Did you know that there is an official World Tennis Day? This year it falls on March 8, so if tennis is something you love, or something that you’d love to learn more about, now’s the time to start prepping! Read below to learn some fun facts about this long-established sport.
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Tennis was invented by Major Walter C. Wingfield. In 1873, Major Wingfield came up with a set of rules for a game known then as “Sphairistiké” (try saying that five times fast!), as a means of entertainment for a garden party. These rules go on to form the basis for our modern-day sport of tennis.
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Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world. The first Wimbledon tournament was in 1877 - over 130 years ago! It’s still widely regarded as one of the world’s most highly-respected sporting events.
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Wimbledon is famous for its strict dress code. Wimbledon’s dress code is super specific: down to the shade of white the competitors must wear! No off-white or cream on these courts. This tournament is also the only major tennis tournament still played on grass. Talk about kickin’ it old school!
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Tennis is popular around the world. Countries all around the world enjoy this competitive sport. In the US alone, it’s estimated that between 11 and 12 million Americans played tennis last year.
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Tennis matches usually take about 2 or 3 hours. But a surprisingly small percentage of that time is spent with the ball actually in play!
Now that you’ve got some fun tennis facts under your belt, it’s time to pick up a racquet and try a few swings. And don’t forget to pick up some fun tennis-themed gear from Graphics and More to celebrate your new favorite pasttime!
Posted by: Alicia Milligan
