10 Things You Always Wanted to Know About Tennis but Were Too Afraid to Ask – #Tennis

Loud grunts, a strange scoring system, and some of the world’s wealthiest players all make tennis a game that’s equal parts exciting and quirky. The tennis experts at WimbledonDebentureHolders.com have tracked down these ten interesting facts about tennis that you always wanted to know, but were too afraid to ask.

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image courtesy of ebbandflowphotography

 

When and where did tennis originate?

Most historians believe that tennis originated in 12th century France, where it was played by partygoers using the back of one’s hand.

 

Why do tennis players check the ball?

Ever wonder why tennis players check the ball before serving? When they look at the ball, they’re checking for scuffs and other damage that could cause it to fly in a certain direction unnaturally.

 

Who is the world’s richest tennis player?

While it’s impossible to know the exact net worth of most tennis players, the game’s current most wealthy players are believed to be the Swiss player Roger Federer and Russian player Maria Sharapova.

 

Why does tennis use an unusual scoring system?

The scoring system used in tennis is believed to have been derived from the face of a clock. The 15-30-40 scoring system is reportedly based on the quarters – aside from the last scoring point – of a clock.

 

Why is ‘deuce’ used in tennis scoring?

‘Deuce’ actually means two – the number of points that a player must score to exit the tie and win the game.

 

Why do players grunt when they hit the ball?

Tennis players grunt for two reasons. The first is to distract their opponents and let them make a mistake. The second is to let out air from the huge amount of exertion required to make a powerful shot. The “grunt-o-meter” is a hand-held device that measures the volume of players – in 2012 USA Today reported that Maria Sharapova is by far the loudest grunter.

 

Who has the fastest serve in tennis?

The world’s fastest tennis service belongs to Australian player Samuel Groth, who served the ball at an incredible 163.4 miles per hour during the 2012 Busan Open Challenger Tennis Tournament.

 

Why are tennis balls green?

Experienced players will know that tennis balls are actually yellow. Tennis balls are engineered in a high-visibility colour so that they can easily be seen by both players and spectators on a variety of different tennis courts.

 

How long was the longest tennis game?

The longest tennis game in history lasted over 11 hours and was played at the 2010 Wimbledon tournament. Isner & Mahut played a match that spanned across 3 days, with the final set having lasted 8 hours!

 

How long is the ball in active play?

While the average tennis game takes around two hours, the ball actually spends less than a quarter of that time in play. In most games, the ball is in the air for around 30 minutes.

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