Women's tennis

Women's tennis

A tennis match at Wimbledon's Centre Court (2007)
Highest governing body	International Tennis Federation
First played	Between 1859 and 1865, Birmingham, England
Characteristics
Contact	No
Team members	Single or doubles
Mixed gender	Yes, separate tours & mixed doubles
Type	Outdoor
Equipment	Tennis ball, tennis racket
Venue	Indoor or outdoor tennis court
Presence
Country or region	Worldwide
Olympic	Yes, part of Summer Olympic programme from 1896 to 1924 Demonstration sport in the 1968 and 1984 Summer Olympics Part of Summer Olympic programme since 1988
Paralympic	Yes, part of Summer Paralympic programme since 1992

Women's tennis is one of the most popular sports for women. It is one of the few sports where women command fame and popularity that equals men's sporting counterparts.Women's Tennis Association is the main organisation which runs female tennis.

Women's tennis is present from the first Olympic Games in 1900 in Paris and 1908 in London, but the women's doubles only appeared in 1920 at the Antwerp Games.

The first real star of women's tennis is Suzanne Lenglen, who after six titles won at Wimbledon and the Internationaux de France leaves the amateur tennis to achieve a first professional tour in North America in 1926-1927. It is then considered a " Diva " 2.

However women's tennis not really become established until the 1960s, and especially with the establishment of the WTA in the 1970s.

In women's tennis matches the ball is usually played without effect (less than lift) and games tend to play more from the baseline; typing is generally less powerful than men. The game is made in a more tactical speed and anticipation. The service is also less powerful; it is relatively less important than for men. However, there has been a noted evolution in this field since the 1990s.