Mastering The Court: The Tennis Journey

Why tennis? I play tennis regularly, it is a sport that naturally invigorates the audience. It is very taxing at first, but really, what isn't?  A sport born from royalty, dignity and high prestige. It traces its roots back to the early 12th century, specifically to the monasteries in France where the monks developed a game called ‘Jeu de Paume’ which means 'the game of the palm'. The game was played in courtyards where players hit a ball with their bare hands over a rope or net and sometimes off the wall. Eventually, the game spread throughout Europe by the late 12th to 13th century. The name was coined around the 14th century from John Gower’s work. The game was eventually formalized in the 1870s by Walter Wingfield. It is one of the most widely watched games with iconic matches like the 2008 Wimbledon final between Nadal and Federer. This game remains one of the best and most interesting matches in tennis till date. The game was decided in five sets and Nadal won his first ever Wimbledon final by three sets to two marking the end of Federer's 40-game win streak.

 Now what makes tennis unique? The court, equipment, scoring system, officiating and so much more. The standard tennis court measures about 23.78 meters by 8.22 meters (10.97 meters wide for doubles). Lawn Tennis is a fast paced duel of skill, stamina and mental resilience where players trade shots across the court in pursuit of victory. Matches could be one on one (singles) or two on two (doubles, which requires much more communication and sharper teamwork). The game can be played on a clay or grass court. In the scoring system - points progress as 0, 15, 30 ,40 and then game. 6 games win a set and most matches are played as a best of three sets format except in Men’s grand slams where it's five sets. Players cannot hold the ball during a serve for more than 25 seconds, any more and a fault is called. A let occurs during service where a served ball hits the net and continues to the opponent's side, the ball is recalled back to be served without a fault. Faults only occur when the server causes an error in his serve and a maximum of two faults per serve is allowed after which a point is given to the opponent.

Points are awarded whenever the opponent fails to correctly return the ball back within the prescribed dimensions of the court. The current reigning champion and World no.1 in men’s tennis is Carlos Alcaraz with over 24 ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Tour singles titles. In female tennis, the current no.1 in female is Aryna Sabalenka. Tennis is a sport full of social interactions. The more titles and achievements one has, the more socially connected and recognized the person is. Legends like Novak Djokovic, Rafal Nadal, Serena Williams, Roger Federer among others are good examples.

Tennis is more than just a sport, it’s a lifelong pursuit that sharpens the mind, strengthens the body and connects people all across the globe. Every rally is a test of endurance and strategy, every match, a different story of resilience and passion. It offers something for everyone, from the title seeking challengers to a personal hobbyists. So why tennis? Because it is not just about winning points, it’s about the drive, the passion, the zeal, it’s about discovering strength, promoting and building communities.

As Federer once said ’Tennis is a sport where you have to fight not only your opponent but also yourself’. That dual battle against rivals and also against your own limits is what makes tennis truly captivating.  It is a journey. And every swing of the racket brings you closer to mastering the court. 

Lawal Nabeel