Tennis

Tennis is a racquet sport played individually against a single opponent (singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles). It is played on a rectangular court divided by a net, with players using a stringed racquet to hit a lightweight ball over the net and into the opponent’s court. The objective is to score points by hitting the ball in such a way that the opponent is unable to return it successfully.

The sport originated in England in the late 19th century and has various formats and styles of play. Points are scored in a sequence leading to games, which are grouped into sets, and matches are typically played as the best of three or five sets. Tennis is governed by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and is played on grass, clay, or hard courts, each surface affecting the ball’s speed and bounce.

Tennis is known for its combination of physical endurance, strategic thinking, and mental focus, making it a popular recreational and competitive sport worldwide. Major tournaments include the Grand Slam events: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.