest speaker at functions.

1. I am at the cutting edge of botanical research and gender equality.

News Bites

UP Master’s student selected as recipient of 2023 Abe Bailey Travel Bursary

Based off of her exceptional leadership qualities and community service, Zeenat Patel, who is currently doing her master’s in environmental science, was selected for the bursary which allows her the opportunity to travel to the UK with the aim of cultivating future global leaders and supporting South African students with exceptional leadership qualities.

The selection process included 16 applicants from various universities in South Africa and included in- person interviews with a selection committee, which consisted of high ranking officials in the university. The selection committee then recommended three students to the Abe Bailey trustees for additional evaluation.

The tour is set to start with the group spending a few days in Cape Town, from 28 November to 2 December, when they will depart for London.

“The Abe Bailey Travel Bursary is an opportunity to make my voice heard and is a platform on which to challenge myself in an international setting,” says Patel.

Final- Year UP law student

Despite these past perceptions, the University can boast female alumni who achieved the top of their chosen fields. The first alumna to be appointed as professor at the University was Margaretha Mes. After obtaining a BSc undergraduate degree in 1923, she completed her postgraduate studies in the Netherlands and at Berkeley University, California. In 1930 she travelled to far flung places, such as China to do research before returning to the University as Head of the Botany Department.

2. I was likened to Alcatraz; not to keep ‘asters’ in, but to keep others out. Talk about the elephant in

3. The beauty of me is that I was local, national and international.

4. Although my aim was to educate future home-makers, my first head of department broke the glass ceiling.

5. Making women better at what they are already good at. This degree they could “cum”. Yada yada.

recognised with the Ten Outstanding Young Persons prize Dimakatso Lekola, a final- year LLB student, received the TOYP prize in the humanitarian and leadership category by Junior Chamber International (JCI).

The JCI is a global non-profit that aims to empower youth in their communities. Every year, ten people under the age of 40 are recognised to have exhibited the JCI’s ethos through their outstanding contributions to community service, business and entrepreneurship, personal growth, and intercultural understanding.

It was through his work as the founder and CEO of the DK Lekola Global Education Institute which specialises in educational services, that earned Lekola the award.

“The organisation hopes to develop the best economic frontliners through a blended education system in high schools and tertiary institutions that enables learners and students to stand out,” he explained.

For more information on either story, visit the UP website.

The preservation of the female students’ good reputation whilst staying in a University residence was a matter not taken lightly by the University authorities. When the TUC opened its doors in 1908, the female students were housed in private houses under the watchful eye of a lady warden, Miss Alice Acutt, who was known for her old-fashioned views on behaviour and deportment. The already strict rules that governed the female students’ lives became even stricter when a private residence for male students opened close by. When the male residence was moved to the main campus in 1914, the female students still had to contend with private accommodation several blocks away from campus. The high rental cost forced the University authorities to consider a residence closer by and in 1926 the first residence for female students was built, but still off campus. Even in the

1960s and 1970s the rules in the female residences were very strict. Curfews were strictly enforced and the receiving of male visitors was only allowed in designated “visiting booths”, which could be openly viewed at the front door of the residence. Although the observation was made tongue in cheek, male students considered it easier to “abduct” the Wits Rag Queen from her parents’ house than their own Rag Queen as the latter was housed in an “impenetrable fortress”, namely one of the ladies residences.

Although the Rag Queen tradition was scrapped by the first female ViceChancellor and Principal, Prof Cheryl de la Rey, former female UP students have used their Miss South Africa titles to champion different causes. Shudufhadzo Musida, Miss South Africa 2020 used the pageant platform to highlight mental health and the economic empowerment of women and children, whereas her successor Lalela Mswane championed the #BeReady campaign to address youth unemployment in South Africa.

