Tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world. A testament to this is the thousands of people who tune into the Olympics to watch and cheer for their favorite tennis players. However, it isn’t always easy to understand what is happening in the game because of the complicated tennis terms.
Luckily, this list of tennis terms can help you follow the game like a pro. Whether you’re a beginner or a casual fan of tennis, you’ll find this list useful.
What is tennis?
Before diving into the different tennis terms, it is important to define what tennis is first. Tennis is a popular racket sport that is played with at least two players.
A racket sport refers to types of sports that require using a racket to hit an object toward another player or team. In badminton, players hit a shuttlecock using their badminton racket. In tennis, players hit a ball using their tennis racket.
What is the history of tennis?
Some people believe that tennis originated in northern France in the 12th century. In France, people often played jeu de paume, which means “game of the palm.” As the name suggests, players strike a ball with the palm of their hand.
Louis X and his companions originally played the game outdoors, despite disliking that he has to. By the end of the 13th century, he had indoor courts built for his games. His indoor courts served as inspiration for the tennis court as many copied the design until it spread across Europe.
Around the 16th century, people started using rackets, and this led to the development of indoor tennis. However, players eventually lost interest in indoor tennis, and the game lost popularity.
On the other hand, some people believe modern tennis originated much later in 19th century England. In 1872, Harry Gem and his companions established the first tennis club together. At the time, people referred to tennis as “lawn tennis” because they played it outdoors.
However, most people recognize Walter Clopton Wingfield’s guide as the first official record of modern tennis. Wingfield published a set of rules for tennis in 1873, which he later patented in 1874.
Tennis continued to gain popularity in England in the 1800s as championships were hosted. Soon, it reached the United States after a couple of players brought their rackets with them to New York.
Today, tennis has become a popular sport that people of different races, genders, and ages play. Both professionals and hobbyists can play this sport. As a competitive sport, there are plenty of competitions that offer players a chance to compete internationally, such as the Grand Slam tournaments, the Olympics, and the Paralympics.
Its popularity doesn’t just come from competitive play. In fact, there are plenty of pop culture references that involve tennis. One example is from the popular anime, Prince of Tennis. Plenty of films also feature characters who play tennis, such as The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) and Wimbledon (2004).
In literature, you can find references to tennis in William Shakespeare’s Henry V. You can also find plenty of video games that simulate tennis, such as Mario Tennis and Wii Sports.
Basic Rules of Tennis
Each sport has its own set of rules players must abide by. Otherwise, penalties will be incurred, such as score deductions and, in severe cases, disqualifications. When it comes to competitive play, there are more specific rules that players must be wary of. However, for beginners, these basic tennis rules are a great place to start.
Wear the appropriate attire for tennis.
Some tennis clubs can be strict when it comes to tennis attire. They require players to wear sportswear specific to tennis. Otherwise, they do not let people play on their court.
Sportswear for tennis includes short-sleeved cotton shirts and tennis shorts. For women, they can opt to wear a sleeveless cotton top with a tennis skirt. For shoes, players are encouraged to wear tennis shoes.