In the world of modern commercial sports, there are a few games that tower over the rest, and among this elite group, tennis is a sport that has garnered a lot of popularity in recent decades. With a massive, and ever-burgeoning fan following, millions of fans around the world follow the sport on a daily basis. As technology has advanced, the consumption manner of tennis has seen tectonic shifts as well, with newspaper reports being replaced by live tennis match score updates. Here, we will be tracing a brief history of the game, and how it came to be the behemoth that we know of today.
The tennis chronicles
As you may already be aware, tennis is a racket sport that involves outgunning one’s opposition with a hollow rubber and felt ball, aiming to make it impossible for the opponent to execute a valid return. In its official formats, tennis can either be played as a team sport involving a pair of opposing players, or as individuals taking up opposite courts.
The sport is governed at the international level by the International Tennis Federation, or the ITF, and has continued to be one of the oldest Olympic sports ever. The modern iteration of the game as we know and love, can trace its roots all the way back to 19th century Birmingham, and spread out immensely as Europe’s colonial ambitions flourished.
Unlike other Olympic sports, tennis has been highly commercialized over the ages, with the four major tournaments being the grand slams, namely,
- The Australian open- Held annually at Melbourne-park, this is the first event on the tennis calendar. For two straight weeks, the shining stars of the tennis world descend upon Melbourne to compete and climb the zenith of being the champion. The tournament is widely enjoyed by numerous fans all over, be it in the stadiums, or by checking live tennis match scores live on their smartphones. Now, let us move on to the next grand slam on the calendar.
- The French Open- Also known as the coveted Roland-Garros, the grand slam is characterized by high-octane gameplays on a clay court. Interestingly, the French Open is the only tournament in the calendar that’s played on a clay court. The inaugural season of the tournament was organized all the way back in 1891, making this one of the oldest sporting tournaments anywhere in the world. Following in on the grand slam tradition as well, the sport is eagerly followed by millions across the world.
- Wimbledon- Arguably the most famous tennis tournament ever to be played, Wimbledon is organized annually at the All-England Club, Wimbledon, UK. The tournament brings its own set of unique characteristics to the table, with Wimbledon being the only commercial tennis tournament to be played on a grass court, with matches taking place exclusively during the day. The tournament also enforces adherence to a strict all-white dress code, and advertising is kept to a bare minimum. By virtue of being the oldest, and the most established tennis league in the world, Wimbledon enjoys the largest dedicated fan following. The followers of the league tune in via TVs or fan parks, or check live tennis match scores on their smartphones to stay updated at each moment.
- The US Open- Flagged off in 1881, the US Open is the ultimate tennis extravaganza of the calendar year. Featuring a hard court, which is unique in itself, this grand slam takes place in the historic city of New York, USA. Over these years, the tournament has birthed titans, dethroned rulers, and ensured that there wasn’t a single boring moment for the millions of global fans who follow the league vehemently. Each year, as this tournament draws to a close, anticipation for the next season’s Australian Open peaks.
- The Olympics- Taking place once every four years, the poster-boy of international sports and cooperation has been a hotbed of tennis stars from all over the world. Tennis at the Olympics enjoys one of the highest viewership figures, although that’s once in four years. Tennis is one of the oldest Olympic sports and has been responsible for crowning many great emperors of the sport. Winning Olympic gold is considered one of a sports person’s greatest achievements.
Final take:
Tennis, or lawn tennis to be more specific is a much-coveted sport that has won over the hearts of millions over the years, and its popularity shows no signs of slowing down. With each passing year, viewership figures and revenues are skyrocketing at an absolute breakneck speed. Like tennis, other sports like cricket, football, basketball, motorsports, etc. are gaining immense popularity as well. Fans from all over can check on football all live score with a few clicks or taps and the same applies to the other highly commercialized sports as well
