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Step onto the court and test your tennis trivia. From royal origins and Wimbledon traditions to quirky rules and record-breaking rallies, see how well you know the world of tennis.
Ball Boy in Training 0–4 · Weekend Rallier 5–8 · Centre Court Regular 9–10
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Wimbledon has a notoriously strict dress code requiring players to wear 'almost entirely white' clothing. This rule was introduced in the 19th century because sweat patches on colored clothing were considered unsightly and inappropriate for polite society.
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King Louis X of France died in 1316 after a particularly grueling game of 'jeu de paume', an early form of tennis. After the game, he drank a large quantity of cooled wine and contracted a sudden illness, possibly pneumonia, though some suspected poison.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.
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While many believe 'love' comes from the French word 'l'oeuf' (egg) due to its shape, there is no historical evidence for this. It most likely comes from the English phrase 'to play for love', meaning playing for the pure affection of the game rather than for money or stakes.
Photo: Luiz Eduardo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
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The name comes from the French word 'tenez', which means 'take hold' or 'receive'. Medieval players in France would shout this out as a warning to their opponent that they were about to serve. Over time, English players adapted the sound of the word into 'tennis'.
Photo: Razzle-dazzle, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.
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Early tennis balls, used in the medieval precursor known as real tennis, were made of leather and stuffed with materials like dog hair, wool, or even sawdust. This made them heavy and dangerous. The bounce improved dramatically when vulcanized rubber was introduced in the 19th century.
Photo: Miscellaneous contributor, Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
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A Harris's hawk named Rufus is employed to fly over the courts most mornings before play begins. Rufus's job is to deter local pigeons from nesting in the roof or landing on the grass, ensuring the players are not distracted during matches.
Photo: Catherine Wright, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
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Since 2001, Wimbledon's courts have been sown with 100% perennial ryegrass to improve durability and withstand the heavy wear of modern play. Groundskeepers cut the grass to an exact height of eight millimeters every single day during the tournament.
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An ace is a serve so good that the returner doesn't get a racket on the ball, winning the point instantly. Big servers can hit the ball at more than 230 km/h, and some players serve dozens of aces in a single long match.
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Early real tennis rackets had a slightly tilted, asymmetrical head to make it easier to strike balls that were very close to the floor or the walls of the indoor courts. Oval rackets only became the standard when lawn tennis was popularized in the late 19th century.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.
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A Golden Set is a flawless performance where a player wins all 24 points in a six-game set, leaving their opponent with zero points. It is incredibly rare in professional tennis, having only happened a handful of times in tennis history.
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