All posts in Tennis

The Origins Of Tennis

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The origins of tennis game, as any other game of racket and ball, are traditionally credited to 11th or 12th century French game paume which was played with the hand and later advanced into jeu be paume with the use of rackets. However, not all historians agree on this subject. There is a theory that the word tennis comes from the name of Tinnis, a town in ancient Egypt, and the word racket “” from rahat, meaning “palm of the hand” in Arabic. It is believed that different versions of the game were played in ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece, although there is no additional evidence to that.

The balls initially used in tennis were made of hair, wool or cork wrapped in cloth or leather. The true history of tennis begins in the 1850″s, when Charles Goodyear, of Goodyear tire fame invented vulcanized rubber, and the first rubber tennis balls were introduced to the world. The vulcanization of rubber is a process that prevents natural rubber from deteriorating so quickly. Nowadays, tennis balls are manufactured using high technology equipment, come in white or yellow colors, and all the specifications are regulated by the ITF (International Tennis Federation).

Walter Clopton Wingfield is usually given credit for the invention of modern tennis. He actually patented the game in 1874, pronounced a new set of rules and moved tennis from indoors to outdoors. The same year first tennis courts appeared in the United States, and shortly after that in Russia, India, Canada and China.

The first tennis championship was held in 1877 in Wimbledon, and is still considered the most prestigious one. US Open came into being a while later in 1881. Now there are four Grand Slam tennis tournaments: US Open, French Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon.

Sony Ericsson Open was founded in 1985 by a tennis player Butch Buchholz with the aim to make it number one tennis tournament of the year, or at least second after Wimbledon. His attempt failed, although this championship is considered to be the 5th most important tennis event of the year. It is traditionally held in Florida in March-April, the prize money is $9 million, and Sony Ericsson tennis tickets can cost up to $2000.

The Federations Cup and Common Tennis Injuries

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The Federations Cup ended in dramatic style in Sardinia, with Italy taking the final 4-0 against Russia. It has been three years since the Italians last took the title and with a decisive win they are able to show their supremacy in women’s tennis.

The tournament was a largely one sided affair, as the result suggests, but these two countries have been prolific in recent years at the Federations Cup, but it was Italy who took their fourth title overall.

Each sport has its own set of common injuries and tennis is no different. The majority of sports injuries are as a result of overuse, where fatigue can lead to an injury. Accidents can also be common in some sports, equally injuries resulting from contact, which is common in sports such as rugby and football. The following conditions are common tennis based injuries which players may encounter.

Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow is typical of an overuse injury, with players complaining of pain and inflammation centred on the outside of the joint. Known clinically as lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow affects the muscles and tendons surrounding the elbow joint which can be painful and limit movement of the forearm. The condition can cause problems in being able to undertake typical daily tasks, from picking items up and even gripping a pen.

In the majority of cases, tennis elbow is a self-limiting condition and will heal over time following an extended period of rest, with ice being applied to help manage any inflammation. In more serious cases surgery may be required to rectify the problem, though in the majority of cases the condition should cease after a maximum of two years.

During recovery from the condition a tennis elbow support can also be applied, working to manage inflammation and pain which can allow you to remain active for longer. The support works by applying compression on the affected area of the elbow, which can be altered depending on the level of compression required.

If you believe you are suffering from tennis elbow and want to understand what else you can do to help with your recovery then you should seek a professional diagnosis, where a rehabilitation plan may be offered.

Ankle injuries

In a fast paced game such as tennis where players are required to pivot on their ankle and turn at speed, the ankle can sometimes be weakened through play and injuries can occur. Accidents can also play a role, as seen in Wimbledon whereby players slipping on the court caused a number of ankle injuries.

Ankle injuries themselves range in their severity, with three grades depending on the damage caused to the ligaments. A grade one is your standard sprained ankle, with mild damage to the ligaments which can be painful and affect your ability to walk but will ultimately heal within a few days following rest. This is the most common form of injury and can happen as a result of not only tennis, but from landing awkwardly, slipping on a wet surface or just rolling your ankle when walking.

