How To Improve YourTennis Skills

How to Improve on Your Tennis Skills Consistency by Practicing Alone

Improving the consistency of your tennis strokes requires mental consistency and many hours of practicing the same stroke mechanics. Sometimes it is better to practice on your own without a hitting partner because it is harder to be consistent when you are trying to keep the ball in play. Practice alone with several training aids to help stay focused while grooving your strokes.

Practice with a Ball Machine

Step 1

Find a tennis club or tennis center in your area that rents out ball machines. Rent the machine and a court for an hour. Ask for instructions on how to use the machine.

Step 2

Set the machine to shoot the balls out with a slow to medium pace and with a comfortable bounce. Adjust it so that there is no spin on the ball and it shoots straight ahead.

Step 3

Place target cones on the court to help you stay focused. Work on hitting one type of tennis stroke over and over. This helps you groove this one stroke.

Step 4

Repeat this practice session weekly. As your consistency improves, set the machine to shoot out more penetrating balls with spin.

Hit Against a Backboard

Step 1

Stand 15 feet from a backboard and hit forehand ground strokes for 15 minutes. Concentrating on one stroke improves your muscle memory. Your body is learning which muscles to use when you hit this shot in the future which is important for consistency. Take a break and then continue the workout with backhands for 15 minutes.

Step 2

Take a break to stretch out your forearms. Move 25 feet away from the backboard and repeat the ground stroke workout.

Step 3

Move to within 5 feet of the backboard to work on your volleys. Start with your forehand volley. Set a reachable goal of 10 consecutive volleys. If you reach your goal, increase the number. After 10 minutes, work on your backhand volley. Repeat the backboard workout weekly.

Serve Practice

Step 1

Buy a ball hopper, large enough to hold 35 to 40 balls, and enough balls to fill it. Rent an hour of court time once per week at your tennis club or center to work on your serve.

Step 2

Take your usual service stance at the baseline. Without hitting the ball, practice tossing it in the same location over and over. A consistent serve starts with a consistent toss.

Step 3

Move on to hitting serves once your toss is consistent. Set up cones in the service box to give yourself a target. Serve the same serve, toward the same cone 15 to 20 times before changing the type of serve or direction.

Practice with a Tennis Trainer

Step 1

Purchase a tennis trainer. Several designs are on the market, but basically these training aids have a weighed base, a rubber cord attached to them and a practice tennis ball at the end of the cord. The trainer improves hand-eye coordination and stamina in addition to stroke consistency.

Step 2

Rent a court and set the trainer halfway between the net and the service line. When you hit the ball over the net, the cord stretches out and returns the ball to you. Hit 50 forehand ground strokes.

Step 3

Take a break and continue the workout with 50 backhand ground strokes. As you get better, increase the number. Repeat this workout weekly.

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Rules Of Tennis

 

Tennis Rules Simplified

The rules of tennis are quite simple. The game itself is complex. "
Rule 1. Opponents stand on opposite sides of the court. The player who delivers the ball to start the point is called the server. The player who stands opposite and cross-court from the server is the receiver.
Rule 2. The right to serve, receive, choose your side, or give the opponent these choices is decided by a toss of a coin or racquet. If the choice of service or receiver is chosen, the opponent chooses which side to start.
Rule 3. The server shall stand behind the baseline on the deuce court within the boundaries of the singles court when playing singles and within the doubles sideline when playing doubles. See court dimensions. All even points are played from the deuce court and odd number points played from the advantage court. The server shall not serve until the receiver is ready. Serves are made from the deuce court to the opponents service box on the deuce court. Advantage court to advantage box. If the server misses his target twice, he loses the point. If the ball hits the net and goes in the correct service box, another serve is granted. If the server steps on the baseline before contact is made, the serve is deemed a fault.
Rule 4. The receiver is deemed ready if an attempt is made to return the server's ball. The receiver can stand where he likes but must let the ball bounce in the service box. If the ball does not land in the service box, it is deemed a fault and a second serve is given. If the ball is hit by either opponent before the ball bounces, the server wins the point.
Rule 5. The server always calls his score first. If the server wins the first point, he gets a score of 15. Scoring is done like a clock. See example below. Love means zero in tennis. The second point is called 30. The third point is called 45 (now-a-days known as 40) and game is won when the score goes back to love. If the score is 40-40, also known as deuce, one side must win by two points. Advantage-In means if the server wins the next point, he wins the game. Advantage-Out means the receiver has a chance to win the game on the next point.

LOVE 15-30-40
Rule 5. After the game, the opponents serve. Games equal 1. The first to win 6 games, by two, wins the set. The first to win 2 sets wins the match. If the score is 6-6, a tie-breaker is played. This is scored by one's. The first team to score 7 points winning by two wins the set. The tiebreaker continues until one side wins by two. Hence, Game-Set-Match.
Rule 6. If the ball goes into the net, or outside the boundaries of the court, the player who hit that ball loses the point. If the ball hits the net during the point and goes into the opponents court, the ball is in play. A player loses the point if he touches the net, drops his racquet while hitting the ball, bounces the ball over the net, hits a part of the surroundings such as the roof, or a tree, the ball touches him or his partner, he deliberately tries to distract the opponent.
Rule 7. A let is called during the point if a ball rolls on the court or there is a distraction from someone besides the players on the court.
Rule 8. A ball that lands on the line is good.
Rule 9. If players serve out of turn or serve to the wrong person or court, the point or game will stand and order will be resumed following the point or game.

