Tennis, a sport beloved by millions worldwide, has a fascinating history rooted in centuries-old traditions and innovations. It began, named as ‘lawn tennis’ purely because of the surface it was played on.

From its beginnings as an indoor pastime to the professional tournaments played on clay, grass, and hard courts today, tennis has captured the imagination of players and fans alike.

The Birth of Lawn Tennis

The modern game of lawn tennis was formalised in the mid-19th century. Major Harry Gem and his friend Augurio Perera are often credited with inventing the game, combining elements of the Spanish ball game pelota with croquet lawn setups in England. Around the same time, Walter Clopton Wingfield patented a version of the game, introducing rules and an hourglass-shaped court. These efforts gave rise to a sport initially enjoyed by amateur players on croquet lawns.

The first organised tennis club, the Leamington Lawn Tennis Club, was established in 1872 in England, marking a pivotal moment in the sport’s history. By the late 19th century, the game was played on a flat surface with a net and scoring system that remains largely recognisable today.

From Indoor Courts to Grand Slams

The origins of tennis trace back even further to the medieval French game jeu de paume, played indoors with the palm of the hand. Over centuries, this evolved into real tennis (or royal tennis), a sport favoured by European royalty, including at Hampton Court Palace.

The transition to lawn tennis paved the way for its widespread appeal. The first championships, held at the All England Croquet Club in 1877, introduced the Wimbledon tournament, the oldest and most prestigious of the Grand Slams. Tennis quickly grew in popularity, with major tournaments like the French Open, Australian Open, and US Open joining Wimbledon in defining the sport.

The Development of Modern Tennis

The open era, beginning in 1968, revolutionised the sport by allowing both amateur and professional players to compete together. Governing bodies such as the International Tennis Federation (formerly the International Lawn Tennis Federation) played a key role in standardising rules, including using tennis balls and constructing tennis courts. Innovations like clay courts, grass courts, and indoor courts diversified playing surfaces, while technological advancements enhanced gameplay.

The Davis Cup and Fed Cup, introduced in the early 20th century, brought international team competitions to life, further solidifying tennis as a global sport. The scoring system, net posts, and service line were refined over time, ensuring fair and exciting matches.

The Legacy of Tennis Today

Lawn tennis, as we know it today, evolved in 19th-century England, merging elements of older racket games played indoors with the outdoor leisure culture of Victorian society. First played on grass courts in private estates, it quickly gained popularity thanks to innovations like vulcanised rubber balls, which made the game more accessible. The first Wimbledon in 1877 established lawn tennis as a competitive sport, laying the foundation for the modern game we know today.

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The Wimbledon Championships may only be a fortnight,  but the place itself is an institution. There’s so much that goes on, far beyond those baseline battles. As the world’s largest tennis library, with over 15,000 items from across the globe, the Wimbledon Library sits right at the heart of the sport’s history and it was a great privilege to visit recently. 

As tennis legend Billie Jean King is known for saying – to learn more about yourself and to shape the future, you need to know about the past. That’s exactly what I hope to do here on ‘The Love of Tennis’. 

Wimbledon collates just about every book, periodical and newspaper cutting you could dream of, a passage through the championships, but also tournaments of every size internationally. Newspaper cuttings from, well, since newspapers’ beginning, Australian and Japanese tennis magazines, the list goes on. 

Even with the best Googling, there’s no way you’d come close to what the Wimbledon Library has to offer. Without resources like the library, where do you know where to go for information and to immerse yourself in tennis, if you don’t actually know what’s out there? 

“The more you know about history, the more you know about yourself—and, most important, you know what can shape the future”

Billie Jean King

During the standard tennis calendar, It’s easy to become so totally immersed in the Grand Slams, the top 10 players in the world and then suddenly the smaller tournaments get lost in the noise.

When you see the books and articles in front of you, the transformation of the sport alongside our wider culture suddenly becomes clear.

It becomes apparent how women have earned their role on the world’s biggest stage, how the media has evolved, attendance continues to grow and so much more. One thing’s for sure our obsession with the weather hasn’t! 

At the library, I particularly enjoyed the glimpse into players who were at the top of the game long before I was born. Take Ken Rosewall – 2 time Wimbledon Champion, dubbed in the news an ‘elderly gentleman’ at 39; a notion that would seem outlandish today when icons like Andy Murray are still considered fairly young, just shy of that age. 

A look back into tennis history makes you reflect on the age-old debate of which tennis era reigns supreme, or who truly deserves the title of the greatest. Yet, in my view, the distinction often belongs to the era just before our own. They were the ones who couldn’t learn the lessons of today. It’s those players who were often forging a path alone, with no real example for comparison.

Today, as tennis veers towards a future of paid TV subscriptions, we risk losing the connection to this rich past. It’s a concern, especially for younger fans who might not realise the full breadth of what tennis has to offer. After all, sport, in its purest form, teaches us about life, about overcoming challenges and everything in between. 

It is through a deep appreciation of its history that we can ensure a more inclusive and vibrant future for tennis. If this greater appreciation inspires just one person to pick up a racquet, then it’s undoubtedly a step in the right direction.

Over time, I hope to bring you the stories of the people who have shaped the sport of today – unsung heroes if you will. The Love of Tennis is designed to become a celebration of everyone, on and off the court that has shaped tennis and will continue to over the months and years ahead.

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Tennis, a sport enjoyed by millions worldwide. Now, the tennis season revolves around 4 grand slams, the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.

Tennis history just isn’t discussed as much as it should be. Tennis’ past is just as rich as Tennis’ future – but how did the sport begin? 

The first evidence we have of tennis as a sport is Northern France during the 12th Century. Monks played Tennis over a rope or against a wall in a courtyard.

The sport soon found its way to England, where it became a favourite pastime of the royal families , even King Henry VIII played the game!

The emergence of modern tennis

Major Walter Wingfield is often credited modernising tennis and making it something more familiar to what we know today.

He patented his version in 1874, calling it “A New and Improved Court for Playing the Ancient Game of Tennis”.

Interestingly, Wingfield’s initial version was played on an hourglass-shaped court with a net notably higher than we have today. Recognising the need for standardised rules, the Marylebone Cricket Club stepped in to lay down the foundational rules of tennis.

The sport carved its place in history by being part of the inaugural modern Olympic Games in 1896. In a progressive move, women’s singles and men’s doubles were introduced in the 1900 Olympics. However, post the 1924 Paris Games, tennis took a hiatus from the Olympics, only to make a triumphant return in 1988.

1968 marked the beginning of the Open Era in tennis.

This was a significant move that allowed professionals to compete alongside amateurs. Prior to this, the four Grand Slam tournaments were exclusive to amateur players. The Open Era not only revolutionised tennis but also paved the way for players to earn a livelihood from the sport.

… and later… the women’s professional circuit

The women’s circuit began in 1926 with the world’s number one female player, Suzanne Lenglen, accepting $50,000 for a series of matches.

It wasn’t until 1973 that the Women’s Tennis Association in 1973 was formed – and a historic landmark for tennis.

The iconic “Battle of the Sexes” match in 1973, where Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs, brought unprecedented media attention to women’s tennis and remains a symbol of gender equality in sports.

Billie Jean King Photo Credit: LTA

Only after this match did the journey to both men and women receiving equal prize money begin. The “Battle of the Sexes” match was only the start of Billie Jean King’s catalog of achievements.

There is so much more to cover and so many more stories left for tennis to write.

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