TENNIS From Pyramids to Djokovic In the beginning

TENNIS From Pyramids to Djokovic

In the beginning � � Ball games can be traced back to ancient times and the earliest representations can be found on carvings in Egyptian temples. The Ancient Egyptians actually played ball games as part of their religious ceremonies These traditions and the whole concept of ball games spread into Europe in the 8 th century influenced by the Moors. It was the meeting of Eastern culture and Christianity that gave rise to tennis.

MOORS � � � The Moors were the medieval Muslims inhabitants of the Maghreb, Iberian Peninsula and Malta Their descendants are presently known as the MAGHREBIS. The Moors invaded the Iberian Peninsula in 711 and called the territory Al-Andalus, an area which at different times comprised Gibraltar, most of Spain and Portugal, and parts of Southern France. There was also a Moorish presence in what is now Southern Italy, primarily in Sicily. The term "Moors" has also been used in Europe in a broader sense to refer to Muslims, especially those of Arab or Berber descent, whether living in Spain or North Africa.

Still in the beginning � � � Christian Monks became interested in the religious rites of the Moors and were the first Europeans to play the game that was to become tennis. The earliest version was called ‘La Soule’ where they would hit the ball with their hands or a stick off of walls. A sheepskin ball filled with sand, sawdust or wool (nonbouncing) was hit with an open hand over a rope strung across the monastery courtyard. It became so popular that the church considered banning it! The game started out with just using the hands but over time the leather glove was replaced by a wooden handle. The game soon became very popular by the French royals.

� Early Tennis (CONTINUE) �Tennis – French tenez meaning “play”. Playing with the hand �evolved �glove �a into playing with a glove with webbing between the fingers solid paddle �eventually a sort of racquet was developed – a webbed glove with a handle. Balls still did not bounce.

� By 1500 or so a wooden racquet frame strung with sheep’s gut was generally used and balls were cork-cored. � The game caught on with the royalty and became known as “real” or “royal” tennis and was called jeu de paume – game of the palm.

Popularity of Tennis � Royal tennis grew in popularity through the centuries to the point where both the Pope and King Louis IV attempted to ban it. � Spread to England early 16 th century, and both Henry VII and Henry VIII were “avid players, promoting the building of more courts. ” � The game’s popularity waned during the 1700’s because of the French Revolution, but enjoyed a resurgence following the conflict � In 1850, with the invention of vulcanized rubber, players began to try the game with the bouncy rubber balls on outdoor grass courts and a new game was born.

Henry VIII (1491 -1547)

Henry VIII (1491 -1547) � � � Henry VIII is one of the most famous kings in English history. He was the second Tudor monarch and was well-known for having six wives. His break with the papacy in Rome established the Church of England began the so called Reformation. The Protestant Reformation was the separation within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin, and other early Protestants. The Church of England was however created more for political reasons than for religious purposes.

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION -Key Concepts-

DEFINITION � � The French Revolution (French: Révolution française) was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France from 1789 to 1799 that profoundly affected French and modern history, marking the decline of powerful monarchies and churches and the rise of democracy and nationalism. Popular resentment of the privileges enjoyed by the clergy and aristocracy grew amidst an economic crisis following two expensive wars and years of bad harvests, motivating demands for change.

A. Liberty � � � The notion of individual human rights A new type of government in which the people are sovereign The importance of a representative assembly The importance of a written constitution The notion of selfdetermination Freedom to accumulate property

B. Equality � � � Equality of rights and civil liberties Equality before the law No special privileges for the rich Equality of opportunity “Careers Open to Talent” Inherent tension between liberty and equality

III. “A Dual Revolution” � � � The French Revolution was the inaugural European revolution The French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution together transformed the western world This “Dual Revolution” changed everything politically, socially and economically Triumph of European states and economies globally The Modern Era was inaugurated by the Dual Revolution

Changing the Game � Modern tennis is credited to British Army Major Walter Wingfield. � Lawn tennis caught on quickly in Great Britain and the first world championship was played at Wimbledon in 1877. � 1884 Wimbledon launched a women’s championship.

Walter Wingfield � � In the late 1860 s Wingfield was one of the persons experimenting with a lawn version of tennis. Vulcanized bouncing rubber balls offered an opportunity to develop from the indoor game of real tennis. There were many who had the leisure time to pursue the sport and who owned croquet lawns that could be adapted for it. The precise date that Wingfield brought it to the public is uncertain. Lord Lansdowne claimed that in 1869 Major Wingfield gave a demonstration of the game to him in the garden of his Berkeley Square house,

� Wingfield patented a New and Improved Court for Playing the Ancient Game of Tennis and began marketing his game in the spring of 1874 selling boxed sets that included rubber balls imported from Germany as well as a net, poles, court markers, rackets and an instruction manual. � While Wingfield was experimenting with tennis another sport of similar origins was also advertised in England…

PELOTA � � � The origin of this sport is tied to the decline of the ancient jeu de paume (jeu de paume au gant), ca. 1700. While the game evolved to the modern jeu de paume (with racquet, called real tennis in England) and eventually to tennis, rural alpine and pyreneean communities kept the tradition. In the basque country the "pasaka" and "laxoa", local versions of the paume evolved to the peculiar style of the pilota: instead of playing face to face, with a net in the midfield, the basques began to fling the ball against a wall. in the 1920 s, and led to the world championship in the 1950 s.

� � � According to the basque pilota historian Chipitey Etcheto, the first recorded matches took place in Napoleonic times; it is believed that the game was close to currently rare specialty of "rebot". The mid-19 th century saw the explosion of the "pelota craze". The player "Gantxiki" is considered the original "father" of the chistera, the basketshaped racquet which can propel the ball at incredible speeds, introduced around 1850. The top champions of the end of the 19 th century, such as "Chiquito de Cambo", were immensely popular and the best-paid sportsmen of their time. The first official competitions were organized in the 1920 s, and led to the world championship in the 1950 s.

Tennis went to the United States � � Tennis came to the United States around 1874, via a New Yorker, Mary Ewing Outerbridge, who was introduced to the game by a friend of Major Wingfield’s. She helped establish the first US Open played in Newport RI in 1881 -men only. � Women were allowed in 1887.

What they Used to Wear 1800’s Early 1900’s 1940’ s 1920’s

What They Wear Today Andre Agassi Serena Williams Dominik Hrbaty Venus Williams

Major Tournaments � Wimbledon, Great Britain � 1877 � US Open � 1881 � men; 1884 women men; 1887 women French Championship � 1891 men; 1897 women; French citizens only until 1925 when Tournament evolved into French Open � Australian Open � 1969 � Davis Cup � 1900

Grand Slam � Four major championships are won in one year � Wimbledon, French Open, US Open, Australian Open American Don Budge was first winner 1838 Most recently Stephi Graf won in 1988 Serena Williams won in 2002 & 2003