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Australian Open Tennis History

 

The Origin of Australian Open Tennis History

Six Australian state tennis affiliations and the govering body of the game in New Zealand agreed to form the Lawn Tennis Association of Australasia in the year of 1904. In 1905 was created a tournament named The Australasian Mens Championships. The tournament was held at the Albert Reserve in Melbourne, on the lawns of the Wareousemans Cricket Club. This tournament is the first of the Grand Slams tennis Tournaments held each year (other Grand Slams are Wimbledon, US Open and French Open) at Melbourne Park - creating australian open tennis history.. Since 1905 the tournament has been held on grass. Since 1988 the tournament is held on hard court surface at Mebourne Park. In this tournament are men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, mixed doubles , girls and boys tournament and master's competitions. The Australian Open is usually a big event in the betting industry, with big companies such as TAB usually offering fancy bet promotions.

Australian Open Tennis History Through the Years

1904 ▪ LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALASIA FOUNDED ▪ Six Australian state tennis associations and the governing body in New Zealand formed the Lawn Tennis Association of Australasia - creating of Australian Open Tennis History.
1905 ▪ FIRST AUSTRALASIAN MENS CHAMPIONSHIP ▪ The tournament was staged at the Albert Reserve in Melbourne, on the lawns of the Warehouseman’s Cricket Club. The very first champion was Rodney Heath of Australia defeating Arthur Curtis in finals with 4–6 6–3 6–4 6–4 in front of 5,000 spectators.
1906 ▪ FIRST AUSTRALASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS AT NEW ZAELAND ▪ The event was to be held in Christchurch, New Zealand – the first of two occasions that New Zealand would host the event. The other occurred six years later, when the city of Hastings staged the tournament in 1912.
1912 ▪ AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS HISTORY ILTF FOUNDED ▪ The International lawn Tennis Federation was born with an aim of operating the 4 major tennis championships (Wimbledon Championships, US Championships , French and Australasian).
1922 ▪ AUSTRALASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS OPENED FOR WOMEN ▪ For the first time open to women, the very first womens champion was Margaret Molesworth defeating in finals Esna Boyd Robertson with6-3 10-8.
1927 ▪ AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS ▪ The Australasian Championships were predominantly held in Australia, they became the Australian Championships and would only be hosted in Australia - a new era of australian open tennis history.
1935 ▪ JACK CRAWFORD ▪ Jack Crawford of Australia won his 4th title on Australian Championships.
1951 ▪ NANCYE WYNNE BOLTON ▪ Won her 6th title of Australian Championship - she is 2nd on the eternal list in the Australian Open Tennis History female champions.
1967 ▪ ROY EMERSON ▪ Roy Emerson won his 6th title of Australian Mens Singles Championships. He won the most titles ever on Australian Championships Mens Singles.
                                   1969 ▪ AUSTRALIAN OPEN ▪ In year of 1969, the Australian Open – became the official title. The name ‘Open’ was adopted as it was the first time both professionals and amateurs could compete at the tournament.
1971 ▪ AUSTRALIAN OPEN PLAYED LAST TIME OUTSIDE MELBOURNE ▪ White City, Sydney, played host to the event that saw two Australian tennis legends Ken Rosewall and Margaret Court claim the respective singles’ titles (in australian open tennis history).
1972 ▪ KEN ROSEWALL ▪ Ken Rosewall of Australia won his 4th title on Australian Open Championships.
1973 ▪ AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS HISTORY OF MARGARET SMITH COURT ▪ Margaret Smith Court of Australia won her 11th title of Australian Open Womens Singles Championship, more than any other player, men or woman.
                                    1982 ▪ THE KOOYONG LAWN TENNIS CLUB ▪ The Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club became the adopted home of the Australian Open in 1982.
1987 ▪ GRASS SURFACE FOR THE LAST TIME ON AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS HISTORY ▪ Saw the last staging of the Open on grass. In an epic five set Stefan Edberg def. Pat Cash in the men’s final in front of a capacity crowd at Kooyong. Hana Mandilkova was the women’s champion.
1988 ▪ MELBOURNE PARK;REBOUND ACE SURFACE ▪ Tennis Australia and the Open established a new home at Flinders Park (now Melbourne Park). The tournament was played on Rebound Ace for the first time in Australian open tennis history.
2000 ▪ ROD LAVER ARENA ▪ The centre court was christened to Rod Laver Arena - definitely "new era" of Australian Open Tennis History.
2003 ▪ ANDRE AGASSI ▪ Andre Agassi of United States won his 4th title in Australian Open Tennis History.

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French Open Tennis History

 

French Open Tennis History - Brief Description

In the 1891 was held the very first French Championship, the very first winner was H.Briggs ( a tennis player competing for British Isles but resident of Paris,France) defeating P. Baigneres in finals with 6-3 6-2. At start it was a closed competition for mens only, and for French residents only. The very first ladies Tournament was introduced at 1897 and Adine Masson was better in finals over P. Girod with 6-3 6-1. After the First World War, French tennis was on the crest of a wave, with Suzanne Lenglen winning six times between 1920 and 1926. French Championships become international in 1925 and in year 1928 the tournament placed to it's present home. The first true French Open tennis tournament was played at the Stade de Roland-Garros in 1925. The tournament still was not open as all the participants were restricted on amateurs only at that time.

