The sport of tennis has been played in one form or another for more than
800 years. It can trace its roots to games played by monks in the 12th
century. Through the years the game has evolved from one in which the
ball was struck with the hands to the modern game in which rackets are
used to propel the ball in excess of 150 miles per hour. From the sport
of the elite to the sport played by elite athletes, tennis has grown
immensely in the past 135 years and it remains one of the few sporting
pastimes that is played extensively by people of all ages and all
nationalities. The Historical Dictionary of Tennis presents a
comprehensive history of the game through a chronology, an introductory
essay, a bibliography, photos, and over 500 cross-referenced dictionary
entries on places, teams, terminology, and people, including Arthur
Ashe, Björn Borg, Don Budge, Chris Evert, Roger Federer, Billie Jean
King, Rod Laver, Suzanne Lenglen, John McEnroe, Rafael Nadal, Martina
Navratilova, and Bill Tilden. Appendixes of the members of the
International Tennis Hall of Fame, the Major Championships of Tennis,
and the Olympic games are included. This book is an excellent access
point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about
tennis.