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1.000 Years of Tennis History

From Jeu de Paume to the Modern Game
 

Milestones in the Game’s History

Explore the defining turning points of tennis across a millennium

Jeu de Paume
​Medieval roots. Jeu de Paume is played in monasteries and early indoor courts, striking the ball by hand.

The game declines in popularity; many European ballhouses disappear or become political, theatrical, or civic spaces.

Charles Goodyear’s vulcanized rubber and Budding’s lawn mower allow the development of playable grass surfaces.

The Renshaw brothers dominate Wimbledon and become the first true superstars of the sport.

The Davis Cup is founded. Britain becomes the first nation outside the United States to win the trophy.

Figures such as Suzanne Lenglen and Bill Tilden transform tennis into a global spectacle, shaping media presence and personal celebrity.

World War II again disrupts the sport and halts international competition.

The Open Era begins
Professional and amateur players are allowed to compete together in the same tournaments.

End of Wooden Era
Injection moulded composite frames appear. Models such as Dunlop Max 200G signal the final transition away wood after nearly five centuries.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) formalizes equipment regulations and standardizes racquet dimensions and construction.

1500

1700

1870

1890

1910

1930

1950

1970

1990

1000

1600

1800

1880

1900

1920

1940

1960

1980

2000

The Racquet enters the Game
From hand to racquet. 16th‑century sources document framed racquets and establish the basis of real tennis.

A former tennis court becomes the stage of the 1789 Tennis Court Oath in Versailles. A decisive moment of the French Revolution.

Invention of Modern Tennis
Major W.C. Clopton Wingfield patents Sphairistikè on 23 Feb 1874, introducing the standardized concept of modern lawn tennis.

The Doherty brothers emerge as the next great champions and define the style of elite amateur tennis.

World War I interrupts international tennis and causes a major decline in organized competition.

Laminated Frames
Lminated wood replace traditional solid construction. The Maxply becomes the dominant model for the next fifty years.

Professional tennis begins to organize itself through tours promoted by figures such as Jack Kramer

A decade of experimentation in racket design introduces new materials and engineering concepts.

Composite and graphite racquets become fully established as the global standard.

Legend:

        Game Changer

Records for the Ages


Who’s the proven GOAT in tennis?
Djokovic? Federer? Nadal?
 

Photograph showing former professional tennis player Novak Djokovic executing a serve
Photograph showing former professional tennis player Roger Federer executing a serve
Photograph showing formeprofessional tennis player Rafael Nadal executing a serve

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​It isn’t a man at all !​

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Artwork showing tennis player Martina Navratilova serving, facing the camera

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​​With 354 career titles, Martina Navratilova won more trophies than all of the above gentlemen combined. Further all time records that no player is likely to come close to again can be found here.

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2026 Anniversaries
 

Litography black and white of the Wimbledon tennis terrain in 1876


​1876
Preparation of the first Wimbledon Championships in the following year
 

Black and White Picture of former pro tennis player Fred Perrry holding a trophy
A colored scene of 2 tennis players hitting against each other with a golden trophy in between them


​1976
Bjorn Borg claims his first Wimbledon title. He would remain unbeaten in London for five years.
 

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1936
Fred Perry turned professional after his third consecutive Wimbledon
 

Evolution of Ball and Racquet

Jeu de Paume glove with antique tennis ball

Chapter I
From Hand to Racquet
1000 AD - 1500
 

Explore the early evolution of the tennis ball, beginning around 1000 AD, and the introduction of the racquet at the end of the Middle Ages. This chapter also covers the transition to white balls and the eventual adoption of the common yellow ball we know today.
 

Portrait view of a real tennis racquet described by Antonio Scaino in 1555
Portrait view of a Wingfield lawn tennis racquet from 1876 against a black background

Chapter II
From Royal to Lawn Tennis
1500 - 1874
 

Step into the world of Royal Tennis, a sport enjoyed by kings and nobility. Learn how early racquet designs evolved into the distinct shape of the Real Tennis racquet, reflecting the sport’s growth among the elite.
 

Portrait view of a Slazenger Renshaw lawn tennis racquet from 1886 against a brown background
Detail view of two wooden tennis racquet heads showing side profiles with green and red cross strings

Chapter III
From Solid to Laminated Wood
1874 - 1930
 

Witness how racquets evolved from flat-top, square, or round wooden frames to the classic oval shapes we recognize today. This chapter also explores the development of string patterns and the increasing sophistication of racquet architecture.

 

Unstrung Maxply wooden tennis racquet shown with a partially cut section revealing internal wood layers
Angled view of a wooden Wilson Pro Staff wooden tennis racquet

Chapter IV
From Wood to Composite
1930 - 1982
 

Discover the iconic laminated wooden frames used by legends like Rod Laver, Chris Evert-Lloyd, and Bjorn Borg. This chapter focuses on the peak of the wooden racquet era before the introduction of composite materials.
 

Angled view of a Wilson Pro Staff 85 composite tennis racquet
Unstrung Dunlop Max 200G tennis racquet shown with a cut section illustrating the injection‑molded core from 1982

​​Chapter V
The Revolution -
Injection Molding 1982
 

Learn about the shift in racquet production when Dunlop introduced injection moulding in 1982. The Max 200G, one of the first racquets made with this process, gained fame through the successes of Steffi Graf and John McEnroe.
 

Strung Dunlop Max 200G tennis racquet with the manufacturer logo integrated into the string bed
Portrait view of a strung Snauwaert Ergonom tennis racquet against a black background

​​Chapter VI
Iconic Inventions of the
20s century
 

Chapter VI covers the key innovations of the 20th century that transformed constructions, from oversized frames to unique string patterns.  These inventions pushed the boundaries of the sport and reshaped how the game was played.
 

Detail view of the throat section of a Pirelli Technort Strato tennis racquet designed by Nuccio Bertone, 1988
Angled view of a strung Wilson Pro Staff Classic tennis racquet

Chapter VII
Gear from the Greats
1982 - Today
 

Take a closer look at the tools used by tennis legends such as Roger Federer, Andre Agassi, and Steffi Graf. This chapter explores how the tool has evolved to meet the demands of the sport’s greatest players.
 

Angled view of a Head Radical tennis racquet from 1995

Artifact Index - Instant Access
 

head part of five classic tennis racquet, with a warm background

Tennis History Documentary Channel

A picture of the youtube channel of tennishistoiry.com showing a mirrored old badminton racquet with a warm background

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