                                                              

The men’s French Open winner was Rene Lacoste who beat Jean Borota with 7-5, 6-1, 6-4. Rene Lacoste was nicknamed the "Crocodile", and we see his logo today on Lacoste shirts.In these years French Open tennis was on the rise, and Lacoste along with three other French players( Jacques Brugnon, Jean Borotra and Henri Cochet) who became known as the "Four Musketeers", won Davis Cup in 1928 in Philadelphia. The Men’s French Open trophy is known today as the "Coupe de Mousquetaires" in their honor. It was in the spring of 1928 that two ladies by the name of Miss Bennett of Great Britain and Madame Lafaurie of France had the honour of playing the first match on the centre court of the new Roland Garros stadium- modern home of French open tennis history.Roland Garros was a pioneering aviator and war hero, who was sadly killed in combat only five weeks before the Armistice.
After World War II, France's domination slipped and the Americans and Australians took over, with new young stars such as Australian Ken Rosewall and Maureen Connolly of America. In 1956 the tournament was host to the first African-American Grand Slam winner, the American Althea Gibson.
Legends of the sport took trophy after trophy in the 70's and 80's, with Bjorn Borg winning six titles and Chris Evert with seven titles. The 1980s also announced the return of French, with Yannick Noah getting France's first title for 37 years.In the late 1980s and early 1990s found the develop of the teen stars. Michael Chang won the 1989 Championships at the age of 17. Monica Seles brought her unique screaming style to the tournament in 1990 and won the title with 16 years only.

French Open Tennis History Through The Years

1891 ▪ THE VERY FIRST TOURNAMENT ▪ H. Briggs won the title against P. Baigneres with 6-3 6-2. Briggs was a tennis player competing for British isles but residing in France.
1897 ▪ WOMENS INTRODUCED ▪ The very first Womens Singles champion was Adine Masson defeating in finals P. Girod with 6-3 6-1.
1914 ▪ MAX DECGUIS ▪ In the year of 1914 Max Decguis won his 8th title (last) of Mens Singles French Championship. He won the most titles on French Championship 'till today.
1925 ▪ OPEN FOR ALL COMPETITORS ▪ In the year of 1925 French Championship was open for international competitors. Rene Lacoste was better in finals of Jean Borotra with 7-5 6-1 6-4. That was certainly one of great historical moments of french tennis history.

                                                                 

1926 ▪ SUZZANE LENGLEN ▪ Won 6th title at French National Championship.
1928 ▪ THE NEW STADE DE ROLAND GARROS HOSTED DAVIS CUP ▪ French Open hosted Davis Cup. The new Stade de Roland Garros finished - modern home of French open tennis history.
1932 ▪ HENRY COCHET ▪ Henry Cochet won his 5th title on French Championships Mens Singles.
1981 ▪ BJORN BORG ▪ Bjorn Borg of Sweden won his 6th title on French Open, that makes him second best of all times on the French Open Championships tennis history.
1986 ▪ CHRIS EVERT ▪ She won 7th title at French Open Womens Singles Championship and became the greatest women all time player at French Open tennis history.

                                                                  

1999 ▪ STEFFI GRAF ▪ Won her 6th title on French Open Womens Singles Championsip and took 2nd place on eternal list of female winners.
2008 ▪ RAFAEL NADAL ▪ In year of 2008 Rafael Nadal of Spain won his 4th consecutive French Open Mens Singles title.
2009 ▪ ROGER FEDERER ▪ For sure one of the greatest player of all time Roger Federer won his 1st title on French Open, defeating Robin Soderling of Sweden in finals with 6-1 7-6 6-4.

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US Open Tennis History

 

US Open Tennis History Overview

The roots of today's US Open Championships developed from two separate events : the Mens Tournament and the Womens Tournament - the origin of US open tennis history. In the year of 1881 (precisely in August of that year) brought for the very first event in the Mens Tournament at the Newport Casino - first event in the US open tennis history. It's interesting that the tournament history originates at a Casino, as the wsop and Tennis couldn't be further apart today. The Championship was recognized as the US National Singles Championship for men and only members would be competent to play. In the year of 1887 the US Womens national Singles Championship introduced at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. Two years later, in 1889 the US Womens national Doubles Championship was held along with US Mixed Doubles Championship.In the year of 1968 began the first US Open Championships and for the first time in the history and for the previous tournaments professionals were allowed to compete. US Open Championships was initially played on grass 'till 1975 changed surface to clay. Another surface change was in the 1978 when US Open start to play on the hard courts surface and today still playing on hard court surface.
                                    

