-by ShristhiRamola BA(JMC) 3
Tennis: An Emotion more than a Sport
-Tennis is more than just a ‘racket sport ‘, it is a sport of elegance, endurance and mental
strength. Tennis has evolved into one of the most prestigious and widely followed sports in
the world .
Origin:
The origin of the tennis can be traced back to 12th century Northern France,where a game
called “Jeu de pauma” was played using the palm of the hand and Lous X of France is said
to be the first player. Over time the rackets had been introduced and by the 16th century,the
game has become popular in England and France. This early version is now known as ‘ real
tennis ‘ .
The modern version of tennis ,known as lawn tennis was introduced in 1873 by British major
Walter cloptok wingfield. He formalized the rules and equipments and created the game as
an outdoor activity. His version quickly gained popularity.
First match :
The first documented lawn tennis match was held in Leamington Spa , England in the year
of 1874 . Just three year later ,the first wimbledon championship took place in 1877,
organised by the All England lawn Tennis and Croquet Club ,and was won by Spencer Gore
; a total of 200 spectators were recorded .
The expansion:
From Britain, tennis quickly spreaded across the United States, France and Australia and
giving rise to the four Grand Slam Tournaments – Wimbledon,The US Open, The French
Open and the Australian open.
Icons:
Over the decades,tennis has seen legendary names who have left a significant mark in the
world of tennis and changed it completely. Steffi Graf remains the only player to win a
Golden slam and olympic games. ( in a single year 1988) Rod laver became the only player
to win all 4 majors in the same year twice. The rivalry between Bjorn borg and John Mcenroe
captivated fans with fire. “Sarena williams”, one of the greatest female athletes of all time
with a total of 23 grand slam titles has engraved her name as a true tennis icon.The 21st
century has been dominated by Roger Federer ,Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic,who have
pushed limits of excellence.
Indian contribution to the sports:
India is yet to see it’s very first Grand Slam champion but, it’s influence specially in the
doubles and mixed doubles is significant. Leander paes who won 18 Grand Slam titles and
Olympic bronze medal (1996) .Mahesh Bhupati, the first Indian to win a Grand Slam and Sania Mirza, the most successful Female tennis player from India — former world number
one in doubles, with 6 Grand Slam titles and a global ambassador for tennis; marking her
place as one of the icons of this sport. Rohan bopanna won French Open mix double
(2017)and qualified for Paris Olympics 2024.
Milestones of the sports:
The start of professional tennis in 1968 is the Open Era, allowing professionals to complete
in Grand Slam events. The introduction of equal price money for mens in womens in all
Grand Slam to the men’s with the US, Open leading the way in 1975. Hawk eye technology,
introduced in the 2006 revolutionized line calling and improved fairness.
Today, tennis is played competitively in more than 200 countries .From clay courts in Spain
to hard courts in the US. From a royal pastime to a sports that continuous to evolve ,but it’s
essence remains the same. Tennis has come a long way.
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