Interesting facts about tennis

Here are some interesting facts about tennis that may surprise you and inspire you to learn more about this wonderful sport:

1. The fastest successful strike

The fastest serve in the history of tennis was performed by Australian Samuel Grota in 2012 – the ball speed was 263 km/h!

2. The origin of tennis

Tennis has its roots in 12th century France. The game was played with the hands and was called "Jeu de Paume" (game of the palm). Rackets were not used until the 16th century.

3. The longest match

The record for the longest tennis match was set at Wimbledon in 2010 between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut. The game lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes and stretched over three days! The final score in the fifth set was 70:68 in favor of Isner.

4. Tennis balls used to be white

Until 1972, tennis balls were white or black. Yellow balls became the standard because they were easier to see on television screens.

5. Roland Garros is the only clay court Grand Slam tournament

Of all the Grand Slam tournaments, Roland Garros is the only one played on clay. This makes it unique and particularly challenging, as playing on clay requires stamina and strategy.

6. Tennis has been an Olympic sport since 1896

Tennis was part of the first modern Olympic Games in Athens. However, due to low popularity, it was removed from the program in 1924 and then returned only in 1988.

7. Wimbledon and dress code

Wimbledon is the only tournament with a strict dress code: players must wear all-white uniforms. Even minor deviations from this rule result in fines.

8. Length and width of the court

The tennis court has clearly defined dimensions: length – 23.77 m, and the width depends on the format of the game: 8.23 ​​m for singles matches and 10.97 m for doubles.

9. The youngest champion

Martina Hingis became the youngest ever Grand Slam singles champion when she won the Australian Open in 1997 at the age of 16.

10. Innovations in Ball Technology

Tennis balls at Grand Slam tournaments are replaced every 7 games to maintain their quality and performance on the court.

Tennis is not only a sport, but also a rich history filled with records, traditions and unique features. Playing tennis or just following it, you become part of an amazing world!