US Open Tennis History Through The Years

1881 ▪ USNLTA FOUNDED; THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ▪ RICHARD DICK SEARS ▪ The United States National Lawn Tennis Association (USNLTA) is founded, and the first U.S. Championships are played. The forerunner of the US Open, National Champinoship was restricted to american residents only. The very first winner was Dick Sears (better in finals of Wiliam Glyn with 6-0 6-3 6-2), and the National Championship was held at the Newport Casino, Rhode Island.
1887 ▪ WOMENS INTRODUCED ▪ ELLEN HANSELL ▪ US Womens National Singles Championship introduced for the very first time and took place at Philadelphia Cricket Club. The very first Womens Champion was Ellen Forde Hansell Alderice. In finals she was beat Laura Knight with 6-1 6-0. Dick Sears won his 7th title(and last) on US National Championships in the row.
1888 ▪ BERTHA TOWNSEND; MIXED DOUBLES INTRODUCED ▪ Bertha Townsend win her first title over Ellen Hansell in finals with 6-3 6-5. That was her first of two titles on National Womens Championship. M. Wright and J. S. Clark were the very first Champions of US National Mixed Double Championship.
1889 ▪ WOMENS DOUBLES INTRODUCED ▪ Margarette Ballard and Bertha Townsend were the very first US National Womens Doubles Champions.
1903 ▪ LAWRENCE DOHERTY ▪ Lawrence Doherty of Great Britain was the first International Champion of Mens Singles National Championship.
1911 ▪ WILIAM LARNED ▪ Wiliam Larned of United States became chamipon for the 7th time. In final he was better than Maurice Mclaughlin with 6-4 6-4 6-2.
1926 ▪ ELIZABETH BJURSTEADT MALLORY ▪ Elizabeth mallory of Norway win her 8th US National Championship title, in finals she was better than Elizabeth Ryan with 4-6 6-4 9-7.
1929 ▪ WILLIAM TATEM TILDEN II ▪ Also known as "Big Bill" ▪ US Open tennis history ▪ Bill Tilden won his 7th singles title of US National Championships.
1931 ▪ HELLEN WILLS MOODY ▪ Hellen Wills Moddy of United States win her 7th US National Championship, in finals with Eileen Bennett Whittingstall 6-4 6-1. In her carrer she won also 8 Wimbledon titles and 4 French Open titles - amazing piece of remarkable history.
                                        1968 ▪ OPEN ERA; ALL 5 EVENTS AT 1 PLACE ▪ The five major events of the US Open have been contested at nine different locations since the inception of the men's singles event in Newport. All five finally came together when the women's doubles tournament moved to the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, New York. For the first time professinoals were allow to compete on US Open Championships.
1975 ▪ CHANGE OF SURFACE ▪ CLAY ▪ From 1975 from new surface for US Open is clay surface (instead grass surface).
1978 ▪ NATIONAL TENNIS CENTER;NEW SURFACE HARD COURT ▪ All five US Open events moved to the US Open's current location, the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York. US Open was played on new location and new official suface became hard court surface - new era in the US open tennis history.
1979 ▪ TRACY AUSTIN ▪ Tracy Austin becomes the youngest US Open champion at the age of 16 years defeating four-time defending champion Chris Evert Lloyd with 6-4 6-3 in the finals.
1982 ▪ CHRIS EVERET ▪ Chris Everet became the Womens Singles Champion for the 6th time, defeating Hana Mandlikova in the finals with 6-3 6-1.
1983 ▪ JIMMY CONNORS ▪ Jimmy Connors beat in finals Ivan Lendl with 6-3 6-7 7-5 6-0 , it was Connors's 8th (and last) Grand Slam title, and his 5th US Open Champion title in the US open tennis history.
1990 ▪ PETE SAMPRAS ▪ With only 19 years (and 28 days) becomes the youngest US Open Mens Singles Champion, defeating Andre Agassi with 6-4 6-3 6-2 in the finals.
                                     1994 ▪ ANDRE AGASSI ▪ Andre Agassi became the very first unseeded player in the US Open Era to win the US Open Mens Singles Championship.
1998 ▪ LINDSAY DAVENPORT ▪ Lindsay Davenport becomes the first U.S. born woman to capture the US Open women's singles title in 16 years, defeating Martina Hingis 6-3 7-5 in the finals.
2002 ▪ PETE SAMPRAS ▪ Pete Sampras beat Andre Agassi in finals with 6-3 6-4 5-7 6-4, it was Sampras's 14th career Grand Slam title, and his 5th US Open Champion title.
2008 ▪ ROGER FEDERER ▪ Roger Federer wins his 5th consecutive US Open Chamiponship title defeating Andy Murray at final with 6-2 7-5 6-2. He was the first after Bill Tilden 1924 to have achieved this feat.

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Wimbledon Tennis History

 

Tennis In Wimbledon - Glorious History

The very first Wimbledon Tennis championship take place in 1877 at the All England lawn tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London,United Kingdom - the real home of modern tennis and wimbledon tennis history. All England Crocquet Club was the sponsor and the event was initially made to produce money to repair a broken roller at the private club but instead, has grown to the most respected tournament in the whole world. Just 22 players introduced the Mens Singles and spectators pais a mere one shilling to watch the final match.

                                                                

True Home Of Modern Tennis Since 1877

In these days of wimbledon tennis history women werent't permitted to play tennis until 1884(and mens doubles are added in the same year 1884) and the only event was the Mens Singles. Spencer Gore was the first winner out of a pool od 22 participants, he will be famous for ever because he is the very first Wimbledon Tennis Champion. The final match was played in front of 200 spectators paid one shilling each to watch the final match first Singles Mens Championships in Wimbledon history.
The very first Wimbledon Championships was played at the private club placed off Worple Road (in 1922 the club was relocated to Church Road and undergone different changes since).The event was reserver for 2 weeks period in June, precisely six weeks from the first Monday in August. In whole Wimbledon tennis history only 3 times has the event more lasting due to rain delays.The players wore ties and hats and were warned to wear shoes without heels. The tennis balls were hend sewn and serves were played underarm. Green and purple always been the main colors of Wimbledon wtih of course the players wearing mostly all in white. Centre Court, the most prestigious court in Wimbledon, was reserved the finals - this court is most prestigious of all 19 courts. Also, court 1 and court 2 will host events on tennis championships.
The only Grand Slam event who is still playing on the grass surface is Wimbledon Championships event(other Grand Slam tournaments are US Open, Australian Open and French Open). Since 1902 official tennis balls are Dunlop Slazenger. Ladies Singles Champion wind a sterling silver salver known as Rosewater Dish and Mens Singles Champion wind a silver gilt cup. The traditional food in Wimbledon are strawberries and cream -an amazing wimbledon tennis history.
The past winner with most titles from Wimbledon and the Wimbledon Tennis Champion with 9 titles from ladies Single is Martina Navratilova. Wiliam Renshaw and Pete Sampras are wimbledon's past winner for the most men's singles titles with 7 titles each.
Year of 2007 was great for increasing popularity, about 500,000 spectators with much more following the Championships through TV, internet, press and other media. Participants come from more than 60 countries to batlle for title. From 2007, the very fist time in Wimbledon tennis history, the men and women were paid the same amount for reward. In the past men always won more amount than woman, 2007 were award $1,540,000 each, ladies singles champion and mens singles champion - new era of wimbledon tennis history.

