baseliner

American

[beys-lahy-ner] / ˈbeɪsˌlaɪ nər /

noun

Tennis.

a player who typically plays near the baseline using ground strokes, as distinguished from one who typically goes to the net.

baseliner British

/ ˈbeɪsˌlaɪnə /

noun

tennis a player who plays most of his or her shots from the back of court

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of baseliner

First recorded in 1900–05; baseline + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Zheng - an aggressive baseliner with a hefty serve - is aiming to follow in Li's footsteps by becoming only the second Chinese woman to win the title.

From BBC • Jan. 24, 2024

The Ukrainian, who is ranked 76th, remembers Kenin as aggressive baseliner.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 6, 2023

That allows him to lengthen exchanges and make even a consummate baseliner like Djokovic put in extra work to earn a point.

From Washington Times • Jul. 5, 2022

In Flink’s view, Chris Evert-Martina Navratilova remains the greatest tennis rivalry, contested over 80 matches and spiced by stark contrasts — baseliner vs. serve-and-volley; righty vs. lefty; composed vs. often combustible.

From Washington Post • Aug. 28, 2021

This man is a baseliner of the most pronounced type.

From The Art of Lawn Tennis by Tilden, William (Bill) Tatem

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023