About Us
Mission & Vision
Our mission is to preserve and share the history of tennis through careful research, thoughtful writing, and detailed visual documentation. We follow the sport across a millennium, tracing its development through the equipment players used as well as through the customs, stories, and moments that shaped how the game was played and understood. Our vision is to build a lasting digital archive that connects past and present, protects historical material for future generations, and keeps the heritage of tennis accessible to anyone who wants to explore where the sport came from and how it grew into the game we know today.
1. About the team behind the Tennis History CeO
The Tennis History Center of Excellence is an independent team based in Gothenburg, Sweden, focused on researching and preserving tennis history.
2. Research Sources & Standards
Our historical research follows a rigorous and transparent methodology. To ensure accuracy and authenticity, we draw on:
-
Archives – including early sporting records, club documents, and equipment registries
-
Museums – exhibitions, catalogues, and institutional collections related to tennis and court games
-
Private Collectors – rare items and primary materials offered for study
-
Historical Literature – academic publications, early treatises on ball games, and equipment manufacturing records
-
Expert Consultations – discussions with historians, curators, and specialists in early racket sports.
This multi‑source approach allows us to verify dates, trace material evolution, and contextualize each artefact within the larger history of the sport.
3. What makes tennishistory.com unique?
tennishistory.com is built around principles of accuracy, accessibility, and preservation. Key features include:
-
Free global access to all collections
-
High‑resolution imagery of rare and historically significant equipment
-
Scientifically verified dating, cross‑referenced with archival research
-
Contextualized chapters and timelines that narrate the evolution of tennis through its tools
-
A material‑centric approach, highlighting craftsmanship, design, and technological change.
-
274 unique historical artefacts, documenting a seamless journey through more than one thousand years of tennis history.