by David | January 8th, 2010
What those in the United States name court tennis is actually real tennis, much like soccer in the US is known as football in the United Kingdom. Real came from the term royal because that was what it referred to. It was a favorite sport among those in royalty who loved to get good tennis scores as much as the peasants who played too. Court tennis, or indoors tennis was actually the only kind of tennis there was for a while. Lawn tennis didn’t come to be for a while the history of the sport. It was also called jeu de paume, which roughly translated is “hand game.” However, it soon proved to popular, at least for those in the church. Monks had originally invented the sport, but because it proved too popularity for them that should have praying and chanting and doing other pious duties, it was banned for them to play the sport.
The initial and official (because there are records for it) court indoors was created by Charles V of France for the Lourve. The name eventually came be because players would often be told to hold or “tenez” because they would be receiving serve very shortly. Tennis is simply an English version of a French word, and though unproven this is most likely the best explanation we have for where the origins of the word lie.
Tennis, in addition to the change made to the name, the court, the environment, the racquet, the ball, and so on faced class changes too. Because it was such a royal game, the nobles did not want the peasantry in on the fun. It become a another way for the nobility to separate themselves for those in the lower classes.
Famous royals known for their love of tennis include great sportsman Henry V of England, who only stopped playing and hunting altogether because of an injury to his leg that prevented him from enjoying his favorite pastimes anymore.
And although not a royal, she certainly is as famous as one: Margot of Hanault came to the Paris courts in the 1500s to do battle with other players, being one the first ever well known tennis players in the sport. She would take on anyone, using it as a way to gamble and make a bit of money for herself. The tennis courts have seen a lot throughout the years, from royalty to monks, from men to women: it is the place of a rich and varied history that those in the upcoming Australian Open will be playing upon.
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