Tennis - sport of kings and clerics

By A.C. de Silva

TENNIS: Do you know how the terms `deuce', `love-all', `racket', etc. evolved? The history of the game provides most interesting reading.

Like most ball games, tennis first began as a solemn fertility rite in Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East. It was played initially as a game of hardball, and numerous variations in the rules existed, even to the point that it was played by some on horseback.

The game was developed further in France in the Middle Ages. Some people have suggested that the name of the game evolved through a corruption of the French `Tenezk', which means `Hold!', or `Pay heed!'.

Perhaps again, the name was a derivative of the Egyptian town on the River Nile, known as 'Tanis' in Greek and 'Tinnis' in Arabic, the city was famous for its fine linen; and the earliest tennis balls were made of this material.

An unknown ingenious enthusiast stretched catgut strings crosswise across the glove; and by the 16th century, the glove had sprouted a handle, to become the father of the modern tennis racket.

It is a strange coincidence that the word 'tamis' which is phonetically similar to `tennis', means 'sieve' in French - an apt description of the glove with strings stretched across it.

Tennis on a proper court was played in the early 13th century by Monks. Once cleric enjoyed the game so much that he did not turn up at worship, despite the fact this congregation was waiting for him, so engrossed did he get in the sport in 1245, to cirb the enthusiasm of such Monks, the Archbishop of Rouen issued an edict forbidding the clergy from playing the game.

By then, it had become the sport of kings. The Frenchness of tennis is reflected in the writings of William Shakespeare. In the play `Henry V' (Act 1, Sc. ii), the famous incident of 1414 is recounted, when the French Dauphin Lewis sent a gift of tennis balls to the English king. The suggestion behind the insulting gift was that Henry V should forego the dukedom for receiving a 'tun of treasure' - tennis balls. Henry's long and fitting reply is contained in the works of the great English poet, for those who would care to delve further into the story.

It has been suggested by scholars that the words `love-all' to signify that there was no score at the beginning of a game are also Shakespearean, in nature. "In Shakespeare's language, love has almost no value - his famous phrases 'neither for love or money' and `love's labour lost' come readily to mind", writes one. But this seems a little far-fetched, for some of Shakespeare's greatest works are devoted to extolling the virtues of love.

It was actually popularised by an English officer, a Major Walter Wingfield, who had earlier commanded a cavalry troop in China. He was on the constant lookout for something interesting to help his soldiers pass the evenings a - game that would catch his fancy, and also be a novelty. The game had also to be profitable to its inventor.

Major Wingfield designed a court that was shaped like an hour-glass, narrow at the net, and widest the baselines, with a couple of side-wings thrown in. He named the game `sphairistike', deriving the exotic name from the Greek word 'Sphaira', meaning ball. The Major managed to even get a patent on the game, and prospered on the faulty payments he received!