1880 tournament at Stanton Island, New York

Arthur Ashe

HISTORY

Tennis was started in 13th century France, but has origins in Egypt and Persia. In France, the game "jeu de paume" was a game played with a sheepskin ball, and your bare hands, inside of a four-walled room. Then in 1874, British Major Walter C. Wingfeild got a patent for a "new and improved portable court for playing the ancient game of tennis". His version of the old game was to be played outside on the grass, and received the name "lawn tennis". Eventually lawn surfaces were replaced by various other surfaces, such as, clay and concrete. Today tennis may be played indoors or outdoors and on many different surfaces. 

Jimmy Connors

Margaret Court

Martina Navratilova

John McEnroe

PLAY

The size of the court may very in different circumstances. It is wider for doubles matches, and narrower for singles matches. Each player takes turns serving each game. Meaning that each player serves every other game. The first point scored is called 15, the second is called 30, the third 40, and the fourth is game. A score of zero is called "love". If the score becomes 40 all, or deuce, then a player must win two successive points to win the game. A player must win six games to with the set, and must win by at least two games.

Fred Perry

Rod "Rocket" Laver