Women's tennis is one of the most popular sports for
women
A woman is an adult female human. Prior to adulthood, a female human is referred to as a girl (a female child or adolescent). The plural ''women'' is sometimes used in certain phrases such as "women's rights" to denote female humans regardl ...
. It is one of the few sports in which women command fame and popularity that equal those of their male counterparts.
Women's Tennis Association
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) is the principal organizing body of women's professional tennis. It governs the WTA Tour which is the worldwide professional tennis tour for women and was founded to create a better future for women's tenn ...
is the main organisation which runs female tennis.
History
Women's tennis is present from the first
Olympic Games
The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a vari ...
in 1900 in Paris and 1908 in London, but the women's doubles only appeared in 1920 at the Antwerp Games.
One of the first superstars of women's tennis is
Suzanne Lenglen, who after six titles won at
Wimbledon and the Internationaux de France left amateur tennis to achieve a first professional tour in North America in 1926–1927. It is then considered a "Diva" 2.
However women's tennis did not really become established until the 1960s, and especially with the establishment of the
Women's Tennis Association
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) is the principal organizing body of women's professional tennis. It governs the WTA Tour which is the worldwide professional tennis tour for women and was founded to create a better future for women's tenn ...
in the 1970s.
Features of women's tennis
In women's tennis matches the ball is usually played without effect (less than lift) and games tend to play more from the baseline; typing is generally less powerful than men. The game is made in a more tactical speed and anticipation. The service is also less powerful; it is relatively less important than for men. However, there has been a noted evolution in this field since the 1990s, women's tennis is improving and is growing more and more popular.
Controversy
Women's tennis has been marked by several cases, including cases of sexual abuse by trainers. The world of women's tennis is sometimes described as "homophobic" and "sexist".
See also
*
Battle of the Sexes
*
Women's tennis in Australia
While not being urged to avoid competition, women had few opportunities to compete in sport in Australia until the 1880s. After that date, new sporting facilities were being built around the country and many new sport clubs were created. One of ...
*
Women's tennis in South Africa
*
Women's tennis in the United States
Women's tennis has been played in the United States for over a century where several important and famous female tennis players originated.
History
By 1888, American women tennis players were agitating for their own championship competition. USL ...
Bibliography
*Le tennis féminin français, Vincent Cognet, Romain Lefebvre, Philippe Maria, Ed. du stade, 1999 ()
*Les dessous du tennis féminin, Nathalie Tauziat, ed. J'ai lu, 2001 ()
*N'oublie pas de gagner: Dans les coulisses du tennis féminin, Dominique Bonnot, ed. Stock, 20157 ()
*Women's Tennis Tactics, Rob Antoun, Human Kinetics, 2007 ()
References
{{Authority control
tennis
Tennis is a racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent ( singles) or between two teams of two players each ( doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket that is strung with cord to strike a hollow rubber ball ...
History of tennis