A Potted History Of Tennis

Tennis is a sport which is enjoyed by many people around the world and its increasing popularity has gained many enthusiasts. It is now being broadcast around the world and with this increased coverage has come sponsorship, which has made it into one of the richest sports in the world. There are millions of people who now play tennis both for recreation and in amateur tournaments. Throughout the decades there have been some very memorable players who have inspired others to take part and I am sure that the current raft of players are continuing the trend.

It is thought that tennis first began in the 12th century where a game was played in the French royal court where players used their hands to strike a ball. This game was known as "paume" which when translated to English, means palm. Simple racquets were introduced as the game became more popular in the other European royal courts and the name was changed to jeu de paume. The French players called out 'Tenez' which means play and the game changed its name to Royal or Real Tennis. During the early 1870s, a Major Walter Wingfield devised a game based on real tennis for his guests to play. This was the first time the game was played in this form on grass and he soon renamed it lawn tennis. He also patented the equipment and set the rules for the game during this time.

As the game has moved on, so too has the clothing and equipment and it is no longer sufficient for serious players to just have any old racquet and a pair of suitable shoes. There are now almost endless choices for racquets, clothing, shoes and other equipment for players to choose from. Some of the equipment is relatively cheap but other pieces have been specially engineered and are expensive. Tennis racquets have undergone a lot of changes over the years and if you look at early photographs, you will see that they are constructed from wood and catgut. Modern composites and nylon strings have made them incredibly lightweight and very strong, although some players still prefer natural strings so this is still an option if preferred.

Because of the need for players to prove their skills, a number of tournaments were set up for both amateur and professional players. These days, there are many international tournaments for professional players which include the 4 major tennis championships or as they are commonly known, the Grand Slam. The first grand slam tournament is the Australian Open which is played in January which is then followed by the French Open, played in May, then comes Wimbledon in June and the last one is the US Open which is contested in August. Wimbledon is the only one of the 4 that is played on grass, all the others are played on hard courts or clay. Grass courts require a great deal of maintenance whereas clay and other hard courts require less. The game is different on each surface and some players have become real specialists on one particular type of surface. Whether you are a keen amateur or a professional, your court will need regular maintenance and we are experts.

Visit our website at www.hardsurfacecleaning.co.uk to see how we can help you maintain your tennis court.

Source: http://articles.submityourarticle.com/a-potted-history-of-tennis-300323

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