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

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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:

• Clay court
• Grass court
• Hardcourt

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".

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@plara1031... Oh, I got stuffed in more ways than 1! Tennis-Kidz Sprgs motha Lover!!
b_morin (brenda morin) Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:09:31 -0000
@plara1031... Oh, I got stuffed in more ways than 1! Tennis-Kidz Sprgs motha Lover!!
Kontinen kukisti Niemisen @hsfi http://bit.ly/4YP6uj #tennis
veza (Vesa) Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:09:10 -0000
Kontinen kukisti Niemisen @hsfi http://bit.ly/4YP6uj #tennis
My latest cake endeavor! http://twitpic.com/r6qoy It was for an Olympic fencer and avid tennis player. #cake #birthday #tennis #fencing
acf5059 (Amanda Friedberg) Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:08:42 -0000
My latest cake endeavor! http://twitpic.com/r6qoy It was for an Olympic fencer and avid tennis player. #cake #birthday #tennis #fencing
our black friday sales have started! www.the-tennis-store.com
SolowSports (Solow Sports, LLC) Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:08:24 -0000
our black friday sales have started! www.the-tennis-store.com
Carlos Tevez vụng về đánh tennis : Tiền đạo của Man City trực tiếp đến sân cổ vũ khi người đồng hương Juan Mart.. http://bit.ly/7zoc1P
vietnam_idol (Vietnam Idol) Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:08:11 -0000
Carlos Tevez vụng về đánh tennis : Tiền đạo của Man City trực tiếp đến sân cổ vũ khi người đồng hương Juan Mart.. http://bit.ly/7zoc1P
RT@dey3nviisb: i havent bought any tennis shoes in prolly two years. jus heels, boots, flats
2Fly2Care (Keyonna Benoit) Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:07:38 -0000
RT@dey3nviisb: i havent bought any tennis shoes in prolly two years. jus heels, boots, flats<yup me 2.. I don't do tennis shoes anymore

 

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