SRC 1970

Female students 1970s

Margaretha Mes

VergeetMynNie

Shudufhadzo Musida

The Era of the Girl

What the success of the Eras Tour and the Barbie movie reveals about the untapped female market

Kirsten Minnaar

Anyone who has paid the slightest bit of attention to the cultural sphere in 2023 will be aware of the massive success brought about by Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and director Greta Gerwig’s live-action Barbie movie. In decades past, many people would have scoffed at the idea of allocating so much money and attention to projects which are basically synonymous with glitter and the colour pink. But the numbers speak for themselves, and no one can deny the enormous impact of either of these things. This phenomenon has many people evaluating the fact that there seems to be a massive, mostly female, gap in the market that people have been overlooking.

It is not surprising that Swift’s Eras Tour is set to be the biggest tour in history. But how much revenue is this tour actually generating? This all-stadium tour, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, is expected to eclipse Elton John’s farewell tour in terms of the gross revenue generated by tickets, merchandise and sponsorships. While John’s tour generated a whopping $853 million, it has been estimated that Swift would gross a total of $1.4 billion, according to concert data tracker Pollstar. Swift has since added even more tour dates to the 106

dates which were set at that time. The Barbie movie is also joining Swift in the Billions club. According to the film’s distributor, Warner Bros, the movie hit the billion-dollar mark only 17 days after its release. This makes Greta Gerwig the first woman to reach this milestone achievement as a solo director, reports BBC

Both the Eras Tour and the Barbie movie are significant because of the way that they relate to girlhood. At the Eras Tour, you can find everyone from four-year-olds to 70-year-olds who know every single word to Swift’s 3-hour, 40-song set, scream-singing along the entire time. While many of her fans, or “Swifties”, have endured ridicule for liking the pop star’s music, every single stadium she has played has been completely sold out. Her music speaks to the experience of what it means to grow up as a girl. Swift released her first album in 2006 when she was 16 years old, and many of her fans have grown up alongside her and her music.

Similarly, theatres of the Barbie movie are filled with different generations of women and girls. Mothers who played with Barbies in their childhood are now taking their daughters to see the movie. The themes of the movie also focus heavily on motherhood, girlhood and feminism.

None of this is to say that Taylor Swift or the Barbie movie is without valid criticism. However, it is also difficult to deny the severe lack of media that centres around the female experience and girlhood. And where these projects do exist, they are not awarded the big budgets that their counterparts are, or they are dismissed as being unserious and unimportant. Movies in the same category as Barbie are hardly ever given the same widespread acclaim as movies like The Godfather, or anything made by Quentin Tarantino. Furthermore, Swift and other female pop stars are often disregarded, with their

music being viewed as shallow and annoying.

Regardless of whether you are a supporter of Taylor Swift or plan on watching Barbie, their cultural impact cannot be denied. The importance of representation in popular media cannot be understated. People are desperate to see themselves and their experiences on-screen and onstage – and they are willing to pay for it too. The message is clear: no one puts Barbie in a corner (or in a box).

How to be the only single friend in your friend group

Kirsten Minnaar

For many people, university is the perfect time to meet new people and pursue romance. Not everyone is as lucky in love, though. Some people may also simply prefer staying single during this time. Whatever your reason may be for not being in a relationship, it can still be a very frustrating experience to witness seemingly everyone around you fall in love or be in a relationship. This is doubly true if all of your friends are romantically involved. Fortunately, there are ways to cope with this and make the absolute most of your single era.

Dating apps

Dating apps can help you deal with loneliness, whether you just want someone to text and

Visual: Sechaba Ntshehi

flirt with, or if you are actually looking to go on dates. While it is unlikely that you will find the love of your life on an app filled with photos of men holding fish, you may still meet some fascinating people and have a lot of fun. On the other hand, dating apps can make you feel grateful that you are single. It is easy to romanticise the idea of being in a relationship. However, reading hundreds of people using the wrong form of “its”, getting ghosted constantly, or receiving countless unsolicited inappropriate photos can show you the underrated beauty of remaining unattached. Sometimes, the dating pool is really just a puddle filled with Tetanus –and everyone needs to be reminded of that fact sometimes.

