Tennis is a racquet sport that can be played by two teams of two players each or by an individual versus a single opponent (singles). A hollow rubber ball wrapped in felt is struck by each player using a tennis racket that is stretched with cord over or around a net and into the court of their opponent. The goal of the game is to move the ball so that it prevents the opposition from making a playable return. In the event that one player is unable to return the ball legitimately, the other player will score a point.[1]
Tennis is an Olympic sport that is played by people of all ages and all classes. Wheelchair users are welcome to participate in the sport as long as they are able to wield a racket. The late Middle Ages saw the development of tennis' primordial forms in France.[3] Lawn tennis, the precursor to the contemporary game, was invented in Birmingham, England, in the late 1800s.[4] It was closely related to other racket sports like real tennis as well as to a number of field (lawn) games like croquet and bowls.[5]
Since the 1890s, not many changes have been made to the rules of tennis today. There are two notable exceptions: the tiebreak was implemented in the 1970s, and the server was required to maintain one foot on the ground at all times until 1961[6][7].[8] Electronic review technology and the Hawk-Eye point-challenge system, which permits a player to challenge the line call of a point, are recent additions to the professional tennis scene.[9][10]
Millions of people play tennis recreationally, and it's a well-liked spectator sport everywhere.[11] The four Grand Slam competitions, also known as the majors, are particularly well-liked. These are the hardcourt-based Australian Open, the red clay-court-based French Open, the grass-court-based Wimbledon, and the hardcourt-based US Open.[1]
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A painting from the end of the 16th century, from Cremona
In the seventeenth century, Jeu de paume
The game's ancient origins are thought to have originated in northern France in the 12th century, when players pounded a ball with their palms.[13] A passionate player of jeu de paume (also known as "game of the palm"), Louis X of France is renowned for being the first to build indoor tennis courts in the contemporary design. Louis had indoor, enclosed tennis courts built in Paris "around the end of the 13th century" since he was not a fan of playing the game outside.[14] Over time, this pattern was adopted by European royal palaces.[14] After a particularly hard game in June 1316 at Vincennes, Val-de-Marne, Louis drank
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