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Dec 24, 1100
First Game
Some French monks were credited for playing the first game of tennis in the early twelfth century. It was played with people tossing a crude ball over a string that was stretched across a space of open land on the property of the monastery. But no one knows the exact date. http://www.athleticscholarships.net/history-of-tennis.htm -
First Tennis Racket
In 1874, Major Walter C. Wingfield made the first tennis racket. It was made of solid wood but made a nice substitute instead of using hands. http://www.complex.com/sneakers/2012/08/the-evolution-of-the-tennis-racket -
Patent
In 1874, Major Walter Wingfield patented the game of tennis, though it was originally called lawn tennis. http://www.athleticscholarships.net/history-of-tennis.htm -
First Competition
In 1877, the All England Club decided to hold the first Wimbledon tournament. It was in this competition that the modern rules and court was created. http://www.athleticscholarships.net/history-of-tennis.htm -
Olympic Sport
In 1896, tennis became a summer Olympic sport. The first time played in the Olympics it was in Athens, Greece and only had two events for men. https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/Olympic-Studies-Centre/List-of-Resources/Quick-references/History-of-sports-at-summer-Olympic-Games/EN-Tennis.pdf#_ga=1.192593450.1217843045.1455154788 -
Withdrawal from Olympics
It was in 1928 that the IOC Executive Board decided to remove tennis from the Olympics altogether. The thought was that there were not enough professionals and the audience didn't want to watch a bunch of amateurs. https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/Olympic-Studies-Centre/List-of-Resources/Quick-references/History-of-sports-at-summer-Olympic-Games/EN-Tennis.pdf#_ga=1.192593450.1217843045.1455154788 -
The Introduction of Laminated Wood
Up until 1947, all tennis rackets had basically been some wood carved in a "fancy" fashion. But as lamination technology evolved, the first laminated racket was created. http://www.complex.com/sneakers/2012/08/the-evolution-of-the-tennis-racket -
Wilson Rackets
In 1968, Wilson introduces the T2000 tennis racket. This grew a lot of attention after Jimmy Connors, a tennis pro, decided to take a liking towards it. http://www.complex.com/sneakers/2012/08/the-evolution-of-the-tennis-racket -
Return to the Olympics
After almost sixty years, it was decided at the 84th IOC Session that tennis would be brought back to the summer Olympics. It was then played in 1988 in Seoul. https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/Olympic-Studies-Centre/List-of-Resources/Quick-references/History-of-sports-at-summer-Olympic-Games/EN-Tennis.pdf#_ga=1.192593450.1217843045.1455154788 -
Mixed Doubles
At the 2012 London Summer Olympics, the first mixed doubles tennis game is played. It had been decided by the IOC board in 2008 to add it in along with singles matches. https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/Olympic-Studies-Centre/List-of-Resources/Quick-references/History-of-sports-at-summer-Olympic-Games/EN-Tennis.pdf#_ga=1.192593450.1217843045.1455154788
