Tennis is a great sport to be physically active, enhance agility, and learn teamwork. If your kid is an ardent tennis fan, it’s a great idea to share with them facts about tennis for kids. It is a form of exercise that will make them ready to embark on a skill-building journey for this sport. Tennis is a popular sport with a significant fan following. Whether singles or doubles, it’s a treat to watch players smash the ball to the opponent’s court. But before you decide, you need to know some basics about the sport and how it is played. Wondering what makes tennis so exciting and great for kids in their growing phase? Here is a look at some interesting tennis facts that will leave your kid awe-struck.
Key Pointers
- Tennis originated in France during the 10th century, it was played by the monks in monastery courtyards.
- The court surfaces for each Grand Slam tournament vary, including synthetic, clay, and grass surfaces.
- Men wear shorts and a polo shirt for major tennis competitions while women wear a skirt and a polo shirt.
- Tennis shots include forehand, backhand, lob, and drop shot, and the player needs to score four points to win a game.
- The four most significant tennis tournaments are Wimbledon, the US Open, the French Open, and the Australian Open.
Fun Tennis Facts For kids
1. History:
Though several versions of tennis are believed to have been played thousands of years ago by the Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians, the modern game can be traced back to 10th-century France when monks used to play in the courtyard of their monasteries. It is said that the word ‘tennis’ was coined by the monks, who used to shout ‘tenez’ while hitting the ball. Teniz, in French, means ‘take it’.
According to the History channel, there were around 1,800 indoor courts across Europe by the 13th century, and attempts by several heads of state and church to ban the game proved futile.
The game, eventually, developed as Lawn Tennis to resemble the modern sport. The Olympic sport has more than 75 million players worldwide.
Did you know?2. Tennis Court:
Image: IStock
The tennis courts were originally hourglass-shaped. The rectangular courts came into being in 1875 for the Wimbledon tournament. A standard tennis court measures 27 feet wide and 78 feet long. For double matches, the width of the courts is 36 feet. The net is 3 feet 6 inches high, and it divides the court in half.
3. Tennis Court Surface:
Initially, tennis players would play on carefully groomed lawns. It was a wealthy man’s sport, played on estates or private clubs. Today, major Grand Slam tennis tournaments feature different court surfaces. The U.S. Open and the Australian Open feature courts made of synthetic surfaces. The French Open has clay courts.
4. Clothing:
Image: IStock
Major world tennis tournaments are a means for the players to showcase their style. Their clothing is widely observed by fashionistas worldwide, and the fashion trends for a long time.
In most of the tournaments, men wear a pair of tennis shorts, a polo shirt, and a headband. Women usually wear a polo shirt and a skirt, but a shorter one than they used to wear previously.
The oldest tournament, Wimbledon, requires players to wear white dress on grass courts.
Trivia5. Rules:
The different shots used in tennis are forehand, backhand, lob, drop shot and backhand. Most of the players hold the racket with just one hand to hit a forehand stroke, but you can use two hands for a backhand stroke. You have to hit the ball, ideally, from the middle of the racket head. It cannot be hit with your palm, wrist, or hand. You win points every time you are the last team or player to hit the ball into the opponent’s court. The player must score 4 points to win the competition.
6. Balls:
Image: IStock
The original tennis ball was made of leather and stuffed with wool or hair. Today, tennis balls are usually of bright colors, such as green or neon yellow, so they are clearly visible. The balls have a felt-like finish. Until 1986, Wimbledon was using white color balls, but it changed the rules after the advent of television. Around 42,000 balls are used in a single Wimbledon tournament!
7. Racquet:
Before racquets, players would use their palms to hit the ball back and forth. With the introduction of racquets, the palm method or technique became obsolete. The first tennis racquets were wooden, yet provided no power. For hundreds of years, tennis racquet strings were made using animal guts.
8. Tournaments:
Image: IStock
The four most important tennis events are the Wimbledon, the US Open, the French Open, and the Australian Open.
Quick fact9. Wimbledon:
Wimbledon is the oldest and most prestigious tournament of tennis. It hosted some of the longest and most intense matches in history. Tompkinsville, Staten Island first hosted the Wimbledon Championship in 1880. Spencer Gore was the first player to win the Wimbledon title. The longest Wimbledon tennis match went on for three days, that is 11 hours and five minutes, to be precise.
10. Olympics:
The Olympics introduced tennis in 1896 but removed it in 1924. It was re-added as a real event in 1988. It has been a part of the Paralympic Games since 1992.
