BASIC INTRODUCTION
Tennis, game played with a racket and a ball by two (as in singles) or four (as in doubles) competitors, on
a rectangular court with a net strung between the mid-points of the longer sides of the court. Tennis may be played indoors or outdoors. The game ranks as one of the most popular spectator and participation sports in the world, with fans and competitors in more than 100 countries. Originally called “lawn tennis” to distinguish it from the sport of real tennis, from which it was derived, the game is now commonly known as tennis and is played on various surfaces other than on grass.
a rectangular court with a net strung between the mid-points of the longer sides of the court. Tennis may be played indoors or outdoors. The game ranks as one of the most popular spectator and participation sports in the world, with fans and competitors in more than 100 countries. Originally called “lawn tennis” to distinguish it from the sport of real tennis, from which it was derived, the game is now commonly known as tennis and is played on various surfaces other than on grass.PLAYING COURT AND EQUIPMENT
The court is marked with white lines to indicate its dimensions and service areas. The court is 23.8 m (78 ft) long, divided into two equal sides by a net standing 0.9 m (3 ft) high at the centre of the court. For singles, the court is 8.2 m (27 ft) wide. For doubles, the addition of margins 1.4 m (4y ft) wide along the two longer sides increases the width to 11 m (36 ft). Courts may be of grass, clay, asphalt, concrete, wood, artificial grass, or other synthetic materials
A tennis ball is hollow and composed of inflated rubber covered with a fabric made of wool and artificial fibres. It is between 6 and 7 cm (2y and 2š in) in diameter and weighs between 57 and 58 g (2 and 2w oz). Yellow and white balls are used in tournament competition and are the most common colours, although balls of other colours are manufactured
HISTORY
Although the origins of tennis are not clear, many experts believe tennis, then called lawn tennis, was invented in 1873 by Major Walter Clopton Wingfield, a British army officer. Although Wingfield claimed that he modelled the game, which he called Sphairistike (Greek, “playing at ball”) after an ancient Greek game, many authorities believe that he adapted the principles of the popular English games of real tennis, squash rackets, and badminton for outdoor play. Early players preferred to call Wingfield’s game tennis-on-the-lawn, or lawn tennis.
The first world amateur championships were held at the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, England (men, 1877; women, 1884).
The winners of Davis cup
YEAR WINNERS
1982 US
1983 Australia
1984 Sweden
2002 Russia
2003 Australia
2004 Spain
The court is marked with white lines to indicate its dimensions and service areas. The court is 23.8 m (78 ft) long, divided into two equal sides by a net standing 0.9 m (3 ft) high at the centre of the court. For singles, the court is 8.2 m (27 ft) wide. For doubles, the addition of margins 1.4 m (4y ft) wide along the two longer sides increases the width to 11 m (36 ft). Courts may be of grass, clay, asphalt, concrete, wood, artificial grass, or other synthetic materials
A tennis ball is hollow and composed of inflated rubber covered with a fabric made of wool and artificial fibres. It is between 6 and 7 cm (2y and 2š in) in diameter and weighs between 57 and 58 g (2 and 2w oz). Yellow and white balls are used in tournament competition and are the most common colours, although balls of other colours are manufactured
HISTORY
Although the origins of tennis are not clear, many experts believe tennis, then called lawn tennis, was invented in 1873 by Major Walter Clopton Wingfield, a British army officer. Although Wingfield claimed that he modelled the game, which he called Sphairistike (Greek, “playing at ball”) after an ancient Greek game, many authorities believe that he adapted the principles of the popular English games of real tennis, squash rackets, and badminton for outdoor play. Early players preferred to call Wingfield’s game tennis-on-the-lawn, or lawn tennis.
The first world amateur championships were held at the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, England (men, 1877; women, 1884).
The winners of Davis cup
YEAR WINNERS
1982 US
1983 Australia
1984 Sweden
2002 Russia
2003 Australia
2004 Spain
