Though it’s well known for being beloved among royalty ( Henry VIII was a notable and avid player, and the French revolutionaries’ tennis court oath was made on an indoor court at Versailles), it was also enjoyed among commoners and monks. Over a course of the next few centuries the game saw periods of incredible popularity, with more than 1,000 tennis courts in Paris in the 16th century.
With its strong association with pageant traditions of the French court, Wilson says, tennis was highly stylized from the beginning.
It was initially played with the palm of the hand, and rackets were added by 16th century. The modern game of tennis traces back to a medieval game called jeu de paume, which began in 12th century France. Despite its complexity, the tennis scoring system has been stable since the Victorian period.
