submit urlsubmit rss feedadd directorycar donation

article

Tennis is a sport played between either two players ("Singles") or two teams of two players ("doubles"). Players use a stringed racquet to strike a ball, a hollow rubber ball covered in felt, over a net into the opponent's court. In some places tennis is still called lawn tennis to distinguish it from real tennis (also known as royal tennis or court tennis), an older form of the game that is played indoors on a very different court. Originating in England in the late 19th Century, the game spread first throughout the English-speaking world, particularly among the upper classes. Tennis is now an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society, by all ages, and in many countries around the world. Except for the adoption of the tie-breaker in the 1970s, its rules have remained remarkably unchanged since the 1890s. Along with its millions of players, millions of people follow tennis as a spectator sport, especially the four Grand Slam tournaments.

Manner of play


The court

Tennis is played on a rectangular, flat surface, usually grass, clay, or a hardcourt of concrete and/or asphalt. The court is 78 feet (23.77 m) long, and its width is 27 feet (8.23 m) for singles matches and 36 feet (10.97 m) for doubles matches. Additional clear space around the court is required in order for players to reach overrun balls. A net is stretched across the full width of the court, parallel with the baselines, dividing it into two equal ends. The net is 3 feet 6 inches (1.07 m) high at the posts, and 3 feet (914 mm) high in the center.

Types of Courts
There are three main types of courts. Depending on the materials used for the court surfaces, each surface provides a difference in the speed and bounce of the ball, which in turn can affect the level of play of the individual players. The three most common types of courts that are used for play are: Some players are clearly more successful on certain surfaces than on others and become known as, for instance, a "grass-court" or "Clay-court specialist".

More on [ Tennis ]


directory of related categories

 

Real@
 
 
directory of related topics

Tennis :: Recreation and Sports
Tennis :: Sports
Tennis

 
Tennis RSS feed
NPR Topics: Sports

Angels Stay Alive; Phillies Advance To NLCS
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400
The Los Angeles Angels are alive in the American League Division Series after winning a five-hour, 19-minute marathon against Boston, 5-4. That cuts the Red Sox' lead to 2-1 in the best-of-five series. The Philadelphia Phillies are going to the National League Championship Series for the first time since 1993 after eliminating Milwaukee in four games in the first round.
Cubs Fans Must Wait For Next Year — Again
Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:06:00 -0400
Despite being number one in the National League and winning 93 games in the regular season, the Chicago Cubs' World Series hopes have been dashed once more.
NBA's Alonzo Mourning Touts 'Resilience' In Memoir
Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:02:00 -0400
In 2000, the muscular, 6-feet-10-inch NBA star was diagnosed with a rare, life-threatening kidney disease. Alonzo Mourning made a full recovery following a transplant. Now, he's written a memoir about the obstacles he had to overcome on the road back to the NBA.

 
Subscribe to Recreation_and_Sports RSS feed

directory of related sites

United States Professional Tennis Association - Offers playing tips, USPTA newswire, league and tournament information.
Meta Description: [ U.S. Professional Tennis Association - USPTA, Little Tennis, tennis coaches, certification ]

United States Tennis Association - Official site with tournaments, rankings, news, Davis Cup, Federation Cup, circuits, membership, and a library of resources.

Tennis related videos
MSN : المسنجر UAE@UAE.NET ...
Next Video

 

HOMEADVERTISINGABOUT US

articlesartsbusinesscomputersgameshealthhospitalshomekids & teensnewsmobilephysiciansrecreationreferenceregionalscienceshoppingsocietysportsworld


Submit a Site About Become an Editor