Of the many ball sports, tennis is one of the most popular in terms of spectating and this epic sport has a long and intriguing history. It is believed that the origins of tennis go way back to the 13th century when French nobility knocked a small ball around a court using the palms of their hands. Louis X was said to have been a regular player and he arranged lavish tournaments. The court was moved indoors and crude racquets were crafted, which many say was the birth of the game we know as lawn tennis.
Wimbledon
This iconic venue is regarded globally as the home of lawn tennis; officially named the ‘All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club’, this tournament has been played annually since 1877 and is one of the four ‘Grand Slam’ tournaments, the others being the Australian, French and US Opens. Tennis is very popular here in Australia, with many youngsters taking tennis lessons and local clubs are everywhere; indeed, Australia has produced some great champions; Rod Laver, Margaret Court and everyone’s favourite at that time, Evonne Goolagong, a young girl who won 14 Grand Slam tournaments in her illustrious career.
Playing surfaces
Lawn tennis, as the name implies, is played on grass, while other surfaces include hard court and clay court. The French Open is played on red clay courts, while the Australian and US Opens are played on hard courts.
Tennis goes global
In the late 19th century, the US created a national tournament in 1880 and tennis was played in most of the northern states, while European nations also set up national tennis associations. The game’s rules have remained the same since the game was first invented; one change was the ‘one foot on the ground when serving’ rule, which addressed the issue of players jumping and serving at the same time.
Olympics
In 1896, tennis was included in the Olympic Games, yet was withdrawn in 1924 due to a disagreement between the Lawn Tennis Federation and the Olympic Committee. The issue was how to determine amateur status and it was finally resolved in 1988, when tennis returned as a discipline in the Summer Olympics. Semi-finalists all get bronze medals, while the two finalists receive a silver and gold.
Tennis in Australia
In the last 5 years, tennis has gained popularity; the rising number of tennis clubs is a reflection of this, with most schools offering tennis lessons to students who show promise. If your child shows an interest in the game, the sooner they get tuition, the better they will become. Tennis camps are essential for developing young players. of course, not everyone can be a champion, but playing tennis is a lot of fun, plus is it a great way to stay in shape. If you fancy taking up the game, you can get all the gear from the online supplier and tennis professionals offer lessons; tennis clubs are inexpensive and it’s a great social occasion to play on a weekend afternoon.
