TENNIS OVER TIME

Introduction
Tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world behind soccer, cricket and hockey. It is widely played around the world and an estimated 1.2 billion people either participate in or watch tennis regularly. The game of tennis has been changed and altered multiple times over the years and has helped advance the sport for both the competitors and audience.

THE TENNIS RACKET

1874
The very first tennis racket was made in London by Major Walter C. Wingfield. It was the first racket ever made to have a frame made of solid wood and strings made out of the outer skin of a sheep’s intestine! The sport of tennis was improved as before it was played using the hands in a game similar to that of handball. Using a racket could now make it easier for players to hit the ball further and faster.

1968
Wilson Sporting Goods introduced the first popular metal racquet, the T2000. Stronger and lighter than wood, it became a top seller, and Jimmy Connors (pictured left) became its most famous user, playing at the top of men's professional tennis for much of the 1970's using the long-throated, small-headed steel frame. This advancement helped athletes because the racket being used was lighter in the hand and wouldn’t need to be replaced as frequently as wood which was easy to break and was prone to weathering.

2002 - 2012
Over the past decade, no player has been more dominant in tennis than Roger Federer. As the face of the brand Wilson, Federer used his signature K Factor racket to win 17 major titles. The K Factor racket is made with 100% Karophite Black, which is a remarkably advanced material that improves the stability and the strength of the racquet. The karophite is much stronger and lighter than the steel or aluminium composite rackets that were previously used.

TENNIS BALLS

The first tennis ball was made of stuffed leather and wool. The ball then progressed in much later years to air filled rubber balls covered in felt or wool. There are multiple kinds of balls you can get now such as pressurised, pressureless, regular duty and extra duty balls. Most professional players prefer to use pressurised balls because they are light, bounce high, can have more control on spin and can be hit hard and fast.

The colour of tennis balls was originally a dull yellow but athletes found it hard to see while playing. This then prompted developers to change the ball’s colour to a fluorescent yellow. Having the ball this colour lets both players and the audience members see the ball much easier.

TENNIS COURTS

In tennis there are a number of different types of courts. Slow hard courts, clay courts, grass courts and fast hard courts are all playing surfaces that are used in tennis and differ depending on what country the sport is being played in. It is extremely difficult for one player to dominate on all four surfaces, meaning a range of results are possible and the games are more interesting to watch for spectators.

Tinkering with court surfaces has drastically transformed the game of tennis. Each of the playing surfaces have different characteristics to one other, making it more difficult for athletes to win on each of the seperate courts and more interesting for the spectators to watch. Hard courts like the ones that are used during the Australian Open provide a surface where the ball travels at a medium speed, the bounce of the ball is high due to the hard surface and the bounce of the ball is very predictable as the surface is very flat. 

Grass courts are normally associated with the prestigious Wimbledon Championships and are the fastest of all the tennis court surfaces due to its slippery surface. Qualities of the grass courts are a lower and more unpredictable bounce; due to the softer and slightly uneven surface of the grass.
As a result of the characteristics of the Grass Courts, the ball moves at a faster pace with a lower bounce therefore favouring players with a good serve and those who play at the net.

Clay Courts are considered the slowest surface in tennis as they slow down the speed and reduce the skid of the ball on the surface of the court as well as causing the ball to bounce high. Due to the these characteristics, the Clay Courts reduce the speed of a hard, fast ball as it slows down it’s speed, making it easier for an opponent to return the shot.

TENNIS APPAREL

Tennis apparel has changed dramatically over the years and has developed from hot and heavy trousers, coats and blouses for pure fashion reasons, to materials that contribute to the success and outcome of an athlete’s game.
In the days of white-only tennis clothes, tennis shirts and shorts were made out of cotton; a material which is notorious for its comfort and breathability but becomes uncomfortable when it is drenched in sweat. Although cotton is great at absorbing sweat, it doesn’t release it, making the tennis clothes feel more like a wet towel.

Nowadays, tennis clothing is made of odor-resistant, man-made materials that are able to get rid of sweat once it is absorbed into the fabric. This both keeps the athlete dry and the clothing lighter to play in. Some modern tennis clothes also provide protection from UV rays.

Socks that are made from cotton not only have the inability to keep athletes dry but can cause irritating chafing and sometimes blisters. Modern athletic socks are too made with synthetic fabric that protect against chafing and have the ability to release sweat. Some even offer extra material in the ball and heel of the foot for necessary cushioning during lateral, stop-and-go movements.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Complex. (2019). The Evolution of the Tennis Racket. [online] Available at: https://www.complex.com/sneakers/2012/08/the-evolution-of-the-tennis-racket [Accessed 8 May 2019].
• ThoughtCo. (2019). An Evolutionary History of Tennis Racquets. [online] Available at: https://www.thoughtco.com/an-evolutionary-history-of-tennis-racquets-320818... [Accessed 10 May 2019]

BIBLIOGRAPHY CONT.

• Mee, C. (2019). The changing surface of tennis. [online] The Roar. Available at: https://www.theroar.com.au/2014/01/17/the-changing-surface-of-tennis/ [Accessed 11 May 2019].
• Tennis Reviewer. (2019). History of Tennis Strings. [online] Available at: https://www.tennisreviewer.com/best-tennis-strings/history-of-tennis-string... [Accessed 11 May 2019].

BIBLIOGRAPHY CONT.

• Technological advancements - tennis. (2012). [DVD] YouTube [Accessed 13 May 2019].
• ActiveSG. (2019). What is the difference between clay, grass and concrete tennis courts?. [online] Available at: https://www.myactivesg.com/Sports/Tennis/How-To-Play/Tennis-Facts/Differenc... [Accessed 13 May 2019].

BIBLIOGRAPHY CONT.

• ThoughtCo. (2019). Modern Tennis Evolved in the 19th Century From Earlier Versions. [online] Available at: https://www.thoughtco.com/who-invented-tennis-1991673 [Accessed 15 May 2019]. Do It Tennis. (2019).
• Do It Tennis. (2019). Tennis Clothes of Today: Made to Fit the Modern Tennis Player - Tennis Blog - DoItTennis. [online] Available at: https://www.doittennis.com/tennis-blog/detail/tennis-clothes-of-today-made-... [Accessed 15 May 2019].