Wimbledon Tennis Through The Centuries

1875 ▪ HENRY CAVENDISH JONES;NEW RULES;RECTANGULAR COURT AND MESEURMENTS ▪ All England Crocquet Club was conviced by Henry Cavendish Jones to substitute a croquet court with a lawn tennis court - started true wimbledon tennis history. Marylebone Cricket Club followed suit. They made fundamental changes to the game of lawn tennis. Therefore, Marylebone Cricket Club added deuce, advantage and 2 chances per each serve. The hourglass shaped court also replaced by rectangular court with identical meseurments we use today.
1877 ▪ WIMBLEDON TENNIS HISTORY ▪ THE VERY FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP; SPENCER GORE ▪ Worple Road in Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom hosted the very first World Tennis Championship in 1877 - that is true home of modern tennis. All England Crocquet Club were the sponsors. In the mens Singles entered 22 players, and that was only event. For the watching the finals, spectators payed one shilling each. The very first winner of Wimbledon Tennis Championships was Spencer Gore.
1880 ▪ OVERHEAD SMASH;RENSHAW BROTHERS ▪ Renshaw brothers introduced "overhead smash" to the game ". The brothers were dominate for a decade, winnig 8 of possible 10 championships in that decade (except 1880 and 1887) of wimbledon tennis history.

                                         

1884 ▪ WOMENS AND MENS DOUBLES INTRODUCED ▪ Womens participate to the Wimbledon Championships for the very first time. On the first Wimbledon Championship for Ladies were only 13 participants, ladies. Maud Watson was the very first champion.Also, for the first time Mens Doubles Championship were introduced.
1887 ▪ LOTTIE DOD ▪ Wimbledon tennis history moment ▪ Lottie Dod wins the Wimbledon Ladies Singles title for the first time (5 times in period 1887 - 1893). She is the youngest player to win a singles event at the age of only 15 years and 285 days of wimbledon tennis history.

                                                                       

1899 ▪ ALL ENGLAND TENNIS & CROCQUET CLUB ▪ The All England Croquet Club changed it's name to the All England Tennis & Croquet Club.
1905 ▪ FIRST INTERNATIONAL LADIES SINGLES CHAMPION & DOHERTY BROTHERS ▪ Laurie and Reggie Doherty won the Wimbledon Mens Doubles title for a record time, the brothers were born in Wimbledon. Winner of the ladies Singles was May Sutton and was the first international tennis player to win at Wimbledon Championships.
1907 ▪ FIRST INTERNATIONAL MENS SINGLES CHAMPION ▪ Australian player Norman Brookes became the first international Wimbledon Mens Singles Champion.
1908 ▪ OLDEST LADIES SINGLES CHAMPION ▪ Mrs Charlotte Sterry (United Kingdom) became the oldest Wimbledon Ladies Singles champion at the age of 37 years and 282 days.
1909 ▪ OLDEST MENS SINGLES CHAMPION ▪ Arthur Gore of Great Britain became the oldest Wimbledon Mens Singles champion at the age of 41 years and 182 days.
1920 ▪ SUZZANE LENGLEN; STARTED NEW WIMBLEDON WORKS ▪ Started building works on new Wimbledon Championships tournament located on Chursh Street. Suzanne Lenglen of France became the first player to win triple crown of Ladies Singles, Ladies Doubles and Mixed Doubles.

                              

1922 ▪ OPENED NEW WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIPS ▪ The new Wimbledon Championships located on Church Street was open for business. Prince Albert and the Prince of Wales were at the grand opening. The new arena had a capacity 14,000.
1927 ▪ SEEDING PLAYERS IDEA INTRODUCED ▪ The idea of seeding players was introduced for the first time.
1934 ▪ LAST BRITISH DOUBLE ▪ Miss Dorothy Round and Fred Perry won both the Wimbledon Mens and Ladies Singles titles. It has so far proven to be the last British double.
1936 ▪ FRED PERRY OF GREAT BRITAIN ▪ Fred Perry became Wimbledon Mens Singles champion for the third successive year. This is the last time a British player has won the Wimbledon Mens Singles title.
1940 ▪ WORLD WAR II ▪ WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONSHIPS ON HOLD ▪ From 1940 - 1945 World War II put a hold on the Wimbledon and French Championships. It was in October 1940 that a Centre Court was hit by a bomb. Luckily no lives were lost, but Wimbledon Championships lose 1200 seats.
1946 ▪ WIMBLEDON OPENED AGAIN ▪ Wimbledon and French Championships are open for tennis.
1949 ▪ GUSSY MORAN DRESS ▪ Fashion designer Ted Tinling make a dress for the American Gertrude Moran that would shock Wimbledon.Her lace-trimmed knickers were front-page news global.