The most important thing to do following a sprained ankle is to rest and try and not apply weight to it. As the joint has been weakened, continuing to remain active can lead to further injury as the stability of the joint has been compromised and the next time you roll your ankle it can cause more serious damage. Ice can also be used to help manage inflammation and if even the use of an ankle support for offer additional stability of the joint during recovery

Sports injuries are part and parcel of taking part and as players push themselves further the risk of injury is increased whether from overuse or from making that extra challenge on the football pitch. Whilst some sports injuries such as tennis elbow and sprained ankles are self-limiting and will get better over time there are others which will require further treatment, perhaps involving surgery or physiotherapy.

About the Author

Dave Regis discusses the use of orthotics for the management of sports injuries, reviewing injury rehabilitation through exercise and the use of bracing and supports. He frequently blogs and writes articles focussing on injuries such as tennis elbow and methods of rehabilitation.

Olga Blecher Pro Tennis Coach – Tennis Lessons For Fun And To Develop Your Game

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Olga Blecher Qualified LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION Coach.

Olga Blecher offers tennis lessons to individuals and groups for both Adults and Children in Pirton, near Hitchin and St Albans area, through Pro Tennis Coach

Adult tennis coaching lessons are held every week at Pirton, near Hitchin and we also have 2 Children’s Group Tennis Coaching on the same day.

I also have a Children’s Tennis Group in Broxbourne on once a week.

It doesnt matter if you are an experienced player or a complete beginner having Tennis lessons from your own Tennis Coach will quickly improve your game and keep you focussed on your style and technique.

Our Children’s Tennis Club lessons are open to all children between the ages of five and sixteen and offer a fun, relaxed and enjoyable way to learn and meet new friends.

Olga Blecher has been playing tennis since the age of seven. As a junior tennis player she represented St Petersburg in the Russian Under 10s Champion League and toured extensively around Russia winning many National Competitions.

As an Adult, Olga played for the St Petersburg Ladies Team and had great success.
After her Professional Tennis Career Olga Blecher began coaching and in 1990 joined the St Petersburg Tennis Club as a Junior tennis coach, she then progressed to the position of Head Tennis Coach in 1996, a position she held for some ten years.

Olga holds a BA in Physical Culture and Sport Her professional Coaching Qualifications are from the LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION and also US PTR .
Major achievements include the coaching of the Russian under Fourteens National team members resulting in 5 winning Champions of St Petersburg under 14’s.

In 2006, Olga moved to St Albans in Hertfordshire with her partner David Clover who owns Top SEO Position, a website design and marketing business.
She began coaching at Townsend Tennis Club in St Albans but has now transferred to Pirton Tennis Club. Olga still plays for Townsends Ladies First Team who are currently competing in the Championship Tennis League.

As an LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION Qualified Tennis Coach, Olga has a vast experience of teachingcoaching tennis to Adults and Children individually and in groups.

Tennis Court Construction – Asphalt

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One fine morning you make a decision that you want to construct a tennis court for yourself. Then you find that your mind is surrounded with lot of thoughts and ideas which makes the thought confusing. So here is some information that will make your task easy!!! Tennis court should be such that it looks nice and also it should perform well so as to keep the maintenance low.

One of the most popular tennis courts are the Asphalt tennis court. The biggest advantage of this tennis court is that the maintenance cost is lowest or even negligible at times. This advantage of an Asphalt tennis court makes it very popular among the small organizations like school, apartments or even a homeowner. But before concluding on the court one should first figure out the needs. The size and number of courts, the finish of the court etc the color, speed and cushioning can be customized to the owners preferences. An Asphalt tennis court consists of 4 inches to 6 inches compacted road rock with 1inch of Asphalt and acrylic color coating. These tennis courts can be categorized into Standard or Cushioned tennis court.

