What Is a Forced Error in Tennis?
Some mistakes happen because the opponent made the shot too difficult.
A forced error is a mistake caused mainly by the opponent's strong or difficult shot.
A forced error in tennis happens when a player misses because the opponent put them under serious pressure. A fast serve, deep return, sharp angle, or heavy shot can force a player into a difficult position where making a clean reply is unlikely. It is different from an unforced error, where the player misses a shot they had a reasonable chance to make. Forced errors show how pressure creates mistakes.