History of Tennis in Timeline

Tennis is a racket sport played between two opponents (singles) or two teams of two (doubles). Players use rackets to hit a felt-covered ball over a net into the opponent's court. The goal is to make a shot the opponent cannot return, thus scoring a point. The game focuses on strategically maneuvering the ball to gain an advantage and win points.

1900: Davis Cup founded

In 1900, the Davis Cup, an annual competition between men's national teams, was established.

1905: Australian Open founding date

The Australian Open was founded in 1905 and went on to become one of the four most prestigious events in tennis, later referred to as the Majors or Slams.

1913: International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) founded

In 1913, the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF), now known as the International Tennis Federation (ITF), was founded and established three official tournaments as the major championships of the day.

1920: Bill Tilden wins Wimbledon singles titles

From 1920 to 1930, Bill Tilden won singles titles at Wimbledon three times and the US Championships seven times.

March 1923: World Championship title dropped

On 16 March 1923, in Paris, the title "World Championship" was dropped and a new category of "Official Championship" was created for events in Great Britain, France, the US and Australia, what are today's Grand Slam events.

1924: Tennis withdraws from the Olympics

In 1924, tennis withdrew from the Olympics after the 1924 Games, but returned 60 years later as a 21-and-under demonstration event in 1984.

1925: French Championships open to international players

In 1925, the French Championships were opened up to tennis players who were not members of French clubs, previously only French club members could compete.

1926: First professional tennis tour established

In 1926, promoter C. C. Pyle established the first professional tennis tour with a group of American and French tennis players playing exhibition matches to paying audiences. Notable players included Vinnie Richards and Suzanne Lenglen. Players turning pro would no longer be permitted to compete in the major (amateur) tournaments.

1930: Bill Tilden wins US Championships

From 1920 to 1930, Bill Tilden won singles titles at Wimbledon three times and the US Championships seven times.

1937: Donald Budge begins his Grand Slam streak

In 1937 and 1938, Donald Budge won six consecutive major titles, including being the first person to win all four major singles titles during the same calendar year (1938).

1938: Donald Budge wins the Grand Slam

In 1938, Donald Budge became the first person to win all four major singles titles during the same calendar year, completing the Grand Slam. He also won six consecutive major titles in 1937 and 1938.

1950: Associated Press poll names Bill Tilden the greatest player

In 1950, an Associated Press poll named Bill Tilden as the greatest player of the first half of the 20th century.

1954: International Tennis Hall of Fame founded

In 1954, Van Alen founded the International Tennis Hall of Fame, a nonprofit museum in Newport, Rhode Island, housing a large collection of tennis memorabilia.

1961: Server rule change

In 1961, a rule change in modern tennis allowed servers to lift their foot off the ground, whereas before the server had to keep one foot on the ground at all times.

1962: Rod Laver wins calendar year Grand Slam

In 1962 Rod Laver was the only male player to have won the calendar year Grand Slam.

1963: Fed Cup founded

In 1963, the Fed Cup (originally named the Federation Cup), the analogous competition for women's national teams, was founded to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the ITF.

1967: Rod Laver wins calendar year Professional Grand Slam

In 1967 Rod Laver was the only male player to have won the calendar year Professional Grand Slam.

1968: Inauguration of the Open Era

In 1968, the Open Era was inaugurated, allowing all players to compete in all tournaments and top players to make a living from tennis due to commercial pressures and rumors of amateurs taking money under the table. This abandoned the distinction between amateur and professional players.

1969: Rod Laver wins calendar year Grand Slam again

In 1969 Rod Laver was the only male player to have won the calendar year Grand Slam twice

1979: Jack Kramer praises Donald Budge in his autobiography

In his 1979 autobiography, Jack Kramer said that, based on consistent play, Donald Budge was the greatest player ever.

1984: Tennis reinstatement as a demonstration event at the Olympics

In 1984, tennis was reinstated as a 21-and-under demonstration event at the Olympics after having withdrawn from the Olympics in 1924.

1988: Andre Agassi skips Wimbledon

Andre Agassi chose to skip Wimbledon in 1988 citing the event's traditionalism, particularly its "predominantly white" dress code.

