Tennis players are actors in a social network of fellow competitors, and every exchange of shots in a rally can be seen as a conversation that is part of a narrative encompassing each new achievement in the sport. Do some players try to have the same conversation with every opponent they face? Do some have a more expansive vocabulary and select specific patterns of play every time they face specific opponents? Are some players able to change the conversation when it’s not going their way? Are there ‘truthy’ stories that sports journalists and experts spin to keep the banter lively and the audience engaged? Can statistical analysis reveal whether it makes any sense to be asking these questions?
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