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Tennis is a racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent or between two teams of two players each. Each player uses a tennis racket that is strung with cord to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over or around a net and into the opponent's court. Points are awarded to a player or team whenever the opponent fails to correctly return the ball within the prescribed dimensions of the court.
Tennis has a long history, but the birth of the game played today is thought to have taken place in England. By the late 19th century, the popularity of lawn tennis had overtaken croquet in England. For this reason, the All England Croquet Club embraced the sport and designated certain croquet lawns to be used for tennis. It was this natural supply of venues combined with the already existing framework for a racquet game that resulted in the birth of the modern game in England. |