1988: Tennis returns to the Summer Olympic Games

In 1988, tennis returned as one of the original Olympic sports and has been consistently competed in the Summer Olympic Games ever since.

1988: Tennis returns to the Olympics as a full-medal sport

In 1988, tennis was reintroduced as a full-medal sport at the Seoul Olympics.

1990: Andre Agassi skips Wimbledon again

Andre Agassi chose to skip Wimbledon again in 1990 citing the event's traditionalism, particularly its "predominantly white" dress code.

1990: The "Super 9" events designated

In 1990, when the ATP began running the men's tour, the directors designated the top nine tournaments, outside of the Grand Slam events, as "Super 9" events.

1997: Racket length rule change

In 1997, the maximum length of the tennis racket frame was shortened from 32 inches (81 cm) to 29 inches (74 cm).

December 1999: Graf named greatest female tennis player of the 20th century

In December 1999, Steffi Graf was named the greatest female tennis player of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by the Associated Press.

2000: Lisa Raymond passed over for Team USA

For the 2000 Olympics, Lisa Raymond, despite being the top-ranked doubles player in the world, was passed over for Team USA in favor of Serena Williams by captain Billie Jean King, leading to an unsuccessful challenge by Raymond.

2000: "Super 9" events become the Tennis Masters Series

In 2000, the "Super 9" events became the Tennis Masters Series.

2004: ITF implemented a new rankings scheme

In 2004, the ITF implemented a new rankings scheme to encourage greater participation in doubles, by combining two rankings (singles and doubles) into one combined tally.

2004: Tennis Masters Series becomes the ATP Masters Series

In 2004, the Tennis Masters Series became the ATP Masters Series.

2006: Billie Jean King calls Navratilova greatest player

In 2006, Billie Jean King called Martina Navratilova the greatest singles, doubles and mixed doubles player who's ever lived.

2006: US Open and other tournaments start using challenge system

In 2006, The US Open, Miami Masters, US Open Series, and World Team Tennis started using the Hawk-Eye challenge system, which allows players to appeal line calls.

August 2007: ATP announces major tour changes

In August 2007, the ATP announced major changes to the tour that were introduced in 2009, including renaming the Masters Series to the "ATP Masters 1000".

2007: Australian Open and Wimbledon introduce challenge system

In 2007, the Australian Open and Wimbledon introduced the Hawk-Eye challenge system, allowing players to challenge line calls.

June 2008: Bleacher Report ranks Martina Navratilova as top female player

In June 2008, the Bleacher Report published a list ranking Martina Navratilova as the top female tennis player of all time.

2009: Masters Series renamed to "ATP Masters 1000"

In 2009, the Masters Series was renamed to the "ATP Masters 1000", referring to the number of ranking points earned by the winner of each tournament.

2009: Coaching on court allowed in WTA Tour events

In 2009, the WTA Tour events introduced a rule allowing coaching on court on a limited basis during a match. A player can request her coach once per set.

July 2010: John Wertheim names Serena Williams the greatest female tennis player ever

In July 2010, Sportswriter John Wertheim of Sports Illustrated stated in an article that Serena Williams is the greatest female tennis player ever.

2011: Six of nine "1000" level tournaments are combined ATP and WTA events

As of 2011, six of the nine "1000" level tournaments are combined ATP and WTA events.

March 2012: Tennis Channel publishes list of the 100 greatest players

In March 2012, the Tennis Channel published a combined list of the 100 greatest men and women tennis players of all time, with Steffi Graf ranked as the greatest female player (3rd overall).

2012: Dubai Tennis Championships offer largest financial incentive

In 2012, the Dubai Tennis Championships offered the largest financial incentive to players, with total prize money of US$2,313,975.

November 2018: Graf chosen as greatest women's tennis player of all time

In November 2018, Tennis.com polled its readers and Graf came in first as the greatest women's tennis player of all time.

2018: US Open prize money distribution

As of 2018 in the US Open, the men's and women's singles prize money (US$40,912,000) accounted for 80.9 percent of total player base compensation. Men's and women's doubles (US$6,140,840), men's and women's singles qualifying (US$3,008,000), and mixed doubles (US$505,000) accounted for 12.1 percent, 5.9 percent, and 1.0 percent, respectively.