Tennis, badminton, and squash are all descendants of the ‘Jeu de Paume’ – or ‘Real Tennis’.

Real Tennis was invented in France in the thirteenth century (although some historians have found variations of the game described since antiquity). It was first was designed by monks who wanted to get exercise. Using the floor, walls and beams of the cloister, the monks played by hitting a ball with the palm of the hand. Hence the name ‘Le Jeu de Paume’ - game of the Palm.

The name ‘Tennis’ came about from the French word ‘Tenez!’ (Hold). In the Middle Ages the server was in the habit of announcing his serve by shouting “Tenez!” When the English started playing the game, they understood the word as ‘Tenis’, becoming ‘Tennis’

Over the centuries, real tennis experienced various changes. For a long time it is played with hands or gloves. But by the late fifteenth century, gloves were reinforced with some sort of rope, as it became too painful on the hands (the balls were made of leather or containing lime). Wooden bats then appeared, but they were very rudimentary. It was only in the sixteenth century that the first paddle shaped bat, with a long handle and a rope sheep casing was created.

Played outside (Long tennis) or inside (Short Tennis) Tennis became a favourite with students and humanists. It was not until the fourteenth century that real tennis gained recognition from the nobility, professors and the rest of the general French population. In the sixteenth century, it even became known as the "Game of Kings". Francis I, Henri II, Charles IX, Henry IV all played and became specialists. There are countless times it was necessary to consult the ‘Tennis King’ to settle political affairs.

Real tennis spread not only in France but also in the rest of the world. It arrived in England in the sixteenth century, prompting the name change from ‘Jeu de Paume’ to the English equivalent ‘Real Tennis’. Mary Ewing Outerbrige imported it to the United States in 1876 under the name Court tennis. In Australia it was called Royal Tennis or Real Tennis. It was also found in Germany, Italy, Spain ...

Today, there are only nine countries that still have Real tennis courts

To begin with, English took to the game ‘Real Tennis’. However, around 1850 in London's King's Bench and Fleet Debtors prisons, the english game of ‘Rackets’ was invented. This new game had multiple players, who used rackets to hit a small leather bouncy ball against the prison walls, sometimes with a corner to add interest. It then became popular outside of the prisons played in alleyways around London and schools, resulting in proper four-walled courts being constructed.

The real history of tennis starts on 23 February 1874. On that day, Major Walter Clopton Wingfield went to the Trade Hall in London to patent the game of ‘Real Tennis’. It was initially sold under the name “Sphairistikè” (Greek for "ball games") and subsequently changed to the more practical name of ‘Lawn Tennis’ in 1877.

Tennis as we know it was born!

Officially, the invention of tennis is accredited to Major Wingfield. But in 1858, Major Harry Gem, a clerk at Birmingham Court, had established a field similar to Sphairistikè on the lawn of his property in Edgbaston. The practice of the game by Harry Gem remained (unfortunately) a family affair. Within a few years of one another, Majors Wingfield and Harry Gem had the same idea, but it was the first that got the all important patent.

Since Christmas of 1873 Major Walter Clopton Wingfield, now retired from the Indian Army, played on the lawn of his London residence with a ball and racket. His hobby began by taking a mixture of the most interesting parts of the games of ‘Real Tennis’ and ‘Rackets’

The invention of Major Wingfield was sold in a box containing:

• Four light Real Tennis rackets.
• A net with pegs.
• Ribbons to draw the court

You must already have a grass surface on which to install court that should “be in the form of an hourglass”.

In May 1874, Major Wingfield had published the rules of Lawn Tennis. They were confusing, incomplete and left open all possible interpretations. Nevertheless, Lawn Tennis was destined to be a huge success as the English were used to playing Real Tennis. During the summer of 1875, it replaced croquet – still widely famous - on the lawns of British residences.

To facilitate the spreading of Lawn Tennis, on on 24 May 1875 Major Wingfield joined with the MCC (the Marylebone Cricket Club, at the time the authority responsible for all racket sports, including Real Tennis), to define brief and simple rules.

The same year, JH Walsh (Director of The Field, a pastime magazine) and Henry Jones (his chief editor) rented a meadow in the Wimbledon suburb of London. There they founded the “All England Club” and installed Lawn Tennis courts, using the rules defined by the MCC.

In July 1877 (9, 10, 11, 12 and 19 July), the All England Club organized the first Lawn Tennis Championship on their courts.

The Wimbledon tournament was born. The only event was the Gentlemen’s singles. Consisting of a field of 22 players, it was won by former rackets player - Spencer Gore.

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As in tennis, there can be single or double players for the game and the aim is to return the ball over the net using a racket.

The ball is only allowed to bounce once on the ground. However, there is no limit to the number of bounces on the walls or roofs that are part of the court.

The service is always at the "dedans" (B)(see image below) end of the court: For the serve to count, the ball must touch the roof of service wall (C) the “hazard” end at least once, and then the floor within the service court (N).

A player wins a point when the ball hits the "grille" (P), falls into the "last gallery" (D), or if it finishes in the "dedans" (A). If the ball bounces for a second time between the service line and the end wall of the “hazard” end (M) the server wins the point. If a player makes a mistake (e.g. hitting the ball out of play) or returns the ball into the net, the opponent wins the point.

The scoring of points in Real Tennis with "fifteen" (15, 30, 40, advantage, game, round) was adopted by lawn tennis. The first to six games wins the set. However, it is the score of the winner of the point that is called first, and not that of the server.

Initially the scores went ‘15, 30, 45, 60’, but 45 was considered too long to say, so it was shortened to 40, and the 60, became simply ‘game’.

When a player lets the ball bounce twice on the ground, a ‘chase’ has been called. During a ‘chase’ the score does not change. This feature lets the player in the “hazard” end recuperate the service. The players then change ends and replay the exchange to win the point.