Tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world and it has a very deep root in history. The game of tennis was developed in the 12th century in France. Yet, there is very little evidence to suggest that tennis was played in ancient Greece or Egypt.
Brief History
Tennis was originally played with the hand and was known as a different game in the early days it was known as “Paume”(Palm) and it was played a little bit differently. It was played by hand at that time. After some time Paume game produced handball Jeu de Paume (game of the path) after that racquet was used in the game. It was played by French monks in a monastery before any big ceremony. It was played against a high wall in a courtyard and was known as Jeu de Paume.” According to this theory, the word “tennis” comes from the French word “tenez,” which means “hold” or “receive.” This is because the French monks would shout “tenez” to their opponent before serving the ball.
With time tennis gained exponential popularity. It was so popular that the church and some govt banned it. Over the next few centuries, the game became very popular. Now its reach is not limited to the monastery walls, it has reached Europe. Some accounts claim that by the 13th century, there were as many as 1800 indoor courts. It soon reached England.
Evolution
Tennis not only gained popularity over time, but it also evolved. Over time, indoor courts replaced courtyards as the preferred playing area. In the early days, people used wooden balls, but over time, these were replaced by livelier rubber balls filled with cellulose. People used to play tennis with their bare hands, but later they began to wear gloves. By 1500, wooden rackets were in common use, along with cork balls that weighed approximately three ounces.
In 1874 Major Walter Wingfield invented a version of Real Tennis at that time he called this game as “Sphairistike”. He also patented the rules and equipment for the game, which can be played outdoors on a lawn Played on hour-glass courts on Manor House lawns by rich English people this the really where today’s tennis developed.
History Of Tennis Court
As The game evolved with time the surface of the tennis court also evolved with the game. there are four types of tennis court surface use in professional tennis matches.
Grass Court
Clay Court
Hard Court
Carpet Court
Grass Court
Neatly trimmed short grass on top of a very hard-packed soil layer is the most popular tennis surface type, but they are not commonly found today. High maintenance and time commitment needed to keep them in top shape have pushed many courts to switch to clay or other types of surface. Grass offers fast movement but the difference in grass density determines how the ball will bounce off. Since the bounce of the grass is low, this surface usually leads to faster and more energetic plays that are best suited to the players who favor the serve and volley type of play.
Clay Court
Clay is a very popular tennis court surface in Europe and Latin America. Clay courts are easy to initially create, but they require significant costs to keep the top surface nicely even, and properly dry. Since clay reduces the speed of the ball after bounces, this surface heavily disadvantages fast servers and promotes baseline players.
Hard Court
The surface of hard courts is made from a rigid and uniform material that is commonly coated with an additional acrylic surface layer that is sometimes mixed with sand. Different types of hard surfaces are used for both US Opens and Australian Opens. The surface type slows down ball bounce a bit.
Carpet Court
Carpet surface in tennis represents any surface that can be removed or reinstated at a moment’s notice. Many indoor arenas use rolls of rubber-backed court surfacing to easily convert themselves for tennis tournaments that are played on artificial turf. This surface type is very common in Asia, and some of the big tournaments (such as Paris Masters, WCT Finals, and others) are also played on top of it.
First championship - Wimbledon 1877
History’s first world tennis championship was held in Wimbledon, London(UK). All England Croquet Club sponsored this championship. It has only one event for men’s singles and only 22 players entered this tournament. The winner of this event was Spencer Gore and spectators paid one shilling to watch the finals.
Grand slams
Grand slams are one of the most important and prestigious tournaments. Each grand slam is played over two weeks with the men’s singles matches played over five sets and the women’s singles matches played over three sets.
Australian Open
The Australian Grand Slam is one of the oldest Grand Slam tournaments. It was started in 1905. It was originally known as the Australian Championship and was held at different venues throughout Australia and New Zealand until 1972, when it settled on its current home in Melbourne Park, Melbourn, Australia. The Australian Open is played on a hard court and it’s the first grand slam of the year taking place in January.
The french open
The French Open also known as Roland Garros, is the second Grand Slam of the year, taking place in late May or early June. It is played on clay courts. It is very challenging to win because of its unique surface. Which are known for their slow speed and high bounce.
Wimbledon
Wimbledon is the oldest and most prestigious Grand Slam tournament. It is played on grass courts and is the third Grand Slam of the year, taking place in late June or early July. It is known for its strict all-white dress code. Wimbledon is one of the most popular sporting events in the world.
US Open
The US Open is the fourth and final Grand Slam of the year, taking place in late August or early September. It is played on hard courts. The US Open has been held at different venues throughout its history but it has been played at its current home, Flushing Meadows Corona Park in New York City since 1978.
Did you know?
- At Wimbledon, the navy blue and cream uniforms worn by the ball boys and girls are made by the American designer Ralph Lauren
- In William Shakespeare’s play Henry V, the game is referred to when Henry asks “What treasure, uncle?” Exeter replies “Tennis balls, my liege.”
- Yellow balls were introduced at Wimbledon in 1986. They replaced white as they were deemed more visible to TV cameras
- The exact origins of the 15, 30, 40 scoring system supposedly came about because they were based on a clock face at one end of the court. It was originally 15, 30, 45 but was shortened to 40, as 45 took too long to say.
Conclusion
Today, tennis is a global sport that is enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. It is a sport that is both physically and mentally demanding, and it requires a great deal of skill and dedication to master.
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