Tennis is the fourth most competitive sport in the world. However, only three countries make up 50 percent of the world's tennis players. China represents 22 percent, the USA has 20.7 percent, while India's share is 9.2 percent.
Asia has the highest number of players, with most of these coming from China and India. The two nations account for about 38 percent of the total global number. Second to Asia is Europe, representing about 31.2 percent of total global players. North America comes third with 23.2 percent.
Even with the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of tennis players in the United States kept increasing. According to the United States Tennis Association, the nation's tennis governing body, 21 million people played tennis in 2020. About seven million were new or returning players, representing a 44 percent increase from 2019.
Tennis dates back to the 12th and 13th centuries in France. The French called it "jeu de paume," meaning "the palm game." This is because players used their hands to hit the ball. The British later adopted the sport in the 16th century.
Compared to the original French tennis, the British version introduced rackets. They called it "lawn tennis" since Victorian men and women would play the sport on grass courts. Today, however, it is played on a variety of surfaces.
Modern tennis traces its roots in the 19th century in London, England. In 1873, Walter Wingfield, a Briton, invented manicured lawns and rubber balls similar to those used today. Nonetheless, it wasn't until the 1870s that the sport became popular in England.
It later spread to the United States in 1881. Still, despite the country having considerable participation in the sport, Australia, France, England, Switzerland, and New Zealand are the top five countries where tennis is most popular.
Importantly, the sport's global popularity began in the 1960s when sports associations in different countries welcomed amateur and professional players to compete. Additionally, television coverage in countries like the United States meant more people could watch the game from home.
Nevertheless, the rivalries between the players from this era onwards have made tennis what it is today. As a professional sport, it requires top talent despite beginner and amateur players participating in various tournaments.
Some reasons for its popularity from the 1960s include innovations in playing equipment and fashion. For instance, initial rackets came in standard shapes and sizes but now feature varying designs made from different materials. Also, while early tennis balls were white, you can find tennis balls in various hues, with yellow being the preferred color for many.
For seasoned and amateur athletes, tennis has several benefits, some of which enhance overall health. As with any aerobic activity, tennis boosts cardiovascular health and burns body fat. It also increases a person's range of motion due to swinging and reaching for the ball, which stretches the muscles and tendons and lubricates the joints.
Also, because of the various body movements involved, including leaning for a backhand and swinging backward and forward, tennis helps one strengthen their balance. This way, the body learns to maintain its equilibrium.
One also reduces their risk of osteoporosis. The racket a player uses all the time is subject to gravity, and holding it steady for a perfect shot requires a strong musculoskeletal system. Therefore, it helps improve bone strength.
Additionally, tennis helps enhance motor control. This is when a person stabilizes one body part while moving another. Tennis' range of body movements enhances such control.
Moreover, it helps one to improve agility. Being agile happens when one can move their body in different directions swiftly. It requires quick responses, speed, balance, and coordination.