11. Tennis Stars:
The tennis scene has emerged rapidly in the last century. The game has produced some excellent tennis stars, which include (1):
- Roger Federer:
Image: Shutterstock
Top seeded Roger Federer is one of the all-time greatest players of tennis, with 17 Grand Slam singles titles in his kitty. The Swiss player has continuously ranked among the top ten since 2002. Did you know that Swiss tennis authorities rewarded this great player with a cow when he won his first grand slam?
- Althea Gibson:
Althea Gibson was the first African-American to play in the U.S. Open Championship in 1950.
- Tim Henman:
Tim Henman is a former British tennis player. He won 15 ATP titles and an Olympic gold medal in the men’s double event in Atlanta in 1996.
- Fred Perry:
Fred Perry was the first tennis player to achieve a career grand slam. He is also the only player to have won major tournaments in table tennis and tennis.
- Steffi Graf:
Steffi Graf is the only female tennis player to have won the Golden Slam. She won all four grand slams, including an Olympic gold medal for tennis. She also holds the record for being number one for the longest time.
- Serena and Venus Williams:
Venus and Serena Williams were the first sisters to have won Olympic gold medals in tennis.
- Margaret Smith:
Margaret Smith holds the record for winning the most Grand Slam singles titles. She has won 24 Grand Slam titles.
- Mita Klima:
Mita Klima is the youngest player to compete in the tennis tournament at the age of 13. The record stood for 106 years.
Other famous tennis players include Pete Sampras, Jimmy Connors, Arthur Ashe, Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Jean King, and Billie.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a good age for kids to start tennis?
Most sports coaches suggest that children may start playing tennis after crossing at least five years. Some children begin to receive training in tennis earlier (at about four years), depending on their body strength and coordination skills. According to Bobbie, a university student and tennis enthusiast, “At that age of 4, I was introduced to the game and when I look back at my life now, I find it bizarre how at that age I found my first love. My father now, was the one who brought this exciting new sport to my life… My love for tennis sparked and my desire to learn more about it all started when my dad and I began bonding over the game by spending every summer after my parents met, with him at his summer tennis camp and weekends at his house (i).”
2. How much tennis should a seven-year-old play?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children above six engage in one-hour physical activity daily (3). Therefore, you may enroll your child in training or coaching sessions lasting from 45 minutes to one hour per day.
3. How long do tennis balls last?
The durability of a tennis ball depends on various factors, including its quality, the frequency of use, the type of court, and the weather conditions of play. A tennis ball used three to four times a week may last anywhere from one to two weeks, whereas a tennis ball seldom used for play may last up to several months.
4. What are some benefits of playing tennis for kids?
Tennis offers numerous benefits for kids, from physical health to social and cognitive development. It strengthens bones through quick stops and turns, reducing the risk of osteoporosis, and enhances coordination, agility, and balance. Tennis also improves heart health, promotes fitness, and reduces the risk of obesity and heart disease. The sport teaches sportsmanship, builds friendships, and boosts self-esteem through accomplishments on the court. Additionally, it enhances strategic thinking and problem-solving skills while improving mental health through endorphins.
Tennis is a fun sport for kids that can help your children develop their fitness, coordination, and spatial awareness (2). So, to trigger the development of the enthusiasm of your little one, sharing facts about tennis with them is always a good idea. The sport can also be played for experiencing enjoyment after a hectic school day. As stated above, you may tell your kids everything there is to know about tennis, including its history, court, clothing, balls, racquet, rules and regulations, and many tennis tournaments. The game can be a form of socialization or recreation, if not competitive. You can also educate kids about tennis legends such as Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Serena Williams, among others. Knowing these facts will surely pique your child’s interest in this activity, which is great for maintaining health and wellness.
Infographic: Benefits Of Tennis For Children
Tennis requires great physical strength, coordination, and cognitive thinking. It eventually promotes a child’s healthy growth. Besides, it can be an enjoyable experience. So, if your child’s interest is piqued enough, explore ways to make the sport exciting and learn why they should learn tennis at a young age.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Illustration: Very Interesting Fun Facts About Tennis For Kids
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
Tennis is a game of athleticism and finesse with a global fan base. Introduce your child to understand the basic rules of tennis from the video.
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. In Tennis love means zero but to me it means everything.https://bobbie30.wordpress.com/2016/02/06/in-tennis-love-means-zero-but-to-me-it-means-everything/
References
- 10+ Best Tennis Players of All Time.
https://tenniscompanion.org/best-tennis-players-of-all-time/ - Luka Šlosar et al.; (2021); Additional Exergames to Regular Tennis Training Improves Cognitive-Motor Functions of Children but May Temporarily Affect Tennis Technique: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.611382/full - Physical Activity for Children: An Overview.
https://www.cdc.gov/physical-activity-basics/guidelines/children.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/children/index.htm
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