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game of tennis is the same everywhere. The name given to the game differs in
different countries. In Great Britain it is called Tennis or, to distinguish
it from Lawn Tennis, Real Tennis or Royal Tennis. In the USA it is called
Court Tennis: in France Jeu de Paume (hand ball): and in Australia Royal
Tennis. The various names throw light on the development of the game.
Tennis wasy played in 5th century Tuscany when villagers used to strike balls up and
down the streets with bare hands.
In Great Britain, as in France, royal patronage ensured the continued
popularity of the game. French Kings in the 16th century and Stuart Kings in
the 17th century were enthusiastic players. George IV (1763-1830), Prince
Albert (1819-1861) - there is a locker in the changing room at Hampton Court
Palace which still bears his name - Edward VII (1842-1910) and George V
(1866-1936) have all supported the game.
Lawn Tennis, which derived from Real Tennis in about 1874, is played on a
marked-out surface without side or end walls. Court Tennis, to use the
American name for Tennis, indicates that Tennis is played in a specially court
with walls on four sides.
No two tennis courts are exactly alike. That at Hampton Court is marginally
wider than others. Other differences occur in the width or angle of the
penthouse roof above the corridor and in the width of the tambour.
The number of courts has risen in the last thirty years. There are now 27 in Britain,
10 in the USA, 3 in France and 6 in Australia.
There are not more
than a few thousand players in the world; but they make up in keeness for any
lack of numbers. There are amateur, professional open and world competitions.
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