Right before the serve, the tennis player leans down dramatically and religiously, and bounces the furry little ball on the ground several times moments before sending it sailing at interstate speeds hopefully over a 3 ½ foot net. This ritual may stem from the desire to know whether the ball will serve its function. This . . .

You probably won’t see Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray or Angelique Kerber dashing around the tennis courts at Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club later this month for The Fourth Annual Marion Tennis Masters Sponsored by Porsche of Ocala. But you’ll probably see some excellent local players making some superb shots and vigorous volleys. Exemplifying the . . .