In 1873, a British officer, Major Walter Clopton Wingfield published the first book on the rules of the game and started selling nets and balls. By 1890 the rules had been formulated and Lawn Tennis got established as an international game.

In India, tennis was traditionally looked upon as a rich man's game due to the heavy cost of the equipment. However, in recent years the success of players like Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi has encouraged many youngsters to take up this sport. If you're interested in tennis as a profession the key is to start early - remember internationally renowned players like Steffi Graf started playing as early as 3 or 4.

After a point is scored, the server then serves from the other side of the center mark. This movement continues after each point, and only one person serves during one game. While serving if the ball lands outside the service area, or touches the net, a fault is marked. If the player touches the baseline before hitting the ball, it is also considered a fault. If two faults are scored one after the other the opponent scores a point.

The second player gets to serve the next game, and the players continue to take turns serving the games. Players also switch sides of the court after every odd numbered game.

When a player scores a point at deuce, that player is said to have the 'advantage'. If that player scores the next point, he or she wins the game. However, if the opposing player scores the point, then the score returns to deuce. The game then continues until one player scores two points in a row.

To win a set, a player has to win six games. If the score is 5-5, the player who gains two consecutive games wins. If the score is 6-6, a tiebreak is used to decide the winner.

To win a match, a player may have to win two out of three sets or three out of five sets according to pre-decided rules.

ACE - A near perfect serve which is so fast and accurate, the opponent can't even touch it.

ADVANTAGE - A scoring term uses when the game has been tied at 40-40, and one player scores a point over the other.

BACKCOURT - The playing area of the court near the back boundary line of the court.

BACKHAND - A stroke used by a player, to hit a ball on the opposite side of their natural hitting hand. The racket is brought across the body, and can be held with one or two hands.

BACKSWING - The first part of a stroke, where the player brings the racket into the hitting position. For example, the action taken before a serve.

BALL SENSE - The ability to judge how fast a ball is travelling, and where it will bounce.

BASELINE - The back line at each end of the tennis court.

DEEP SHOT - A shot that lands close to the back line of the opponent's side.

DEUCE - Another word for a 40-40 point tie during a game.

DOUBLE FAULT - Term used when two serves in a row fail to enter the opponent's service area.

DROP SHOT - A short hit which causes the ball to just drop over the net with very little bounce.

EASTERN GRIP - The basic forehand grip, achieved by simply shaking hands with the racket.

FAST COURT - A court with a surface that causes the ball to bounce faster.

FAULT - The term used when the ball hits the net while serving, or fails to land in the correct service court.

FOOT FAULT - A penalty caused by touching or stepping over the baseline when serving the ball.

FORECOURT - The playing area of the court between the service line and the net.

FOREHAND - A stroke used when a player hits the ball on the same side as his/ her hitting hand.

GROUNDSTROKES - A stroke used to hit a ball after it has bounced.

HALF-VOLLEY - A difficult stroke, where the ball is hit just after it bounces.

IN - Any ball that lands inside or on the boundary lines.

LET - A serve that touches the net and lands inside the opponent's service area. The serve is replayed but no fault is registered.

LOB - A ball hit high to clear the opponent's head, and land close to the baseline.

LOVE - A scoring term that means zero, either in points, games or sets.

MIXED DOUBLES - A doubles match in which the partners are a boy and a girl.

OUT - When the ball lands totally outside of the boundary lines.

OVERHEADS - Shots played above your head, such as a smash.

PRO- Professional tennis players.

RALLY - When players hit the ball many times before one of them drops it and a point is scored.

SERVE AND VOLLEY - When you serve the ball and immediately rush to the net to play a volley.

SERVICE COURT - The area where the serve must land to put the ball in play.

SET - Part of a match that ends when one player wins at least 6 games.

SINGLES - A tennis match played with just one player on each side of the net.

SLICE - A ball hit with spin, to make it curve in the air, and bounce left or right when it lands. Also known as underspin.

SLOW COURT - A hard court made of clay or tarmac, which causes the ball to bounce slowly and at a steeper angle.

SMASH - An overhead shot hit powerfully downward.

SWEET SPOT - The middle part of the racket's strings, and the best place to hit the ball.

TOSS - The act of throwing the ball in the air before serving.

VOLLEY - Hitting the ball before it bounces on the court.

WINNER - A serve or shot that results in a point being won.

The French Open played at the Roland-Garros stadium in Auteuil, just outside Paris, is the second most prestigious tennis tournament.

The US and Australian Open championships are the other important events in the tennis calendar.

The national team tennis events are the Davis Cup and the Federation Cup. Since 1988 tennis has also been a regular part of the Olympic games.

* The first Indian to play at Wimbledon was Sardar Nihal Singh who made in to the most prestigious tennis event of the tennis world as far back as 1908.

* India's first seeded player came as late as 1950. Dilip Bose managed to get the 15th rank in the Men's singles rankings at Wimbledon in that year.

* Sunil Varun holds the distinction of being the youngest Indian umpire. Varun was selected as a level 1 umpire by the International tennis federation when he was studying in the IX standard!

* The world's longest tennis match was played by Indians. In 1974, the Amritraj brothers, Vijay and Anand playing against Australia's Colin Dibley and John Alexander took 4 hours 45 minutes to win the match 17-15, 6-8, 6-3, 16-18, 6-4. The match had 99 games which also made it the second longest match in terms of number of games played.

For more details on tennis in India contact:
All India Tennis Association
B-3/7, Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi-2
Tel: 3274178, 3274177, 3264250, 3264263