Rallies, risks, rewards: The heart of tennis explained, from 12th-century origin to modern Grand Slams

If you’ve been following Sports News Blitz, you’ve probably seen plenty of content on tennis, Formula 1, and cricket. And if you’ve been following me, Ishita Trivedi, then you’ve likely only caught my thoughts on cricket so far.

But today, I’m stepping into new territory – onto a court lined with white chalk, where a net is stretched tight and a ball seems to carry with it both elegance and fire.

Yes, today I’m writing about tennis.

I’ve always admired this game from a distance: the graceful leaps across the court, the soft deception of a drop shot, the sudden burst of power in a forehand – it’s all so beautiful to watch.

But for a long time, I couldn’t quite love tennis fully, because the scoring system left me baffled. Why did numbers jump from 15 to 30 to 40? Why did some sets end at 6-4 while others dragged on to 7-6? And what was a ‘break point’?

If you’ve found yourself equally puzzled, don’t worry – you’re not alone. Let me explain.

Journey through history

Tennis traces its origins back to 12th-century France, where monks played a handball game called jeu de paume – ‘game of the palm’.

Over the centuries, rackets replaced hands, lawns replaced monasteries, and by 1877 the first Wimbledon Championships took place in England.

Legends like Suzanne Lenglen, Rod Laver, Serena Williams, and Roger Federer have since carried forward the sport’s unique blend of athleticism, style, and pure thrill.

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Tennis explained simply

At its heart, tennis is simple: two players (or pairs) rally a ball back and forth, aiming to outsmart each other.

The scoring, however, adds drama as each game begins at ‘love’ (zero), then goes 15, 30, 40, and game.

If both players reach 40, it’s called deuce and represents a moment of tension. From deuce, a player must then win two consecutive points to secure the game.

The first point won after deuce gives ‘advantage’, and if the player with advantage loses the next point, it goes back to deuce – as a result, it becomes a relentless tug-of-war that tests focus, nerves, and stamina.

Now, imagine the break point: when the player returning serve is one point away from winning the server’s game.

Serving is an advantage in tennis, so breaking serve can feel like stealing the spotlight, and winning a break point can swing momentum instantly – one minute the server is confident, the next the crowd erupts for the breaker.

Six games usually make a set, and you must lead by two to win, although at 6-6, a tiebreak is held to decide the set – first to seven points, win by two.

Men in Grand Slams play best-of-five sets, while women play best-of-three.

The story goes back to tradition and endurance: historically, men’s matches were designed to test ultimate stamina and resilience over long afternoons, whereas women’s matches focused on speed, intensity, and sharp strategy.

Today, this distinction continues, though there’s ongoing discussion about equality in match formats.

Either way, each format has its own beauty – grueling endurance for men, concise drama for women.

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The majestic four

At the top of professional tennis are the four Grand Slams: Wimbledon, the French Open, the US Open, and the Australian Open.

Each surface – grass, clay, and hard court – tells its own story, and to win across all four is to master the game’s full spectrum of patience, speed, adaptability, and artistry.

Ultimately, though, tennis is more than serves and scores – it’s a dance of discipline and daring, a contest of wills, and, sometimes, a test of the human spirit.

Understanding deuce, break points, and set formats might seem like learning a new language, but once you do, it opens the door to pure appreciation.

Shall we continue this journey? Perhaps in a second part, next week. Until then, let’s keep the rally going.

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