Tennis was one of the sports played at the first modern Olympic Games in Athens 1896.
2012 Summer Olympic Tennis Events Key facts
Venue: Wimbledon
Dates: Thursday 2 August – Saturday 11 August, 2012
Events: Mens and Women’s singles & doubles; mixed doubles
Gold medals: 6
Athletes: 172
Tennis: A history of the sport
Tennis was born in the 11th century when a game called ‘Jeu de Paume’ became popular in French monasteries and palaces.
The sport developed in England, where croquet lawns were used to stage the first official Lawn Tennis matches.
At Athens 1896, the first Olympic Tennis tournament was won by Irish student John Boland. He went to the Games just to watch, but returned an Olympic champion.
Compare that to today, when competitors are among the biggest names in world sport, used to playing for millions on the international circuit.
Tennis at the Games
Arguments over the ‘amateur’ status of players saw it dropped from the programme in 1922, but it eventually returned at Seoul 1988.
Some of the world’s most famous players have since become Olympic champions, including the USA‘s Andre Agassi and his wife, Germany’s Steffi Graf.
Jargon buster
* Lob: A ball hit high in the air and deep into the opponent’s court.
* Half volley: A shot played just after the ball has bounced.
* Match point: A point that, if won, wins the match.
* Straight sets: Win without losing a set.
* Baseline: The end boundary line of a tennis court.
* Love: no points; zero.
* Serve: To put the ball in play at the beginning of a point.
* Ace: A winning legal serve that the opposing player fails to touch with their racket.
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