About This Timeline
This timeline combines the content from other articles on Briefhistory.net into an easy to follow sequential format. It is not intended to introduce new information but to display it in a new way. The bits of information that were combined to create this timeline include the following:
As we add new content to BriefHistory.net, we will also update this timeline with new and interesting bits of trivia and place them into the proper place in the timeline.
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1872
Harry Gem Established Lawn Tennis
Harry Gem excelled in cricket, running and racket playing. Combine the aspects of these sports and it’s not surprising that Gem is credited as being responsible for creating a game that has evolved into today’s game of tennis. He was the first in bringing the game of lawn tennis to the public playing field in a joint effort with other Englishmen in creating a tennis club. Gem established the laws of the game of lawn tennis in 1872 and these rules are still the basis of the game as it is played today.
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1873
The Game of Spharistike
Major Walter Clopton WIngfield is credited with inventing the modern version of the game. In December of 1873 he patented the game of spharistike. This is the game we know today as tennis
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1874
The First Tennis Courts Emerged
In 1874, Major Walter Wingfield acquired the patent rights for the equipments and rules for the game which bore close resemblance to the modern tennis. On the same year, the first tennis courts emerged in the United States. The game soon spread to different parts of the world like Russia, Canada, China and India. The smooth croquet courts served as ready tennis courts during those times. The original court devised by Wingfield was in the shape of an hourglass which tapered at the net. It was shorter than the modern court which we have today. His version of tennis courts and the rules of games underwent a fair amount of changes and amendments till the game gave to the modernized version which is played today.
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1877
All England Club
The year 1877 saw the All England Club coming up with the first Wimbledon tournament and the tournament committee played with a rectangular court and played with a set of rules that are associated with the modernized version the game.
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1881
First US Open
The US Open event was first held in August 1881 at Newport Casino in Newport Rhode Island. It was a men’s singles tournament and it was called the US National Singles Championship for men.
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1887
First US Women’s National Singles Championship
The first official US Women’s National Singles Championship was played at the Philadelphia Cricket Club in the year 1887. Ellen Hansel was the winner of the tournament. This was soon followed by the US Women’s National Doubles Championship in the year 1889.
