History of tennis

History of tennis

Tennis was originated in France sometime in the 12th century and was called as "jes de paume," the game of the palm, played with the bare hand. About the 12th century, a glove was used to protect the hand. Starting in the 16th century and continuing until the middle of the 18th century, rackets were used. Balls were made of leather stuffed with wool or hair. They were hard and they could cause hurt and even death. In the 1870, India rubber, made from a vulcanisation process invented by Charles Goodyear in the 1850, was used to made not so hard balls. The oldest real tennis court is located at Hampton Court Palace, built by King Henry VIII around 1530. During the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries it became the highly fashionable sport of kings and noblemen. In 1887 was the first Wimbledon played. Until now is Wimbledon the most important championship on the world.