                             

1962 ▪ ROD LAVER ▪ Rod Laver of Australia wins the Wimbledon Mens Singles title on his way to securing his first of two Grand Slam titles.
1967 ▪ WIMBLEDON PROULDY PRESENTED ON COLOUR TV ▪ Wimbledon Championships was shown on colour television for the first time on BBC.
1971 ▪ TIE BREAK PRESENTED ▪ The Tie-break was presented first time Wimbledon tennis history, and came into effect if the score in games achieved 8-8 in any set except the final set.
1973 ▪ SUSPENSION BY ATP ▪ Wimbledon is boycotted by the ATP following the suspension of Yugoslav player Nikki Pilic.
1975 ▪ CHAIRS ON COURT ▪ For the first time players were allowed chairs on court to allow them to rest during a change of ends.
1976 ▪ BJORN BORG ▪ The legendary Swedish player Björn Borg won his 1st singles title.
1977 ▪ WIMBLEDON LAWN TENNIS MUSEUM OPENED ▪ The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum opened. Virginia Wade was the last British tennis player to win Wimbledon when she won the Ladies Singles title.
1979 ▪ BILLIE JEAN KING ▪ The Tie-break rule was to come into play at a score in games of 6-6 (instead of 8-8), with the exception of final sets. Billie Jean King won the Wimbledon Ladies Doubles title, which totalled a record 20 titles in all (6 Ladies Singles, 10 Ladies Doubles, and 4 Mixed Doubles).
1980 ▪ TENNIS MATCH ON SUNDAY FOR FIRST TIME ▪ Tennis was played at Wimbledon on Sunday for the first time. Björn Borg secures his 5th consecutive Wimbledon Mens Singles title. The longest Tie-break at Wimbledon was in the 1980 Mens Singles Final between John McEnroe (USA) and Björn Borg (Sweden), with a score of 18-16 in favour of Björn Borg.

                            

1985 ▪ BORIS BECKER ▪ German player Boris Becker was the youngest ever and first unseeded Wimbledon Mens Singles champion at the age of only 17 years and 227 days.

                            

1990 ▪ MARTINA NAVRATILOVA ▪ Martina Navratilova became the Wimbledon Ladies Singles champion for a record 9th time.
1994 ▪ TIM HENMAN DISQUALIFIED ▪ Tim Henman was disqualified during a Wimbledon Mens Doubles match after hitting a ball in anger and striking a ball girl (accidentally of course).
1996 ▪ MARTINA HINGIS ▪ Martina Hingis of Switzerland was the youngest ever Wimbledon champion when she won the Ladies Doubles in 1996 at the age of only 15 years and 282 days.
2001 ▪ GORAN IVANSEVIC ▪ Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia became the first Wimbledon Wildcard in history to win the Mens Singles title.
2009 ▪ ROGER FEDERER ▪ Roger Federer of Swiss became for the 6th time Wimbledon Mens Singles Champion. He was champion beetwen 2003-2007 - five times in the row and this year he definetely come back on the top.

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21st Century - A New Open Era of Tennis History

2001 ▪ TENNIS HISTORY OF GORAN IVANISEVIC ▪ In Wimbledon Championships tennis history Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia became the first Wimbledon wildcard in history of tennis to win the Mens Singles title.
2002 ▪ VENUS & SERENA WILIAMS ▪ Venus and Serena Williams become the first sisters in tennis history to be ranked #1 and #2 in the WTA world rankings list.
2003 ▪ PETE SAMPRAS ▪ Pete Sampras retires from tennis at a US Open farewell ceremony. He won 64 singles titles (4th highest ever) including a record 14 Grand Slam titles - 2 AO, 5 US Open and 7 Wimbledon.
2004 ▪ YEAR OF ROGER FEDERER IN TENNIS HISTORY ▪ Roger Federer becomes the first man in tennis history since Mats Wilander in 1988 to win three of the four grand slam events (Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open) in a calendar year. He also captured an ATP-best 11 titles in as many finals, including the end-of-season Masters Cup. And also set an Open Era record by winning 13 consecutive finals (dating back to 2003), surpassing Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe who won 12 straight finals.
2005 ▪ NEW DOUBLES TIE BREAK SCORING SYSTEM ▪ The ATP (having dropped the word ‘Tour’ from its name in 2000) introduces a different scoring system for doubles matches, with sudden death points at deuce (‘no advantage’) and a first-to-ten-points tiebreak in place of a final set. Roger Federer's 25-match winning streak (the longest in men's tennis since 1984) ended at the hands of 18-year-old Richard Gasquet in Monte Carlo. Another great moment in tennis history.
2006 ▪ ANDRE AGASSI RETIRES ▪ The greatest showman in tennis history - Andre Agassi - retires on 3 September 2006 following a 7-5 6-7(4) 6-4 7-5 defeat to Benjamin Becker (GER) in the third round of the US Open.The right for players to challenge dubious line calls by electronic review is introduced in the Miami Masters Series tournament and makes its Grand Slam debut at the US Open later that year.

