A Brief History of the World’s Most Beautiful Sport

Tennis is a beautiful sport, with millions of fans worldwide tuning in to watch the action of this exciting sport. According to Brittanica, The sport's roots and “origins” relate to the 13th-century French handball game Jeu de Paume. Later in the 1800s, taking inspiration from this game, William C Winfield invented lawn tennis in Britain. Lawn tennis was a game with two contestants, each having a racket hitting the ball over the net. The rules state that each point is considered 15, and the game continues until one player reaches 40 points. If a player wins a point after reaching 40, they win a game. This unique scoring system, with its love (0), 15, 30, 40, and game-winning points, adds an element of suspense and strategy to the game. Six games win a set, and two sets win a match. The sport's rules were modified and changed within the next few years following the creation of this new scoring update. The renowned Wimbledon tennis club, now known as Wimbledon, was established in 1877 in Great Britain, marking a significant milestone in the sport's history. After a series of renovations and relocations, it found its permanent home in 1922. The creation and subsequent fame of this tournament significantly expanded the reach of tennis, leading to the establishment of three other major Grand Slam tournaments. In 1881, the U.S created another “Grand Slam” tournament called the U.S Open.

Later, in 1891, France took this idea to create the third Grand Slam titled “Rolland Garros,” or the French Open, as called in other parts of the world. These Grand Slam tournaments, including Wimbledon, represent the most prestigious events in tennis, attracting the best players from around the world. They are not only a platform for the top players to showcase their skills but also a major factor in the global popularity of tennis. Eventually, after Wimbledon, the first Major tournament, Called a Grand Slam, was created, and three other significant tournaments were founded. In 1881, the U.S created a “Grand Slam” tournament called the U.S Open. Later, in 1891, France took this idea to make the third grand slam titled “Rolland Garros,” or the French Open in other parts of the world. Lastly, in 1905, Australia adopted this idea of a grand slam and created the beloved Australian Open. Many sports have since been inspired by tennis, such as pickleball and badminton, which have arisen today. Many years later, tennis is one of the world's most watched and beloved sports, standing alongside American football, baseball, basketball, and soccer.