Origins of lawn tennis 1877 Wimbledon Championship

a sphairistikè lawn tennis court designed major wingfield in 1874. hourglass shape retained in 1875 mcc rules replaced rectangular court in aeltc rules governed first wimbledon championship.

the origin of tennis lies in monastic cloisters in 12th-century france, ball struck palm of hand in game called jeu de paume. rackets introduced game in 16th century. original version of tennis, called real tennis , played indoors , popular among royalty , gentry, while crude outdoor version called longue paume played populace. prominence of game declined in 17th , 18th centuries, although there sporadic mentions of long tennis or field tennis version in second half of 18th century.

between 1858 , 1873 several people in victorian england experimented lawn version of tennis. major harry gem , augurio perera demonstrated game of pelota (spanish ball) , in 1872 created world s first lawn tennis club @ leamington spa. in february 1874 major clopton wingfield introduced version of lawn tennis, called sphairistikè; on patent application, described new , improved court playing ancient game of tennis , , rules published in eight-page booklet. wingfield credited popularising new game through energetic promotional efforts. sphairistikè court hourglass-shaped, wider @ baseline @ net. service made single side in lozenge shaped box situated in middle of court , had bounce beyond service line. in november 1874 wingfield published second, expanded edition of book of game, had 12 rules , featured larger court , lower net.

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