Be selfish

Even the greatest relationships require some level of sacrifice. Being single means that you have the freedom to be as self-centred as you want (within reason, of course). If you want to stay out all night and party, you should do that! Lie in the middle of the bed, and steal all of the blankets you want. Buy yourself flowers, and take yourself out on dates. Watch all the movies you want, go to bed whenever you please, and eat whatever you want. Remember that your friends probably have to pretend to like watching The Wolf of Wall Street, go to sleep by 22:30, and eat unseasoned food because the spiciest thing their significant other can stomach is tangy mayonnaise.

Seek single friends

Sometimes you just need to talk to people who are in the same phase of life as you. You do not have to cut off your friends just because they are in a relationship, but you can always widen your circle. Try and strike up a conversation with fellow students, join a club or society, or reach out to people you have lost touch with since

leaving school. While it is great to have coupled friends, it is also common that they do not enjoy the “single activities” that you are interested in. Try and find some people who share your interests and relationship status. Sometimes, being single is a team sport.

Your feelings are valid

If you are struggling with being the only person in your circle of friends without a partner, that is completely OK. As much fun as it is being single, it can still be a lonely and isolating feeling to experience it all by yourself. You do not have to feel these emotions alone, though. Unless your friends are complete monsters, they would probably appreciate you sharing your feelings

with them. They may also be able to give you the reassurance and support that you need.

Everything is temporary

While it might feel like the situation you find yourself in is absolutely never-ending, it is important to remember just how quickly things can change. You could meet the love of your life tomorrow. Even the couples who seem to have the most perfect relationship can break up at any moment. Chances are that your time as a single person will actually be relatively short in the grand scheme of things. Make the most of the time that you do have by yourself.

Visual: Cletus Mulaudi

Visual: Cletus Muluadi

Hello UP student, this is a safe place to shoot your shot at all those cute people you see around campus. Tell those people how you feel about them, hit on your crush or compliment a person on that outfit they were wearing the other day. Anything positive really. Try to be as detailed and creative as possible with your description so it makes it easy for the will arrange a meet up. Do you think this is you?

To Aiden, the tutor from GES 120. I have the BIGGEST, FATTEST, JUICIEST crush on you. Honestly writing this confession I have no words, because you leave me speechless. I just want to say, you make

To the tall dark and handsome Athletic Mechanical Engineering Student that stays at the fields, let’s try again?

Scan the QR code

To the boy that works part time at the law library, I think you’re pretty cute. If only you could look at me

To the girl with the pretty eyeliner in third year psychology, I’m sorry I have so many white friends. Study date?

let’s stop being confusing. Thanks bestie.

to shoot your shot

Femme Fatale

Karla van Dyk

Musicals

ANNIE BURLESQUE

CAMELOT CATS

CHICAGO

EVITA

FAME

FUNNY GIRL

GREASE

GYPSY

HAIRSPRAY HAMILTON

LION KING

MAMMA MIA

MATILDA

MISS SAIGON

OLIVER RENT

ROCKY HORROR

SOUND OF MUSIC

WEST SIDE STORY

WICKED

Riddle of the Day

You see a boat filled with people, yet there isn’t a single person on board. How?

The Battle of the Bros: Oppenheimer vs Hunt

Katharine O’Ehley

Currently, Barbie vs Oppenheimer is on everyone's lips. You cannot scroll past a single post on Instagram without seeing a mention of the two biggest blockbuster films of 2023. But what about Barbara and Robert's distant Scientology cousin, Ethan Hunt? Let’s talk about the Kens and Allan’s of current Hollywood a battle between Oppenheimer and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.

Warning: spoilers, turn back now, you have been warned.

The 2023 Oppenheimer movie directed by Christopher Nolan prides itself on not using CGI. You are probably wondering, how did they film the explosion scene in a movie all about the Manhattan Project? Nolan used an old Hollywood trick called forced perspective. This trick uses the space between the subjects to manipulate the viewer's perception of the two objects to create an optical illusion.

What about the bright flashes of light? Andrew Jackson, the film's effects supervisor, told SYFY that it consisted of gasoline, propane, black powder, aluminium powder, and magnesium flares that create the insane flashes of the bomb. Nolan and his dedicated team went above and beyond to produce an epic film about man’s most feared and deadly weapon, the atomic bomb.

