Tennis 31.05.2010
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players (singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles). Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt past 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 heavy connections to various field/lawn games as well as to the ancient game of real tennis. Tennis is an Olympic sport.
Tennis in Russia
The first mention of lawn tennis appeared in the novel of Lev Tolstoy’s «Anna Karenina», which in 1875-78 was printed by parts in the Russian Gazette magazine. It is well known that the great Russian writer was an enthusiastic fan of all sorts of physical exercises. So it is no coincidence that he was also the first propagandist of a new sport, which was very popular those years.
The first court was built in St. Petersburg in 1866. Date of the tennis birth is considered to be August 28, 1878, when enthusiasts demonstrated to the public a game which was called lawn tennis. After then the manifesto «On the development of lawn tennis in Russia» was issued.
It took another 30 years before the first All-Russian competition was held in July 1897. Even foreigners – the Austrians and the French – wanted to take part in the competition. But apparently fearing the unstable political situation in Russia, they didn’t arrive to the tournament.
The first champions of Russia were Georgiy Bray and Nadezhda Martynova. The first national championship was held so successfully that it started to take part annually. In 1913 Russia became a full member of the newly created International Federation of Lawn Tennis, and the Russian Championship was one of the largest international tournaments. All these events gave a strong impulse to the development of tennis in Russia. Tennis courts were built in many cities and countryside, in the estates and manors.
A Lawn Tennis magazine was published in St. Petersburg. There were many pictures of famous Russian people, including numerous members of the royal family, holding a racket in their hand on the tennis court.
Russian Pride
Marat Safin is a famous Russian tennis player, the Honored Master of Sports of Russia. Safin won two majors and reached the world number 1 ranking during his career. Marat Safin is the Knight of the Order of Merit.
He has been a professional player since 1997. The first major success was the victory in the U.S. Open in 2000. At the Australian Open in 2002 and 2004 Marat Safin reached the final, but lost both times. In 2005 the tennis player won the Grand Slam Tournament, winning from Australian Lleyton Hewitt.
Safin’s final tournament as a professional tennis player was at the 2009 Paris Masters. On November 11, 2009, his carrier ended with a second-round defeat by Juan Martin Del Potro, 4–6, 7–5, 4–6.
Tennis in Kazan
- Tennis in Kazan
- School #119
- Diana Sports Complex
- Gilmanov Tennis School
- Tajfun Club
- Table Tennis Sports School of the Olympic Reserve
- Children’s International Tennis Academy of Shamil Tarpischev
- Kazan Ak Bure Children and Youth Sports School
- Spektr Children and Youth Sports School
Tennis at the Universiade
Tennis has been the part of the Sport Program of the Universiade since the 1st Summer Universiade 1959 in Turin.
Universiade 2013 Events
Men
Individual competitions:
- Single
- Double
Team competitions
Women
Individual competitions:
- Single
- Double
Team competitions
Combined
- Double
The number of possible applications – 8.
The number of medals – 56.