2007 ▪ TENNIS HISTORY OF RAFAEL NADAL ▪ On the 19 May, Rafael Nadal claims 81 straight wins on clay to set a new all surface record. His run was ended by Roger Federer in the Hamburg Masters final the following day. On the 9 September, Roger Federer became the first man in tennis history since Bill Tilden in the 1920s to win 4 US Open titles in a row, beating Novak Djokovic in the final.
2009 ▪ ROGER FEDERER ▪ On 7 June, Roger Federer became arguably the greatest tennis player of all time in tennis history with his victory at the French Open. Federer joins Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson and Andre Agassi as winner of all four Grand Slam titles, and equals the 14 Grand Slam titles claimed by Pete Sampras - who never managed to win on the clay of Roland Garros. On 20 April, Marat Safin and Dinara Safina became the first brother and sister to reach world number one in tennis history. Marat became achieved the top ranking on 20 November 2000. Roger Federer secure No. 1 postion on the end of seson with victory over Andy Murray in three sets at London ATP Finals on 25 November.

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20th Century - Open Era of Tennis History

1968 ▪ TENNIS HISTORY OF OPEN ERA ▪ The first official "open" tournament takes place at Bournemouth on the English south coast, and the first Grand Slam, the newly named French Open, leads in a new era. Ken Rosewall, a returning professional won both events.
1969 ▪ TENNIS HISTORY OF ROD LAVER ▪ Rodney George "Rod" Laver of Australia becomes the first man to win a pure "open" Grand Slam, by taking all four major titles in the same year.Rod Laver completed his first Grand Slam in 1962 and second in 1969 - he is the only player in history to achieve two Grand Slams.

                                                   

1970 ▪ TENNIS HISTORY OF TIE BREAK ▪ The tiebreak is introduced to Grand Slam tennis, as the US Open adopts the nine-point shootout (sudden death at 4-4). The winner of the tie-break was the first person to reach five points. Jack Kramer introduces a point system for tennis tournaments depending on how far players go in tournaments and on the end of season prize money goes to player who had most points (tennis history web sources).
1972 ▪ ATP ASSOCIATION FORMED ▪ The Association of Tennis Professionals is formed and Jack Kramer is chosen as first Executive Director in tennis history.
1973 ▪ NIKKI PILIC SUSPENSION ▪ Wimbledon is boycotted by the ATP following the suspension of Yugoslav Nikki Pilic.
1976 ▪ FIRST GRAPHITE AND FIBERGLASS RACQUET ▪ Thanks to Howard Head first graphite and fiberglass racquets appear on the tennis scene in the tennis history. In the Wimbledon Championships Swedish player Bjorn Borg won his first title in singles.
1977 ▪ US OPEN MOVED TO FLUSHING MEADOWS ▪ As Wimbledon celebrates its centenary, the US Open offers farewell to the private setting of the Westside Club at Forest Hills, to move to a non-club national tennis centre nearby at Flushing Meadows. The last US Open at Forest Hills begins with Renée Richards, a transsexual who had played in the men’s singles as Richard Raskind in 1960, becoming the first (and only) person to have played in both the men’s and women’s singles at Grand Slam level.
1980 ▪ TIE BREAK SHOOTOUT RECORD ▪ The tiebreak comes of age in a 34 point shootout in the Wimbledon Championships final when Bjorn Borg has seven championship points to beat John McEnroe in four sets, but McEnroe saves them all, and converts his seventh point to take the match into a fifth set. Borg wins it 8-6. Great piece of tennis history.
1984 ▪ CLAY INDOOR SURFACE & TENNIS ON OLYMPICS AGAIN ▪ Clay develops into a temporary indoor surface when Sweden becomes the first country to install a makeshift clay court for a Davis Cup tie. And no ordinary tie – it’s the final, and the visit to Gothenburg’s Scandinavium arena of one of the strongest Davis Cup teams in tennis history: world No. 1 John McEnroe, No. 2 Jimmy Connors, and the world’s best doubles team, McEnroe and Peter Fleming. By Saturday night, Sweden is the champion for the loss of one set, and clay is established as a surface option for indoor ties. Tennis also returns to the Olympic Games as a test event for under-21 players at Los Angeles and is won by Stefan Edberg and Steffi Graf.
1985 ▪ TENNIS HISTORY OF BORIS BECKER ▪ The German player Boris Becker was the youngest ever and first unseeded Wimbledon Mens Singles Champion with only 17 years (precisely 17 years and 227 days old).
1988 ▪ AUSTRALIAN OPEN MOVES -The Australian Open Championships moves into the modern era of tennis history with a new national tennis centre at Flinders Park (later renamed Melbourne Park), characterised by the first tennis stadium with a retractable roof. Steffi Graf beats Chris Evert in the first ‘indoor’ Grand Slam final.

                                                  

1989 ▪ ATP TOUR TRANSFORMATION TENNIS HISTORY ▪ The ATP transforms itself from a players’ union into a tour body. In an announcement made in the US Open’s parking lot, it says it will take over the running of the men’s tour in January 1990 from the Men’s International Professional Tennis Council, that had operated under the ITF’s auspices, and henceforth be known as the ‘ATP Tour’. A feature of the new tour is an elite series of nine events, the ‘Super Nine’ (now the Masters Series). With the breakaway denoting a form of civil war in tennis, the Grand Slam tournaments form their own year-ending tournament to start in 1990 called ‘The Grand Slam Cup’. It will share a prize money pool of (a then massive) $1.5 million among 16 players and two reserves. The rival year-ending events were to last another 10 years in the tennis history before peace broke out in 1999
1990 ▪ TENNIS HISTORY OF MARTINA NAVRATILOVA ▪ Martina Navratilova became the Wimbledon ladies Singles Champion for a record 9th time.
1994 ▪ INDOOR GRASS TENNIS COURT ▪ Tennis on grass is played in indoor conditions for the first time in the tennis history, when the new retractable roof on the Gerry Weber Stadium in Halle, Germany, is closed to allow play to continue during rain.Martina Navratilova retires from singles tennis, having won a record 167 singles titles, a record 1438 matches won, and an 9 Wimbledon titles.

