ANYONE FOR TENNIS? 

The well-know phrase, ‘Anyone for tennis?’ is credited as being from George Bernard Shaw’s play Misalliance, written in 1914, when Johnny Tarleton asks the burning question.

And it seems that, as a nation, we are indeed! The history of  tennis is hard to trace, but unquestionably goes back thousands of years, with crude versions of the game documented as being hugely popular by the 13^th century – so much so that the Pope and King Louis IV even tried to have it banned!

As with most sports, the more it evolved, the more things changed. Courtyards gave way to indoor courts, and wooden balls became bouncier leather versions. The batting hand was replaced by a glove, and then a solid paddle. This then changed to a webbed version within a frame – the forerunner of the racket we now know. Games initially took place indoors, on narrow courts, where the ball was played off the walls (like squash is today)… how things have changed!

The game’s popularity waned during the 1700s, but thanks to Charles Goodyear’s invention of vulcanized rubber in 1844, a new kind of tennis ball emerged. This smaller, bouncier ball now meant the game could be played on grass. The foundation for modern tennis had been laid, and with it came a resurgence in popularity.

Over the next hundred years or so the shape of the court changed and the initial rules for the game were established, undergoing several changes to become the rules we know today.

WIMBLEDON BEGINS

In 1877, the first ‘Wimbledon’ tournament was played – under the auspices of the All England Croquet and  Tennis Club . Launched solely to raise funds to fix a broken roller for the grounds, they could not have known this would form the basis of the international game we enjoy today!

And since that first game, very little has changed – with only the introduction of the tiebreak rule in 1971, and The Lawn Tennis Association now the ruling body.

When Charles Pyle recognized the commercial possibilities of the sport, a professional tour was introduced in 1926, turning tennis into a lucrative and hugely popular worldwide attraction.

Of course, with a major attraction, comes the star names. From Ilie Nastase in the 1970s, through to John McEnroe, Chris Evert, Venus and Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova (and so many more), through to Andy Murray, who triumphed to bring home the Davis Cup in November 2015 – the first time in 79 years that the trophy returned to British soil!!

And as triumphs go – it was a major one. Murray was on court to win the third and decisive point of the Davis Cup final, using all his arsenal of extraordinary shots to take down competitor David Goffin by a 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 margin.

It was a comfortable victory, but Murray’s reaction – collapsing to the ground in tears – said it all. He has been a relentless player over the years, perhaps without the success he truly deserves. But after recovering slightly, stammering into a reporter’s microphone, he simply said,

“I never thought we’d have the opportunity to do this.”

Here at 1^st Place Trophies, we didn’t either. But we’re thrilled you have Andy!

Take a look at some of our Tennis Trophies we have in store, we might have the tennis trophy for your next tournament and potentially the countries next Andy Murray!