≡Tennis: From History to Popularity
Court Tennis – The Basics
Also known as field tennis.
A racket sport played on a rectangular court divided by a net.
Objective: hit the ball so that it bounces on the opponent’s side, preventing them from returning it.
Historical Origin
Originated in the 12th century in France as the game “Jeu de Paume” (“game of the palm”).
Initially played with the palm of the hand on grass courts.
Over time, it evolved to use rackets.
Modern Evolution
1873: First grass court built in Birmingham, England.
The sport gradually gained popularity across Europe and eventually worldwide.
Popularity and Tournaments
Court tennis is extremely popular around the world.
Highlights include the Grand Slams, the four major tournaments:
Australian Open: Held in Melbourne on hard courts in January. Known for extreme heat and fast-paced matches.
French Open: Held in Paris on clay courts in May/June. Known for long rallies and physical endurance.
Wimbledon: Held in London on grass courts in June/July. Traditional, requiring strong serves and quick reflexes.
US Open: Held in New York on hard courts in August/September. Famous for its vibrant atmosphere and night matches.
World Tennis: Origin of the Davis Cup
In 1900, the first international tennis tournament took place.
Origin
Dwight Fille Davis, an American tennis player, was tired of competing only against opponents from his own country.
He decided to organize a tournament between nations, inviting three English players to participate.
Historic result
The event marked the first recorded tennis championship between countries.
The United States won 3–0.
The tournament became so significant that it was named after its creator: the Davis Cup.
Current structure
The main division is the World Group, with 16 countries.
The remaining countries compete in the Qualifying Group, divided into continental zones.
Summary:
The Davis Cup was born from the desire to internationalize tennis and today is one of the most prestigious team tournaments in the sport.
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Discover some interesting facts about Court Tennis
Récords de saque en tenis
Samuel Groth – Fastest ATP Serve
Year: 2012
Location: Busan Tournament, South Korea
Recorded speed: 263 km/h (fastest serve documented by the ATP)
Other notable serves in the same match: 253 km/h and 255 km/h
Groth stood out for his power and consistency on serve.
Sabine Lisicki – Fastest Women’s Serve
Year: 2014
Location: Stanford Tournament, USA
Recorded speed: 211 km/h
Lisicki is recognized for her precision and power, setting the official women’s record.
Summary
The fastest serves in tennis show the importance of combining power with technique.
Men and women achieve impressive speeds, but each category has different limits due to physical strength and playing style.
The tennis court is not symmetrical.
Despite looking identical, the two sides of the court almost never play the same way, especially on outdoor courts.
Sun
At certain times of the day, one side faces the sun, making it harder to:
return serves
handle high balls
read the ball’s trajectory
👉 Advantage: smart players choose to serve with the sun at their back on key points.
Wind
The wind rarely blows evenly:
on one side it speeds the ball up
on the other, it slows it down
This affects depth, control, and even the serve.
👉 Advantage: play safer against the wind and be more aggressive when playing with it.
Court slope
Courts have a slight, almost invisible slope for drainage.
The bounce may:
skid more on one side
die on the other
👉 Advantage: notice where the ball escapes or loses pace after the bounce.
Why does the game change sides?
Sides change after an odd number of games because conditions are not equal.
Ignoring this leads to avoidable mistakes.
👉 Advantage: use the early games to read the court before crucial points.
Golden rule
- Adjust shot power and height
- Notice where you miss less
- Never treat both sides as equal
💡 Summary: don’t play against the court — play with it.
Cómo reaccionan las pelotas de tenis al clima
The tennis ball does not always behave the same way. Variations in temperature, altitude, and usage time change its internal pressure, directly affecting bounce, speed, and control.
Temperature
Heat expands the air inside the ball, while cold contracts it.
- Hot day: faster, lighter ball with higher bounce
- Cold day: heavier, slower ball with lower bounce
👉 Impact: on hot days, the ball flies more than expected; in cold weather, it requires more force for the same effect.
Altitude
At high altitudes, external pressure is lower.
This makes the ball:
travel faster
bounce higher
👉 Impact: without adjustment, it’s common to lose depth and control.
Usage time
New balls: more pressure and response
Used balls: less bounce and slower speed
👉 Recognizing when to change the ball helps choose safer shots.
Warming up the ball
Attentive players warm up the ball before key points, spinning it in their hand or bouncing it lightly on the ground.
👉 Advantage: more predictable response on serves and returns.
Practical rule
- Adjust power and spin to the conditions
- Be more patient in cold weather
- Use more spin in heat
💡 Summary: those who understand ball pressure play with physics on their side.
Tennis: Pressure from the Open Serve
In tennis, not all serves are equally effective. Studies and statistics show that the wide serve on the advantage side (AD) is more productive, especially for right-handed players.
Why it works
A wide serve forces the opponent to use their defensive backhand, usually their weaker shot.
It limits the return angle, reducing options.
It increases the chance of unforced errors or short returns.
Practical strategy
Right-handed players should prioritize the wide serve on the AD side during critical points.
Combine with speed and spin variations to make it even harder to read.
Constant observation: notice which backhand side of the opponent produces more errors and adjust your serve to exploit it.
Tactical tip
In decisive games, use wide serves on the advantage side to pressure the opponent.
Mix in serves to the center to remain unpredictable.
Summary
Wide serves on AD increase opponent errors
Forces the defensive backhand with less angle
A strategic weapon in key moments
💡 Mental takeaway: on the advantage side, the wide serve isn’t just a choice — it’s a proven pressure tactic.
Tennis: Master the First Ball
In tennis, many players believe that long rallies dominate the game, but the reality is different: most points end quickly.
Statistics
In amateur and professional matches, over 70% of points end by the 4th ball.
Only a small portion of points turn into long rallies of 10 or more strokes.
Strategic impact
Players who focus only on endurance and long rallies lose efficiency.
Focusing on serve + aggressive first shot drastically increases the chance of winning the point before the 5th stroke.
A strong, well-placed first shot forces the opponent to respond defensively, opening opportunities to finish the point.
Practical tip
Adjust your training to strengthen your serve, first shot, and approach to the net.
Observe your opponent: short points work best against players who struggle under initial pressure.
Mix short attacks with moderate rallies to stay unpredictable.
Summary
Over 70% of points end by the 4th ball
Serve + first shot = clear advantage
Long rallies are less decisive than many think
💡 Mental takeaway: dominating the first ball is dominating the point. Players who focus on this play with intelligence, not just power.
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