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American Morning

Ask CNN: When and Where Did Tennis Originate?

Aired August 27, 2001 - 10:54   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JANE ELLEN WOLF, JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI: My name is Jane Ellen Wolf. And I'm from Jackson, Mississippi.

And my question for CNN is: When did tennis originate and where?

CHARLES PANATI, AUTHOR, "EXTRAORDINARY ORIGINS OF EVERYDAY THINGS": The origin of tennis -- and, as a matter of fact, all racquetball games -- goes back to the 12th century France, where there was a game -- a very popular game -- called "game of the palm," because you hit a ball back and forth to each other using the palm of your hand.

Very quickly, they introduced sticks and racquets. And the server yelled at the initial serve, "Tennis." And tennis means, in old French "receive."

It was really made into the modern game in England in the 1870s by a Major Walter Wingfield, who popularized the modern rules. And it caught on so fast that the Croquet Club at Wimbledon changed its title to Croquet and Tennis Club. And the next year, they initiated the World Tennis Championships. And it has been popular ever since.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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