Tennis is a sport usually played between two players (singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles). Each player uses a racketthat is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court.

The modern game of tennis originated in the United Kingdom in the late 19th century as "lawn tennis" which has close connections to various field/lawn games as well as to the ancient game of real tennis. Until then, "tennis" referred to the latter sport: for example, in Disraeli's novelSybil (1845), Lord Eugene De Vere announces that he will "go down to Hampton Court and play tennis. As it is the Derby [classic horse race], nobody will be there".^[1] After its creation, lawn tennis spread throughout the upper-class English-speaking population before spreading around the world.^[2] Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all ages. The sport can be played by anyone who can hold a racket, including people in wheelchairs.