from Parker's Piece by J.K. Stephen
Real tennis as it is called in England, Royal tennis as it is called in Australia, Court tennis as it is called in the United States, or tennis as it is properly known is the oldest of all racket games.
The game started to form in the 11th century when it started as hand ball played by monks in Italy and France. The game of tennis is a product of evolution rather than pure invention and, as such, the modern version of the game is very different than the original version.
The first tennis courts in the United States were built in 1876. In the late 19th century, the game became very popular in Britian with the advent of lawn tennis. By the 1930's, tennis had become Australia's most popular recreational sport.
The first world tennis championship was held in 1877 at the All England Croquet Club at Wimbledon in Great Britian.
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