It is recommended that Oppenheimer be watched in an Imax cinema, as it was intended. This movie was the bomb.

Now, what about the forgotten third wheel of the Blockbuster July? While Oppenheimer and Barbie were fighting it out in the cinema, everyone seemingly forgot about the beginning of the end, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. Mission Impossible 7 did the impossible: the legendary jump scene. This epic scene that showcases what a great stunt team can achieve. The scene consists of Tom Cruise’s character Ethan Hunt riding off a mountain and skydiving over the edge of a cliff. While Cruise didn’t actually ride off a cliff, he did drive over a long ramp which eventually was edited to be part of the mountain. Cruise did not settle for one shot but rather attempted the scene a total of six times to get the most breathtaking shot of the film. It took over 500 skydives and 13 000 motocross jumps for Cruise to perfect such a scene.

While the two movies drastically differ, with star-studded casts they both accomplished amazing cinematic feats. Whether it is going back to the classics or embracing danger, there is truly something great to be said about these films.

Sing It! Acapella: The final bow

Micaela Wathen

Sing It! Acapella, formerly known as Serenade, took place over three nights. On 2 and 3 August, the preliminary rounds or Acaformances were held to determine the top ten teams that would qualify for finals. That same Friday, 4 August, the Acafinals held in the Musaion and Aula marked the closing of student culture festivities for the year.

There is something to be said about the spectacle that is STUKU events. The build-up, the lights, the sound and the sea of crowds alert the wider student body that something is happening. The same cannot be said for Sing It! Acapella. Whether it be the cold August winds keeping everyone in bed or the less intense marketing of the event, it is safe to say that Acapella flew under people's radar. The attendance for the preliminary rounds was underwhelming. However, the crowds did pick up for the finals as the various structures' cheerleaders took their place in the audience. Despite less energy from the smaller crowds, each structure performed valiantly because they were not merely living for the applause. The real driver behind every song bird was the return of the Acapella Nationals competition.

The top ten teams were Blossoms Delight, House Mags, Ukuthula, Erica, Khutso x Tower, Asterhof, Dregeana, Tirisano x Hayani, Madelief and Nathouse x Commerci x House Humanities. These finalists made their final performance plea to a panel of seven judges with varying singing, musical and performing backgrounds. Ultimately, only two would qualify to compete at nationals against universities across the country.

The night of finals was packed with every kind of singing performance imaginable. From Tiriyani's soulful melodies as the 'The Golden Ages', to Asterhof's soft and airy 'Safari Game Drive' and the theatrical powerhouse of Dregeana's 'Stuck in a musical'. The fan favourites of the competition, House Mags, displayed something hauntingly beautiful in their 'Reject Toy Box' performance and set the tone impeccably high for the acts to follow. Nicole van der Walt, STUKU chairperson 2022/23, told PDBY that the standard this year was incredibly high and that every structure has raised the bar with their incredible performances.

After some nail-biting deliberation from the judges and a special item by musician Jemma Catherine, the results were in. First place overall went to Erica, who had served babies and baddies in their harmonious ‘Mom’s Club’ performance. They were followed by the hot-in-pink and dripping in sass powerhouse Madelief coming in second. And in third, the dethroned champions, Blossoms Delight, with their bass boasting rendition of ‘A Late Night Talk

Show’. It feels just in time for women’s month that the top two teams qualifying for nationals are both ladies’ residences. Talk about girl power!

Sing It! Acapella, despite feeling like an inner circle event, was a fantastic showcase of the vocal prowess of the students of the University of Pretoria. It surely will have students wishing they were in the room where it happened when the performances are uploaded to YouTube. For now, the winners set their eyes on nationals and STUKU basks in the success of a culturally robust 2023. STUKU’s Sing It! Acapella Officer, Lindokuhle Magudulela, said, “It has been a pleasure to bring such incredible culture events to the student body and to serve them in this way.” What a way to round off the culture core of UP.

