Lawn Tennis
Tennis (ten'is), a game in which the players, using rackets, hit a ball back and forth across a net. The most widely played form of tennis is lawn tennis. It can be played by two opponents (singles) or by two teams of two players each (doubles). It is played by men, women, and children, either indoors or outdoors. The playing surface, or court, may be grass, clay, con- crete, wood, or one of several artificial materials. Other kinds of tennis are court tennis, deck tennis, paddle tennis, and table tennis, or Ping-Pong. These games are usually referred to by their full names, however, and the term "tennis" when used alone generally refers to lawn tennis. After lawn tennis was invented in the 19th century, it spread to virtually every country in the world. This game is particularly popular in Europe, the United States, and Australia. Court and Equipment The Court. Tennis is played on a rectangular court 78 feet (23 meters) long and 27 feet (8.2 meters) wide for singles or 36 feet (11 meters) wide for doubles. Most courts are laid out for doubles, with inner boundaries for singles play. The area between the singles and the doubles sidelines is known as the alley. The court is divided in the center by a net, which is suspended by a cable from posts 3 feet 6 inches (105 cm) high, set 3 feet (90 cm) outside the court on each Bride. The net is 3 feet high at the center of the court, where it is held down by a strap. On each side of the net, at a distance of 21 feet (6.4 meters) from it, is a service line, which runs parallel with the net and extends to the sidelines. A center service line runs par-allel with the sidelines and extends down the middle of the court from one service line to the other, dividing the forecourt into two service courts. At each end of the court and 18 feet (5.5 meters) back of the service line is a base line, which extends from one sideline to the other and marks the end of the backcourt. For important tournaments the space around the court is at least 21 feet (6.4 meters) beyond the base lines and 12 feet (3.6 meters) beyond the sidelines.