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Focus Summer 2017
June 17-25
Sailing - America’s Cup Bermuda
June 20-24
Horse Racing - Royal Ascot
June 21-25
International Cricket - England v South Africa Twenty20
June 24
Rugby Union - New Zealand v British Lions 1
st
Test
June 25
Motor Racing - Formula 1 Grand Prix Azerbaijan
July 1
Rugby Union - New Zealand v British Lions 2
nd
Test
July 1-23
Cycling - Tour de France
July 3-16
Tennis - Wimbledon
July 20-23
Golf - The Open Royal Birkdale
August 4-13
Athletics - World Championships London
August 12
Start of Premier League season
August 21-27
Badminton - World Championships Glasgow
Sept 3-10
Cycling - Tour of Britain
A Little Sporting Focus…
some future events for 2017
SOME TENNIS HISTORY
T
he game that most people call
tennis is the direct descendant
of what is now known as real ten-
nis or royal tennis. Most of the
rules of the game commonly
known as tennis derive from real
or royal tennis.
Most historians believe that tennis
originated in the monastic clois-
ters in northern France in the 12th
century, but the ball was then
struck with the palm of the hand.
It was not until the 16th century
that rackets came into use, and
the game began to be called "ten-
nis." It was popular in England and
France and Henry VIII of England
was a big fan of the game.
Many original tennis courts re-
main, including courts at Oxford,
Cambridge, Falkland Palace in Fife
where Mary Queen of Scots regu-
larly played, and Hampton Court
Palace.
In 1926, promoter C.C. Pyle creat-
ed the first professional tennis
tour with a group of American and
French tennis players playing exhi-
bition matches to paying audienc-
es. Once a player turned pro he or
she could not compete in the ma-
jor (amateur) tournaments.
In 1968, commercial pressures and
rumours of some amateurs taking
money under the table led to the
abandonment of this distinction,
inaugurating the "open era", in
which all players could compete in
all tournaments. With the begin-
ning of the open era and the estab-
lishment of an international
professional tennis circuit tennis's
popularity has spread worldwide.