Tennis
Who Invented Tennis and When? The Story!
A sport which captures the imagination of both royalty and the greater populace alike, tennis is truly a global sport. All thanks to Major Walter Clopton Wingfield.
Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG/ Getty Images
A sport which captures the imagination of both royalty and the greater populace alike, tennis is truly a global sport. Its vibrant and unique experience, complete with a tightly strung racket and the odd grunt, has, however, evolved over the centuries. Major Walter Clopton Wingfield is often acknowledged as having gifted history with this sporting experience.
Major Walter Clopton Wingfield
A former cavalry officer, Wingfield is largely considered a visionary for bringing the game to the outdoors – to be played on the lawns of Victorian England. Not only did the Major outline the equipment necessary, he also penned an instruction manual which has stood the test of time.
Wingfield’s intention was not to create a formal sport which would take the world by storm! No, he intended to create a source of amusement for those Victorian guests who were present at lawn parties.
Celebrating the Birth of Tennis!
At its inception, tennis actually dates back to 12th century France. However, it was not the modern racket wielding, athlete grunting, stadium-filling sport we have all come to know and love…it was a game of hands. The name given to the sport was Jeu de paume, or the “game of the palm”.
Rackets only joined the fray in the 16th century and until the late 19th century it was almost exclusively an indoor game. The establishment of the first Lawn Tennis Club in Britain was responsible for the inception of “Lawn Tennis” which was played on a rectangle court, and adopted what we would recognise as tennis today.
The National Lawn Tennis Association was later founded in Britain and codified the rules and structures the sport is now characterised by today.
The Open Era
Through the introduction of the lawn association, major tournaments such as Wimbledon and the United States National Championships – later the US Open – was born. These competitions laid the groundwork for what would become the Grand Slams in tennis.
Professional tennis players inevitably began to emerge, they played exclusive games and earned money from their performances. This was a significant departure from the norm amongst amateur tennis.
Soon, with the continued introduction of professional opportunity, a divide between amateur tennis and professionals led to the creation of separate tournaments and fixtures. This was finally brought to an end in 1968 with the birth of the Open Era. This allowed for both amateur and professional players to compete against each other and gave way for a more accurate depiction of true ‘championship’.
Notable Moments – The Battle of the Sexes
1973 saw a match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. Billie Jean King came out on top of this encounter which was received around the sporting world as more than just a sporting triumph.
It was underpinned by the call for cultural change and women’s right at an incredibly conservative time. King advocated for equal prize money and became fundamental in the establishment of the Women’s Tennis Association – she will forever be seen as a pioneer for gender equality in sports, and rightly so!
Ryan Liberty is an experienced sports writer whose articles have featured in some of the biggest sports publications in South Africa. With a strong understanding of all major sports and an in-depth understanding of betting, Ryan consistently delivers insightful content. He's also known for his ability to break down complex topics into engaging, reader-friendly pieces.