Far Far Away - Miss Sxvage

Waiting - Majozi

Rose - Amy Ayanda

Through The Night - Rubber Duc

We Move On - Al Bairre

Smells Like Summer - Early Hours

I Play The Drums - Yo Grapes

If I Could I Would - Grassy Spark There’s Nothing That Love Can’t Overcome - Boo!

The perfect tri-festa

Franco Marais

The end of August is known as the end of winter. But for Pretoria, it is the perfect time to attend music festivals. With three separate festivals taking place on 18, 25 and 26 August, there will be something for everyone.

Francois van Coke & Vriende

The first festival is on 18 August at the SunBet Arena in Time Square. For all the Afrikaans music fans, this one is a mustsee. With acts like Spoegwolf, Fokofpolisiekar, Die Heuwels Fantasties, Early B, Loufi, Jack Parow and many others, it will be a feast for the ears. As it is in the SunBet Arena, you can expect a proper show.

Bos Boogie 2023

This festival will take place in the bush at Roodeplaat, Pretoria, from 25 to 27 August. Over this weekend 28 diverse artists will come together to bring the crowd a wonderful mixture of rock and reggae. Gazebos are welcome and the food stalls are to die for.

Eduplex Oppitrack family music festival

If you are looking for a family-friendly festival, Eduplex Sport in Queenswood will be the place to be on 26 August. With acts like Jo Black, Appel, Droomsindroom and Francois van Coke, it will be a guaranteed good time that should not be missed.

Those looking for a festival at the end of August are spoiled for choice and cannot complain about the variety on the display. So, pull your friends through and see how much fun you can have.

Visual: Joshua Hunter

Sport World cup reviews

Franco Marais

Two world cups that South Africa has been participating in are coming to an end, and the Springboks have announced their team for their campaign. Thus, it is time to look at how the country fared in the Netball and the FIFA Women’s World Cup as well as what the Rugby World Cup has in store for the defending champions.

Netball

Having been placed in a group with Wales, Sri Lanka, and Jamaica for the first stage of the World Cup, the Proteas were the favourites to finish top in their group. Yet, after two convincing wins in their first two matches, they slipped against the formidable Jamaican side and finished second. During the second stage, the Proteas found themselves placed in group G. After a comfortable win against Trinidad and Tobago it was time for their biggest challenge in the tournament yet – New Zealand. The match was a cagey affair and ended in a 48 all draw, which meant South Africa had to win their final match and New Zealand had to lose. Unfortunately, New Zealand did not lose, and South Africa finished third in their group, knocking them out of the title run. Later in a match to be forgotten, South Africa lost to Uganda, whom they previously beat in the tournament. This resulted in South Africa being placed sixth overall.

Football

At the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Banyana Banyana found themselves in the group of death. In their first game against Sweden, who rank third compared to South Africa’s 54th, they put on a valiant display but faltered to a 2-1 defeat. In their next

match, South Africa gave all they got and secured a point with a 2-2 draw against Argentina. Meaning that the final game against Italy would determine if the African Cup of Nations champs would progress.With a dramatic extra time winning goal from Thembi Kgatlana, Banyana Banyana ended second in their group with a 3-2 victory over Italy. Yet, the up-hill battle only seemed to become steeper. In the round of 16, they were drawn against another top ten ranked side – the Netherlands. Sadly, our women in yellow could not prevail and were knocked out. Despite that, Banyana Banyana have done this country proud as they represent the farthest that this nation has ever progressed in any FIFA World Cup, men and women.

Rugby

On 8 August, the 33-man squad was announced for the World Cup. With the squad consisting of 22 returning faces from the previous World Cup, there were omissions and surprising inclusions. The likes of Handré Pollard, Lood De Jager and Lukhanyo Am were left out due to injury setbacks but are a part of the standby squad. At the same time, new faces like Canan Moodie, only 20 years old, and Jean Kleyn were selected for the core group. It looks like the defending champions will have a good mixture of new faces but also experienced hands going into the upcoming tournament. This is necessary because on 8 September they will find themselves in a difficult group with the likes of Ireland and Scotland. Furthermore, a harsh bracket could see them face the likes of France or New Zealand directly after the knockouts.

