France’s Amelie Mauresmo, a two-time Grand Slam winner and former world number one, was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Mauresmo spent a total of 39 weeks atop the world rankings in 2004 and 2006, winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2006. She is one of three French women to win a Grand Slam title in the Open Era, along with Mary Pierce and Marion Bartoli.
Facts About Tennis
- Prior to the use of rackets in tennis, people used their palms to hit the ball back and forth. The palm method was replaced in the 1500s when rackets were introduced.
- The most famous tennis events are The U.S. Open, the French Open, the Australian Open, and Wimbledon.
- Venus Williams and her sister Serena both won Olympic gold medals for tennis. They are the first set of sisters to accomplish this.
- The modern game of tennis originated in Birmingham, England, in the late 19th century as “lawn tennis”.
- The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is the governing body of world tennis.
Test Your Knowledge
Who was the first African American to win the U.S. Open? Arthur Ashe
