Tennis is one of the most beautiful sports, a sport where passion, hard work and skill make the champion. It would be a shame if you couldn’t play tennis. But, before knowing how to play tennis, you must first know something about the history of tennis and also a bit about the rules of tennis.
Tennis has its roots as a sport in the English Victorian era, being a sport that was originally practiced mainly by aristocrats and wealthy people who wanted to enjoy a pleasant evening. The oldest tennis tournament in the world is Wimbledon. Wimbledon has prestige and glamor written into its history. The first edition of Wimbledon was called the Lawn Tennis Championship and was played in 1877, two years after Major Walter Clapton Wingfield implemented the rules of the game of tennis.
The rules of how to play tennis haven’t changed much since 1890, when the Cambridge rules were applied to the game. If you want to know how to play tennis, you first have to know something about the equipment used to play this wonderful sport. Each player uses a racket to hit the ball over a net, towards their opponent’s side of the court. The size of the racket can vary, from small rackets to large rackets.
To really learn how to play tennis, you really should watch the games of the pros. The number one in the ATP today is Rafael Nadal, a player that you surely know if you are a fan of this sport or just a newbie who wants to know how this beautiful sport is played. Nadal is a formidable tennis player famous for his aggressive defense behind the baseline and tenacious coverage of the court. Nadal is named “The King of Clay Court” being questioned by many experts as the best tennis player of all time. In fact, nearly all of his wins over his biggest rival and former number one Roger Federer have come on clay, leading the overall series head-to-head 14-7.
Nadal and Federer are also the only men’s pairing to have finished six consecutive calendar years as the top two on the ATP tour. Comparing Nadal’s playing style with Federer’s is like comparing a forward with a goalkeeper, their playing styles are totally different. While Nadal is a working tennis player, Federer plays more relaxed and precise tennis.
Federer’s best assets are his serve and backhand accuracy, being more of a static player on the tennis court. Now that’s a couple of players who really know how to play tennis, you’ll surely have a lot to learn if you watch the games of these two amazing players.
If you are a girl who wants to know how to play tennis, you can also see great tennis players, such as the Williams sisters and Kim Clijsters. Kim Clijsters is famous for her athletic and fast playing style. She is the first woman to retain the US Open after Serena Williams in 2001, making her also the third woman to win two Grand Slams as a mother.
The most conventional way to improve your tennis is to start practicing several times a week. Engaging in a disciplined routine will be the only way to really learn how to play tennis. You can read as much theory as you want, without practicing you will never learn the tricks and beauty of this amazing sport.