Standard Asphalt Tennis Court

The color coating process begins once the stone base and Asphalt has been installed and the asphalt has cured for two weeks. The court is flooded to trace out the uneven areas of the court (the areas of the asphalt surface). These low areas need to be filled up by applying patch binder mix. To seal the asphalt surface one needs to remove out the minor errors or imperfections by applying two coats of acrylic resurfacing product. Then the court is painted by two coats of acrylic followed by the playing lines. The pace in which the ball will bounce can be controlled by adding sand as required to the acrylic resurfacing products and acrylic court paint. The coating protects the court from weather and affects the playing characteristics of the court. A hard Court results in a fast game which means that the ball bounces of the court surface in a very low angle. One disadvantage of the standard asphalt tennis court is that it is sometimes very hard on the body and joints of the layers.

Cushioned Asphalt Tennis Court

When we apply a resilient layer on the asphalt court what results is a Cushioned asphalt tennis court. Cushioned court can be used for all weathers round the year matches. This characteristic of the court makes it favorable among the players. But the cushioned courts are relatively more costly than the hard courts. The cushioning is applied in between the acrylic resurfacing product and the court paint. Once the resurfacing product is applied, five to nine coats of cushion is applied. This includes first two to three coats of heavy rubber granules followed by fine rubber granules three to six coats.

The Playing Lines Specifications of the Tennis Court:

The outside dimensions of the playing lines for the doubles match should be 10.97m*23.77m and for singles8.23m*23.77m. The lines should be in between 2.5-5 cm in width. The base line should be 10 m in width and the centre line should be in 5 cm in width.

Orientation of the Tennis Court:

A tennis court should be laid so that the players are not distracted due to the sun or the shadow lines. The player should be able to follow the plight of the ball.

Every Tennis court is different and the outcome of the game really depends to some extent on the surface of the tennis court. Players must be aware of the surface so that they can judge and adjust their game plan accordingly.

Marketing Tennis Apparel To The Masses

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That’s why we see a lot of the stars wearing definitive collections of clothes from major sports clothing brands such as Nike, Adidas, and others.
An excellent example of this is the current marketing of the clothing lines of top players in men’s singles such as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Both players are under Nike when it comes to their tennis gear, and the contrast between the apparel of the two players works to the company’s advantage. Aside from the stark difference in playing style, the two figureheads of the tennis scene also have contrasting tennis fashion sense. Nike works this to its advantage by making the players’ tennis gear fit their own personal styles. Federer is the formal one, with his thigh-length shorts and standard-fit polos. Nadal is the renegade, with his sleeveless tops, capri shorts, and broad bandanas.
While men’s tennis seems to be a stickler for the traditional style, women’s tennis has seen tremendous variations over the years. Perhaps it has to do with the equation of women and fashion?there’s just too much to play with when it comes to women’s clothing.
Who can forget Serena Williams’ shiny black catsuit in the 2002 US Open? There’s also Bethanie Mattek’s body-hugging leopard-print getup in the 2004 US Open. Then again, when it comes to over-the-top outfits, Maria Sharapova’s Swarovski-studded gear bedazzled the US Open in 2007.
Another factor that women’s tennis has going for it is the sex appeal. Yes, folks, there are a ton of people who watch women’s tennis because those long-limbed ladies are simply irresistible in the variety of tennis gear. Some might find the fashion sense of scantily-clad women’s tennis players somehow offensive.
However, the fanciful garb combined with the on-court action really just blends into something that transcends form and skin. The curves of the players are accented by the motion of their skirts, which make watching women’s tennis a visual treat all its own. That’s why many find delight in seeing the various forms of Dinara Safina, Ana Ivanovic, and Maria Sharapova whether it’s on TV, on the Net, or live.
Marketing tennis players and their apparel sometimes overshadows the game itself. For example, one of the most well-known tennis stars is Anna Kournikova. A quick scan of her pro career shows nothing spectacular, although she was one of the best doubles players in the women’s circuit back then. In singles, though, she had 4 finals appearances in 130 tournaments, and never winning one. She never made it to any Grand Slam event final.
Still, her celebrity came mainly from becoming one of the poster girls for tennis apparel. She became popular and appreciated for her modeling shoots, which have been perceived as quite sexy and beautiful. Just how popular did she become? Get this: Her name was one of the most-searched strings of text on Google a while back.
Tennis apparel, in its various forms and incarnations, has tremendous marketing potential. So long as you can find the right type of gear for the right kind of player, it’s a winning combination.