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Tennis History of 20th Century

1900 ▪ TENNIS HISTORY OF DAVIS CUP ▪ Dwight F.Davis, a Harvard university student decides to degree a team challenge match between the United States and the British Isles. The cup was engraved as "International Lawn Tennis Challenge Trophy", later known as the Davis Cup.
1905 ▪ AUSTRALIAN OPEN FOUNDED ▪ The Australasian National Championships, later became known as Australian Open are founded, with the venue alternating between centers in Australia and New Zealand.
1912 ▪ TENNIS HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL LAWN TENNIS FEDERATION ▪ The International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) is born with an aim of operating the 4 major tennis championships (Wimbledon Championships, U.S. Championships, Australasian Championships and French Championships).
1913 ▪ TENNIS HISTORY OF ILTF ▪ Founded with 13 members representing 14 countries. The aim is to ensure the sport grows with regular scoring and minimum difference between country members (1977. became ITF).
1919 ▪ SUZANNE LENGLEN WON FIRST WIMBLEDON TITLE ▪ Suzanne Lenglen, the first tennis sensation wins the Wimbledon Ladies Championships title, the first of 12 titles at what are later become the Grand Slam tournaments. She mixes relentless accuracy with balletic elegance, and enchances tennis's profile as a popular sport and very contributed to history of tennis.

                                        

1922 ▪ AUSTRALASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS OPEN FOR WOMEN ▪ The Australasian Championships are open to women for the first time(tennis history source from web).
1924 ▪ TENNIS WITDRAWN FROM OLYMPIC GAMES ▪ Tennis retired from the Olympic Games referring a lack of professionalism in the arrangement and Olyimpic Games desire to not schedule Wimbledon Championships in an year of the Olympic Games.
1925 ▪ FRENCH CHAMPIONSHIPS RULE "FRENCH RESIDENTS ONLY" DROPPED ▪ Finally "French residents only" rule is dropped by the French Championships. Australasian championships became Australian Championships and would be hosted only in territory of Australia.
1927 ▪ TENNIS HISTORY OF ROLAND GARROS ▪ In the Wimbledon Championships idea of seeding players was presented for the first time. The French win the davis Cup , The French national association gets land ont the edge of Paris from the city authorities, builds a new tennis stadium, and names it Roland Garros (he was French war hero in First World War).
1928 ▪ ROLAND GARROS HOSTED FRENCH CHAMPIONSHIPS ▪ The Stade Roland Garros hosts the French Championships for the first time in the history of tennis.
1930 ▪ TENNIS RACQUETS IMPROVED ▪ One-piece Ash wood tennis racquets reaplaced with laminted wood.
1933 ▪ TENNIS HISTORY OF JACK CRAWFORD ▪ Australian Jack Crawford comes within one set of winning all four major titles in the same year. There are mutterings that he is on the verge of a "Grand Slam" - taken from the card game Bridge.It was truly an extraordinary sporting achievement Until today, it managed only a handful of outstanding tennis players, really a great moment in the history of tennis, right?

                            

1938 ▪ TENNIS HISTORY OF DON BUDGE ▪ The first tennis player to complete the tennis history of Grand Slam of all 4 Championships in the same year was the American Don Budge.The New York Times tennis correspondent Allison Danzig uses the phrase ‘a Grand Slam in tennis’, thereby entrenching the term in tennis vocabulary of tennis history.
1947 ▪ TENNIS HISTORY OF JACK KRAMER ▪ Jack Kramer wins Wimbledon. He had involved to turn professional the previous year but was determined to win Wimbledon once, to give credibility to his assault on the professional circuit, both as a player and as an entrepreneur. He was to become one of the most influential figures of the modern tennis world.
1950 ▪ PRO TOUR BECAME POPULAR ▪ Pro Tour created by Jack Cramer becomes very popular with both amateur tennis players and the public (history of tennis web source).
1953 ▪ TENNIS HISTORY OF MAUREEN CONNELLY ▪ She was first woman who win all 4 Chamiponships in history of tennis and complete the "Grand Slam".
1960 ▪ DEBATE FOR THE IDEA OF OPEN TENNIS ▪ Determined by years of charges of ‘shamateurism’, the ILTF annual meeting debates a move to get tennis ‘open’ (to end the split amateur and professional circuits that had plagued the sport since the 1920s). The idea is defeated by five votes. It meant the four Grand Slam tournaments remained purely for ‘amateurs’, and any man who had won a couple of majors in their early 20s of tennis history was likely to leave the official circuit to earn money as a touring professional.
1967 ▪ WILSON'S FIRST METAL RACQUET ▪ The first metal tennis racquet appears thanks to Wilson. Wimbledon holds a demonstration tournament for professionals, and declares that its 1968 championships will be open to all participants, amateurs and professionals. It's the sign for tennis to go "open".
1968 ▪ OPEN ERA ▪ "Open Era" of tennis history begins

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