By Alana Veysman
Introduction for Tennis
Tennis is a wonderful sport - a very complicated and fun game. It provides exercise, competition, and a lot of fun. It is a game you can play for all your life. I hope you'll enjoy the sport too!
History of Tennis
Many people play the fun sport tennis. Lots of experts saw the ancient Egyptians as the people who found the game we play today. The Egyptians played a simple version of the game, known as la soule. They hit ball to and fro using their bare hands or a stick. The more familiar game of tennis, played by the French, was known as jeu de paume ("game of the palm") and they involved hitting the ball against the wall indoors. During the 15th century, the most basic rackets were introduced. French players would begin the fame of "tenez"!
Preparing to Play (What to Wear)
Choose tennis clothes that are comfortable to wear and clothes that are made of light, washable fabrics. If you wear shorts and skirts they should not be too tight around your waist, and skirts must allow your shoulders and arms to be able to move or have freedom to move. You should wear socks with cushioned, comfortable material. Protect your feet and improve your footwork on the court by wearing good comfortable tennis shoes. They just have support, flexibility and stability to help your ankles and Achilles' tendons. You should wear comfortable shoes for tennis.
The Kinds of Rackets
Tennis rackets vary according to head size, weight, length, and frame stiffness. Wooden rackets were standard throughout much of tennis history, but today nearly all new tennis rackets are made from some special type of metal, like graphite or a titanium material. Choosing the right type of racket can really affect your game. You should try different racket types until you find the right racket for your playing style.
Different Types of Balls
There's some different kinds of balls. Balls that are yellow and red and squishy and that are made of a sort of material are usually the ones where you're on a higher level of tennis than the yellow and red squishy ball. There's a kind of ball that is yellow and red but hard. There's a kind of ball that is yellow with a teeny dot on it. That kind of ball is even harder than the other ones. There is a kind of ball that is just yellow which is for really good tennis players.
What to Eat Before Playing Tennis
Tennis players need plenty of complex carbohydrates before playing tennis matches to give them energy. Your body burns mostly sugar while you play tennis, so a tennis player should eat carbs before a match. Because matches can last several hours, players often need to eat and drink during the competition.
Fun Facts About Tennis 1. The first African American to win the US game was Arthur Ashe. 2. The fastest server in the women's tennis was done by Venus Williams. 3. Henry "Bunny" Austin was the first player to wear shorts at Wimbledon. 4. Wimbledon is the only major tennis tournament still played on grass.