| The history of tennis can most easily be traced back | | | | Harry Gem and Augurio Perera are often credited |
| to all games that evolved from sticks and balls or | | | | with being the first to incorporate rackets into the |
| rocks. Ancient Egyptian Temples often have tracings | | | | history of tennis. It was then in 1875 that the All |
| on the walls that include people using the sticks to hit | | | | England Croquet Club began to offer lawn tennis as |
| objects toward one another. It wasn't until the 12th, 13th | | | | an attraction and it took off. They included Tennis in |
| and 14th century that they actually began using a wall | | | | the title of there club and to hold tournaments. The first |
| as a fixed object that they would hit the ball against. | | | | championship at the London suburb of Wimbledon was |
| Initially the sport began by using there hands as a | | | | in 1877 and had over 20 contestants. |
| racket and gloves for support. The balls then began to | | | | The US was also adopting the game at this time and |
| change from hard pieces of wood to softer leather | | | | formed the USTA which began to formalize the sport |
| casings with a number of different items using as | | | | and adopt rules. The first major tennis competition was |
| stuffing. The French then began to progress the game | | | | held in 1881 in Rhode Island and is considered the start |
| through the next several hundred years. | | | | of the US Open. Of the remaining tennis majors the |
| The game was much different that what we think of | | | | French Open began in 1891 and the Australian Open of |
| it. First off it was played indoors and included points as | | | | 1905 which rounds out the Grand Slams of Tennis. |
| well as a chase or location. Points were earned by | | | | The growth of the sport spurred a pro tour of players |
| how the ball was played of each of the walls. The | | | | from around the world. The players were paid and |
| chase included trying to pin your opponent to his back | | | | spectators would attend the tournaments. But once |
| wall. The chase or location was determined by where | | | | the players were compensated they lost there |
| the ball bounced second which is still adopted today. | | | | amateur status and could no longer play in a number |
| The sport became very popular among the elite and | | | | of large tournaments. So in 1968, the "Open" era began |
| although it was primarily played in France it began to | | | | which allowed players of any status to compete |
| travel throughout Europe. The game used to called the | | | | throughout leagues and tournaments and spurred |
| game of the palm as they played before having | | | | dramatic growth in the sport over the world. |
| rackets and they began each game by shouting | | | | Today the sport has produced mega superstars that |
| Tenez which in French means play and this is | | | | make millions of dollars a year in earnings and |
| obviously where the word tennis comes from. | | | | endorsements. Tennis can be found anywhere on the |
| The patrons then began to consider a means for | | | | planet both indoors and outdoors. Men and women of |
| taking the sport outdoors. It just seemed to be the | | | | all ages can enjoy the sport and with a relatively little |
| easy and obvious thing to play it on grass if you | | | | amount of equipment can play the sport for recreation |
| wanted to play outside. So | | | | or competition. |