The History and Evolution of Tennis: From Lawn Tennis to Modern Courts

Tennis has a fascinating history and evolution that span several centuries and have undergone a lot of change. From its beginnings as a lawn-based game to the contemporary courts we see today, the sport has developed.

Tennis is thought to have developed from ancient ball games practiced by many cultures, including the Greeks and Romans, though its exact origins are still up for debate.

Real tennis” started to take off in France and England in the 16th century. This variation of the game, often known as “royal tennis” or “court tennis,” was played indoors on asymmetrically formed courts.

The late 19th century saw the emergence of “lawn tennis,” the contemporary form of tennis. Rapid growth in popularity led to the establishment of numerous tennis clubs and competitions throughout England and Europe. With the US National Championships (now the US Open), the country’s first tennis competition, held in 1881, the sport gained .


Tennis was formerly played with a net that was much higher than it is now. The height of the net was eventually standardized. In addition, wooden rackets were employed in the early stages of tennis before giving way to contemporary rackets.

While clay courts and hard courts were introduced, players now had a variety of playing surfaces to choose from, even if playing tennis on green courts remained popular. While clay courts slow down the ball and favor defensive players, hard courts offer a speedier game.

Tennis’ Open Era, which started in 1968, allowed both amateur and professional players to participate in major competitions.
Technology developments helped tennis evolve as the sport gained popularity. The game has been improved by high-speed cameras, Hawk-Eye technology for line calls, better court surfaces, and better equipment.

Tennis is now played on a range of court surfaces, including indoor carpet, grass, clay, and hard courts. The size of the courts is uniform, and the game’s regulations have changed to keep up with the evolution.