Tenisz

Tenisz, the Hungarian term for tennis, is a racquet sport played on a rectangular court separated by a net. It is contested in singles (two players) or doubles (four players). Players strike a ball with a stringed racquet to land it within the opponent’s court, aiming to win points by forcing errors or by the ball landing out of reach.

Origins lie in medieval Europe, where forms of jeu de paume were played with bare hands or racquets. The modern game was codified in Britain during the late 19th century, with lawn tennis popularized and standardized by the 1870s. The inaugural major championship was held at Wimbledon in 1877, and the sport soon spread worldwide. Early designers, including Walter Clopton Wingfield, contributed to the development of lawn tennis.

Match play is based on points, games, and sets. A game is won by reaching four points (0, 15, 30, 40) with at least a two-point margin; at 40-40, the player must win two consecutive points. A set is typically won by the first player to six games with a two-game margin; a tiebreak is commonly used at 6–6. A match comprises the best of three or five sets, depending on the event.

Court surfaces vary: grass, clay, hard, and occasionally carpet. The standard singles court measures 23.77 meters in length; width is 8.23 meters for singles and 10.97 meters for doubles. The net sits 0.914 meters high at center. Equipment includes a racquet with strings, tennis balls, proper footwear, and suitable attire.

Globally, tennis is governed by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). The professional game runs separate tours for men (ATP) and women (WTA). The four Grand Slam tournaments are the Australian Open, the French Open (Roland Garros), Wimbledon, and the US Open.

In Hungary, tennis is administered by the Magyar Tenisz Szövetség, which oversees national competitions, development programs, and Hungary’s participation in international events.