It all started in 12th-century France where guys used to play with balls throwing at each other using their hands. Today that one single odd game between two boys turned out to be an international game at Wimbledon where players battled against each other in huge stadiums. Those stadiums are packed with thousands and thousands of spectators who love Lawn Tennis.
As said above, the origin of Tennis is traced back to 12th Century France. It was during the 1100s when boys used to play tennis without racquets and the game was known as Jeu de Paume which means playing the ball with palms in French. Throughout the 12th Century, kings, dukes, nobles, and commoners alike used to play Jeu de Paume.
It, later on, became a pronounced game in the 13th Century after Louis the 10th took special fascination towards it. His close friend even constructed indoor courts for Louis to play Jeu de Paume. The game over the centuries got improvised as from hands it came to small wooden paddles. Moreover, the game was played in enclosed areas and the net was hung at a much higher position than now.
Soon the game became popular among kings, nobles, their friends, and others as it was a very lovable and entertaining indoor game amongst everyone. In the 14th Century, the game started to become popular in England. Sooner than thought, the game started to spread out in the whole of Europe in the 15th Century.
The funny part was that every place in Europe had a different set of rules for the game. There was no fixed set of rules for the game and it differed from one European country to another. The word tennis came from France meaning to receive. Previously when the game used to take place, tennis was the word shouted by the one who received the ball. Such that the opponent can understand that the one who received the ball is going to serve.
It was in the 16th Century when the word Tennis caught on in England and became a popular name for the game in the whole of Europe. It was named real tennis or royal tennis at that time. However, the racquet which we see now was not used back then. Not only that, but the hitting of the ball against the wall also has its history from this time.
It also later earned the name squash from its rudimentary form during the 17th century. Firstly, it was played with naked hands, then, it was played with gloves in hands for protection. Soon the gloves turned into paddles and the paddles took the size and shape of the racquet which is used now for playing.
The racquet was soon improvised with the addition of a net with crosswise strings to it. Tennis became famous with Henry the Sixth and Henry the Seventh of England. It was also popular with Henry the First and Henry the Second of France.
Tennis is loved by all and needless to say, the biggest names in the world of tennis are Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal. Every year these international tennis players play and win at the Grand Slams. However, it took a long time for Lawn Tennis to achieve the crown which it has achieved today.
Venus Williams – The net worth of this top Tennis player is 95 million dollars. Being an American Professional tennis player she has won various grand slams and is a Wimbledon champion. She is still regarded as one of the top tennis players and has been No. 1 various times in her career in singles as well as doubles. She has 22 double titles and two mixed doubles titles. She has a combined total of 73 WTA titles, making her the most active tennis player in history.
Serena Williams – The queen of the tennis world, has a net worth of 240 million dollars. She has ushered the word Athleticism into the world of lawn tennis. She is the woman of power who has given birth to a new era of women’s tennis world champions. She has gone on various professional tennis tours and has made her father Richard Williams proud of the sacrifices he made. Right now she has forty-nine singles titles and has already reached the record-breaking number of singles titles of her sister. However, in her era, she is the highest holder of the singles titles.
Roger Federer – The powerpack tennis player has a net worth of 450 million dollars. The Swiss professional tennis player has finished as No. 1 five times in his history. He has not only given birth to the irresistible performance capability in the world of men’s lawn tennis but, also has been no. 1 several times in the ATP rankings. He has been at the top rank for a total of 310 weeks. He also holds a record of holding the no 1 rank for 237 consecutive weeks at another time. Nevertheless, he has finished the year-end several times being no 1. The minimum being five times; he is the top tennis player till now.
Rafael Nadal – The most handsome yet calmest and well-behaved tennis player’s net worth is 210 million dollars. He has been one of the most well-renowned Spanish professional tennis players. The father of Grand Slams, he has won the highest in the history with the number being twenty-one men’s single titles. He has also won 62 of his 90 ATP singles titles till now. He holds a record of having thirteen French open titles. The brilliant player has won 26 of his 36 masters titles. He is still known as no. 1 sharing his place with Roger Federer. He has gone on to put up his name against 81 consecutive wins on clay.
Novak Djokovic – The most sophisticated and ideal tennis player’s net worth is 220 million dollars. He is a Serbian professional tennis player and is right now ruling the charts along with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Right now he is world no. 1 by the associations of tennis professionals. The master blaster 21 times Grand Slam winner has been holding the no. 1 record for 358 weeks. Currently, he is known as the top player in the ATP year-end rankings. He has finished the year being no.1 on seven occasions under the ATP rankings. He is still the top player in the Grand Slam men’s singles title.
Your writing style is captivating. I look forward to more posts.
Thanks