Tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world. It is played by billions of people not only as a sport but also as a recreational activity to refresh your bodies and minds. fascinating history of tennis was believed to originate from Ancient Egypt thousands of years ago. The word ‘tennis’ was derived from Tennis, an Ancient town alongside the Nile. Some others believe that tennis originated in France, in the 20th century. However, several games were played with racquets and balls in history. So, the invention of tennis is still a debate.
Evolution of Modern Tennis
Tennis is the only sport that has undergone different changes in the last 3 to 4 decades.
Tennis became popular in the mid-1700s, but it was way different from what we’re playing today. Until the 1850s, tennis was played on indoor courts.
Who Invented the Tennis Ball?
- A. Charles Goodyear
- B. William G. Morgan
- C. Thomas Goodyear
- D. None of the Above
Vulcanized rubber tennis balls were used outdoors on lawn courts. Self-taught chemist Charles Goodyear invented and patented the vulcanized rubber tennis ball in 1844.
Walter Clopton Wingfield invented lawn tennis in 1874, naming it sphairistike, which means “playing ball.” Walter Clopton is credited as the inventor and father of lawn tennis.
The All England Croquet Club needed some money to fix some broken equipment to fix the croquet field to a tennis court. So, they held the first tennis tournament and named it Wimbledon. This version gradually became popular and spread throughout the world and became the most prestigious cricket tournament.
Lesser known facts about tennis
- Nearly 54,000 Slazenger tennis balls are used in Wimbledon every year. Later the balls are sold at the All England Tennis Club, and the collected money is given to the charity.
- Maria Sharapova is nicknamed the Serbian siren because her grunt is recorded at a volume as high as 101 decibels, louder than a jet plane taking off.
- The Tiebreaker, recently shortened to just tiebreak, was invented by James Van Alen. This invention is the ‘game-changing’ invention in tennis history.
- The average age of ball boys/girls who serve in Wimbleton is 15. More than 700 young girls/boys apply to see their favorite player.