The history of tennis has been traced back to the Ancient Egyptians (as if we didn't guess that already). Apparently the Egyptians did not know that they were geniuses. But even before the Egyptians and before it became a international sport, tennis was a religious sport that was used by the Moors.
The Moors passed the ideas of hitting a ball with a hand or a stick to Christian Monks and the name of the game was then called La Soule. The monks played with their hands but as time went on the tools went from wooden balls to balls of softer material; the hand was replaced with the tennis racket. However, the raquet they used was wooden at the time.
After the Moors and the monks were the French and the English. The French had played the sport indoors and the rules had differed from those that are used today. However as the game grew popular, England got a hold of the sport and quickly evolved to the "cool new game". It was played in country houses and at clubs. England was also the first to play lawn tennis.
The main point in the game of tennis is to keep the ball in the court at all times. The first part of the game is called the serve, in which one oppnent has 2 chances to get the ball over the net and into the service box that is diagonal to them. The other player who is awaiting the serve stand behind or on the base line. When the ball is served the person must return the serve and if so, the game truly begins.
There are different stokes that people have been known to use in this particular sport. The simplest and most used strokes are the backhand and forehand. A smash is when the oppenent hits the ball straight down into the other person's side of the court so that there is no way their opponet can return the ball.
A volley is when the oppenent recieving the ball does not even allow the ball to bounces, but returns it in mid-air. A slice, used by many skillful tennis players is when the person does not make full contact with the ball but hits it in a "slicing" motion with the racquet slightly tilted rather then flat.
There are many people that are known for their exceptional skiill and performance in the sport of tennis.
Unlike today, people of past history did not wear shorts to the game. Men were known to wear long pants, even in the summer time when the heat was unbearable. Women, were not at all different.
Women during the late eighteen hundreds and early ninteen hundreds were permitted to wear long skirts and clothing that would fully cover their bodies. Shorts during that time were not an option. However, beginning with Suzzane Lenglen in 1922, women began to wear short skirts. This allowed them to have more room to play the game. No longer did they wear the hats that they had once been forced to wear. Before her, bare heads had never been thought of. But now, whenever watching tennis matches or tournaments, like WImbledon, it common to see people such as Andre Agasi without a hat.
Tennis has also become a more fashionable sport. There are special shirts, shoes, bags, and pants a person can buy if they want to look cute while playing with friends, family, boyfriends, etc.
| Skirts | Dress | Pants | Shorts |
| Tennis Sneakers | Hats | Tee- Shirts |
As stated before the game of tennis was more similar to hand ball back when the monks were playing. Then using a wooden frame and strings of gut bound, players were able to improve on the racquet. As time went on the racquets were made to be lighter and lighter allowng the player more flexibility. Other than the raquet, a tennis ball is necessary. The net is already on the court.