Overall, the world cups have been an unpredictable and entertaining affair, and we are only half way through the ones that are on offer. So, get ready as the non-stop sport action continues.

Fan Wars

Micaela Wathen

Fandoms exist for everything. However, not all fans are viewed in the same way. Sports fans are often viewed with a level of respect for their dedication to a team or athlete, while other fan types are heavily labelled and stigmatised for doing much of the same thing.

Imagine a stadium filled with thousands of people. They are screaming at the top of their lungs as the football is blasted into the net. Now imagine that same stadium, but this time it is filled with thousands of people singing along to the best song on an artist’s album. These moments are nearly identical – so what creates the difference?

The distinction is created by who the fan is and what they are a fan of. The majority of avid sports fans are men who may or may not fit into the stereotypical masculine bracket. This demographic continues to dominate the world’s narrative on what is and is not acceptable behaviour. Sport, even in today’s modern age, is still male-centric. Thus, praising activities that have stereotypical men at the forefront is viewed more positively. This viewpoint, known as androcentrism, places interests and the interested parties that are not typically male/masculine into the other category of fans.

Eddie Munson and the Hellfire Club, from season 4 of Stranger

Things, fall into the other category. They are the weirdos, geeks, and losers who play a role-playing fantasy board game in an empty classroom while the rest of the school watches the basketball final. They are viewed as unstable and devil-worshipping for their investment in Dungeons and Dragons This makes them the prime suspects when people start dying in Hawkins. These negative labels are a common symptom of being placed into the other category. Sports fans are allotted words like dedication and passion while other fans are dubbed crazy and obsessive. Which is hilarious in the context of Stranger Things because it is the fans of the Hawkins High basketball team who exhibit the negative labels. They are the ones who are mobilised by the team’s basketball captain to hunt down Eddie Munson. Their perception of a Dungeons and Dragons enthusiast as a monster has led them to take actions which are more deserving of that title. And yet, they are never seen that way by anyone but the viewers.

Society needs to re-evaluate its views and the sorts of things that inform its perceptions of the world. The world is accustomed to a male-dominated narrative as it has existed since the dawn of time. This narrative supports the behaviour of sports fans, which although shared by other fans, is not met with the same judgement. The fan scene is a small sphere within the world where people can take a step in normalising the support and interest in nonmasculine/male subjects and embrace the other as respectable and equally worthwhile.

Types of tennis courts

Christiaan Steenekamp

Tennis is one of the few sports where there are different types of courts available to play on. The different courts each have their own unique playing characteristics, which will affect the strategy behind the playing approach. The four main surface types are grass, clay, hard, and artificial grass.

Grass courts are the traditional court type and are the signature court type at Wimbledon. It is a difficult surface to maintain since grass is a living organism and needs to be monitored constantly. Since it is a fairly quick surface, the ball bounces low, resulting in strategies like volleys and drop shots being used. The serve is also more important on this court than on the others. Grass courts are affected by how often it is mowed and how many players used the court before you.

Clay courts, which look the most aesthetically pleasing, are made of crushed shale or brick and have an iconic brown colour. This surface is slower and produces a high bounce, leading to longer rallies and allowing players to slide across the surface. This is ideal for more defensive players, since the serve is not as effective on this court type. Clay courts have lower injury rates than acrylic courts due to lower friction. The French Open is known for its majestic clay courts.

Hard courts have acrylic surface layers. It is the most consistent surface type. It is a faster surface than clay, but slower than grass. The ball bounces higher due to the court having lower energy absorption. The Australian Open is played on a synthetic surface whilst the US Open is played on an acrylic hard court.

Artificial grass surfaces provide a more even bounce than natural grass surfaces. The ball tends to keep low as well. This court type drains faster than real grass and is less prone to wear and tear damage. It is also much cheaper to maintain than real grass.

Will this information change your life? Probably not. Is it interesting? Absolutely!

Visual: Sechaba Ntshehi