Origin of Tennis

The origin of tennis like most origins of things, come as a mystery and has a lot of theories and disputes.  One of the versions of the origin of tennis brings us back to the Stone Age man hitting rocks backwards and forwards possibly with clubs.

 A more extensive origin of tennis is derived from Handball, an adaptation of which was played in the ancient civilizations of Rome, Greece and Egypt.

  It is believed that the origin of the name ‘tennis’ came from an Egyptian town on the Nile called Tinnis and the word ‘racquet’ is taken from the word ‘rahat’ which means palm, both are Arabic words.

Another assumption on the origin of tennis believes that the French invented the game, around the 11th or 12th century, and that the word tennis is taken from the French word ‘Tenez’ which means ‘take it’ or ‘play’. Legend has it that the game was given to French Royal Court in the 10th century by a wandering minstrel, but anyhow, by the 11th century early tennis was being played by French monks, they played the game by hitting the ball against the monastery walls and sometimes even over a rope strung across a courtyard.

 Hands were used to hit the ball in the beginning which is why it was first called jeu de paume (game of hand); then later on gloves were used and eventually players started to use short bats which came to be the modern day racquet.  Louis IV and the Church both tried to ban the game in France because of the popularity the game was gaining where about 1800 courts were built, but they failed.  By the 14th century, Tennis spread to England where both Henry VII and Henry the VIII became avid players of the game initiating building of courts across the country.

By 1500 the tennis racquet was no longer made completely of wood but consisted of a wooden handle with a sheep gut strung head.  In 1850, Charles Goodyear invented vulcanization which resulted to bouncier balls being available for tennis game. In 1858, Major T.H. Gem and J.B. Perara invented an outdoor version of tennis which adapted for play on grass, and in 1873, Major Walter Wingfield reinvented a newer version of Tennis using modified rules and equipment which he patented under the name “Sphairistike”.  He can be said to be the father of modern day tennis.

The old game of Tennis still called jeu de paume in France experienced being overshadowed by the new found dominance of the Lawn version.  Tennis is now called Real Tennis or Royal Tennis in Britain to differentiate it from Lawn Tennis and in the USA it is known as Court Tennis.  

 

Let’s Play Tennis – Basic Rules of Tennis

For some of us who are just starting to play tennis or getting to know the game, we may need to know the basic rules of tennis.  The game may seem simple when we watch it because the ball just basically needs to go from one player to the other.  It is simple in a way, but it becomes more complicated with the strokes or techniques that are needed to give difficulty to your opponent in hitting the ball. The basic rules of tennis are simple but the game itself is complex. 

Here are the basic rules of tennis:

Basic Rules of Tennis #1

 Players stand on opposite sides of the court.  The server is the player who starts to deliver the ball to start the point, and the receiver is the player who stands opposite and cross-court from the server.

Basic Rules of Tennis #2  

A toss of a coin or racquet decides the player’s right to serve, receive or choose the side of the court.  If the choice of service or receiver is chosen, the opponent chooses which side to start.

Basic Rules of Tennis #3 

The server stands behind what is called the baseline on the deuce court inside the borders  of the singles court when playing singles and inside the double sidelines when playing doubles. Even points are played from the deuce court (the service court on the player’s right) and the odd number points are played from the advantage court (the service court on the left).  The server should not serve until the receiver is ready.  Serves are made from server’s deuce court to opponent’s service box, or from the advantage court to advantage box.  The server loses a point if the target is missed twice.  If the ball hits the net but goes to the correct service box, then the server is granted another serve. The server should not step on the baseline before contact is made otherwise the serve shall be deemed a fault.

Basic Rules of Tennis #4

The receiver is believed ready if an effort is made to return the server’s ball.  The receiver is allowed to stand where he likes but must allow the ball to bounce in the service box first, if he hits the ball before it bounces, the server wins the point.  It is deemed a fault if the ball does not land in the service box and a second serve is given.

Basic Rules of Tennis #5

 If the server wins the first point, he gets a score of 15. The second point is called 30. The third point is called 40.  The game is won when the score is 40-40, also called LOVE in tennis, meaning zero.  The score 40-40 is also identified as deuce, one player must win by two points.  If the server wins the next point, he wins the game, this is called Advantage-In. It is called Advantage-Out if the receiver has a chance to win the game on the next point.

Basic Rules of Tennis #6

The opponent serves the next game.  To win a set you have to win six games, but you also have to get two or more games than your opponent. If you get 6-6 first, you play a tiebreaker.  The first player to get seven points or more wins the tiebreaker and the set.

Basic Rules of Tennis #7  

The player loses the point if the ball goes to the net or outside the boundaries of the court.  He also loses a point if he touches the net, drops his racquet as he’s hitting the ball, bounces the ball over the net, hits a part of the surroundings, the ball touches him or his partner, or he intentionally attempts to distract the opponent.

Basic Rules of Tennis #8

If the ball rolls on the court or there is a interruption from somebody besides the players on the court, a let is called.

Basic Rules of Tennis# 9

A ball landing on the line is still good.

Basic Rules of Tennis#10

The original point or game will stand in the event of a player serving out of turn or serves to the wrong person or court.

So whether you’re a beginner just trying to get the ball in a single’s court or an advanced doubles team, tennis will always be a game of knowing where to aim the ball and following the basic rules of tennis.