Tennis is one of the most watched sports across the globe. Tennis tournaments occur throughout the year around the world, making the sport one of the few that can be enjoyed nearly year-round.
The origins of tennis can be traced to twelfth century France, where the sport was known as a handball game called “jeu de paume.” Early players struck a ball with the palms of their hands. In the sixteenth century, racquets were introduced and the game evolved into what is known today as tennis. When the sport later gained popularity in England, codification of rules and the establishment of tennis clubs elevated the sport even further.
From its humble beginnings in twelfth century France to the intense tournaments of today, tennis has produced many notable moments.
· 1877: The first Wimbledon Championship takes place, establishing what is now the oldest tennis tournament in the world.
· 1881: Then known as the U.S. National Championship, the first U.S. Open is held at the Newport Casino in Rhode Island.
· 1968: This year marked the dawn of the Open Era of tennis. Professional players compete in major tournaments alongside amateurs, helping to foster growth of tennis as a professional sport.
· 1973: Billie Jean King helps to promote gender equality in sports when she plays against Bobby Riggs. King wins the match, which became known as “The Battle of the Sexes.”
· 1980: Calm and stoic Björn Borg wins Wimbledon after playing the final against fiery and unpredictable John McEnroe in a heated battle among rivals. This remains one of the most famous matches in tennis history.
· 1982: Swede Mats Wilander comes of age at Roland-Garros, playing with poise and knocking out four of the top five seeds to capture the crown in his tournament debut.
· 1988: Steffi Graf achieves the Golden Slam by winning all four Grand Slam titles and the Olympic gold medal in the same calendar year.
· 2001: Gustavo “Guga” Kuerten, a Brazilian star and two-time French Open champion, shows his love for tennis when he draws a heart in the clay with his racquet after coming back from two sets down at the Roland-Garros.
· 2008: Another famous rivalry is showcased when Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal play it out in the Wimbledon final. Nadal overcomes Federer in a five-set battle.
· 2011: Serbian Novak Djokovic becomes the World No. 1 for the first time, cementing his place among the tennis greats, including his toughest competitors Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Djokovic, Federer and Nadal collectively become known as the “Big Three.”
· 2017: Serena Williams wins her twenty-third Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, breaking the Open Era record for the most titles won by a woman, and solidifying her status as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
· 2021: Leylah Fernandez of Canada plays Emma Raducanu of Great Britain at the 2021 U.S. Open, marking the first pairing of teenagers in a major final since 1999 as well as the first in a major final between unseeded players male or female. Raducanu comes out on top and earns her first major title.
Tennis has a long history of notable events that have helped shape the sport through the years.
