Amber Johns
Beginner Tennis 2pm
September 7, 2011
The Evolution of the Gentlemen’s Sport Tennis is a game that has been played and enjoyed for many years. Through a few renovations, from its name to how the courts are shaped, tennis remains a sport not just about skill but strategy as well. Tennis was invented around the 12th century by European monks looking for amusement during religious ceremonies. Since that time tennis has spread across the world and incorporated new techniques to how the game is played. First called jeu de paume, meaning game of the hand in French, tennis was originally played without a racquet just the players hands and a wooden ball. The sport then went on to adopt a leather ball and glove. Realizing that using ones hands wasn’t the best method, the racquet became a part of the game along with the ball that is used today.
Before spreading across the world, tennis was being played in France by royal families. The royal families would refer to the game as royal or real tennis getting the word “tennis” from the French term tenez, meaning play. The players would shout this expression, tenez, before matches to signal the beginning of the game. The rules of tennis were much different then compared to how they are today, this is thanks to Major Walter C. Wingfield and the All England Club.
In 1874, Major Walter C. Wingfield patented the rights to the rules and equipment in tennis. During this year the first tennis courts were introduced in the U.S. before spreading to Russia, Canada, China, and India. Besides patenting the rights to tennis Major Wingfield also designed the layout of tennis courts. Originally Major Wingfield intend on the courts to possess an hourglass shape. Alongside the change in the shape of tennis courts, the rules of the sport have received adjustments since his time. Rectangular courts and the rules seen today were not introduced until 1877 by the All England Club.
Tennis or jeu de paume has been through many innovations to become the sport that is known and loved today. Since the 12th century, tennis still remains a major form of entertainment. Whether played with hands or racquets, on an hourglass court or rectangular court, one thing consisted about tennis is that it is and will always be a gentlemen’s sport.