What is tennis?

Tennis is a ball sport for two players (singles) or pairs (doubles), in which a ball with an average diameter of 67 mm (usually yellow with a white line) must be played over a net with a racket.

In tennis, the ball must be hit over the net into the opponent's court. The aim is to make it impossible for the opponent(s) to return the ball in the same way. The sport is practiced both recreationally and competitively. Tennis players are generally members of tennis clubs. The Dutch umbrella organization for tennis is the KNLTB (Royal Dutch Lawn Tennis Association).

History

The precursor of the modern-day tennis game is Jeu de Paume. This French, noble handball game has many variants that are played all over the world. One of those variants, tennis, has now grown into a widely played sport. However, archaeological finds and written tradition show that the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans were also up for a game of this kind of ball and handball games.

Not only the nobility, but also the common people liked to play handball in the 15th century. However, the popular game, which was mainly played on the street, caused a lot of nuisance. The result: a ban on handball. The rich therefore had special handball courts built. For example, the oldest Dutch handball court was located from 1500 to 1650 behind the Ridderzaal in the Binnenhof, built for the Prince of Orange.

In the 16th century, handball was the most popular sport in Europe. Each country had its own variant; the French played Jeu de Paume, the Basques played pelota, the Italians played giocco della racquetta and in England people played tennis.

The term “tennis” is probably derived from the French word “tenez”, which means “hold it” or “take it”. Players had to warn each other when they hit the ball. The tennis balls of that time were so heavy that it was dangerous if a player hit one in the head.

At first the game was played by hand, like Frisian handball. However, the players were looking for ways to hit the ball harder. Experiments were made with gloves and something resembling a bat, but this was not successful.

The racket ultimately provided a solution. The Dutch were known as excellent racket makers because they were very skilled in bending wood. They also came up with the idea of using sheep intestines as tension. These so-called “ketsguts” gave rise to the myth that rackets are strung with catguts.

The term “racket” probably also comes from Dutch. The object was used to bounce the ball back, or "re-ricochet".

With the invention of rubber balls in 1873, tennis took on the form it is still played today. English Major Walter Clopton Wingfield invented and patented a variant that could be played on a grass field. He called the game “Sfairistiké”, bad Greek for “engaging in a ball game”. This new form of tennis proved very popular with the English croquet and cricket clubs. However, the name Sfairistiké never stuck.

What do you need for tennis?

You don't need much to play tennis. Below you will find all the tennis materials you need to hit a ball.

Clothing

In principle, you don't need special tennis clothing to hit the court. What is especially important when choosing the right tennis outfit is that it is comfortable and you have sufficient freedom of movement. It is nice if the fabric consists largely of polyester, this material plays well due to its light weight and it has a breathable and quick-drying character. Tennis clothing does take a number of aspects into account, where other sports clothing does not.

Shoes

It is best to play tennis in shoes that are specially designed for tennis. An additional advantage is that these shoes are made in such a way that they do not damage the court. Tennis shoes should have sufficient lateral stability to prevent your feet from tipping inwards or outwards too much. A tennis shoe should fit immediately and be comfortable, not only when you sit but also when you stand. When trying on the shoe, wear the socks you would wear during play.

Tennis racket

You can't play tennis without a tennis racket, so you definitely need one. Rackets come in many shapes and sizes. There are tennis rackets for children, men, women, good players, beginners, players who hit with a lot of spin, and so on.

Just like with tennis shoes, it is very important to get good advice about which racket suits you best. With a good racket in hand, getting to know the sport is all the more fun! In the video below, Alex Reijnders, technical manager of the KNLTB, explains what you should pay attention to when choosing a racket. You can regularly borrow a racket temporarily from a tennis club or sports shop to test a racket.

Tennis balls

Tennis balls come in many different brands and types. The KNLTB advises not to make the choice of a tennis ball too complicated, especially when getting acquainted with tennis. A tennis ball that is often used is the Dunlop Fort Max TP. All training of the national selection and home matches of the Davis Cup team and Fed Cup team are played with the Dunlop Fort Max TP. Dunlop balls are also used during all tournaments organized by the KNLTB.

What are the rules of tennis?

The rules of tennis are determined by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). They apply to both men and women and are laid down in the Netherlands in a special document called: Tennis Rules.

In tennis, the ball must be hit over the net into the opponent's court. The aim is to make it impossible for the opponent(s) to return the ball in the same way.

Game, set & match: the scoring in tennis

Points in tennis are based on game, set and match. But how exactly does this strange scoring system work and when have you won a match? In the video below we explain how it works.