Real tennis is the original racquet sport from which the modern game of lawn tennis, or tennis, is descended. Real tennis is still played by enthusiasts on 47 existing courts in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and France.
Real Tennis has its origins in Europe during the Middle Ages. Though tennis is traditionally thought of as the game of kings, early records show that it was widely played among the French clergy. It is thought the monastic style buildings lent themselves to games played within the quadrangles and games that utilised the walls. The balls were first made from the monks’ discarded robes. Among the English kings Henry VII, Henry VIII, Charles I and Charles II and James II are all known to have played, with Henry VIII being responsible for the Royal court, which still exists at Hampton Court Palace.
The Real Tennis World Championship is the longest running continuous world championship of any sport. Robert Fahey, a former RMTC professional, is the current world champion. Rob will defend his title in May 2010 at the RMTC for the tenth time since first winning it in 1994.
[...] started a few weeks ago, towards the end of a game of Real Tennis – with a GP friend – I suddenly tore my right gastrocnemius. I’ve been hobbling [...]