Tennis is one sport that has lasted for more than 100 years. In fact, the way it was played back then is still the same as it is now with some changes in the kind of ball and the racket used.

For instance, there are two types of tennis balls. The first is pressurized while the other one doesn’t.

The pressurized version has a hollow core and is filled with air. This is the kind used in major tournaments and has to be disposed off afterwards because it will no longer bounce that well after less than a month in use.

The second type, which is not pressurized, has a solid core. It lasts longer which is good for those who practice in the courts regularly but has to be replaced due to wear and tear.

Tennis balls are classified into regular duty, extra duty and high altitude. This is because of the various surfaces this game is played namely, clay, grass, hard and indoor.

Someone who will play the game indoors should sue regular duty tennis balls. If the game is done in a clay or grass court, extra duty ones will be needed. If the tournament is in a place in the mountains, this is the time high altitude versions will be brought out.

The person can check out what type of ball is used by reading the label on the can. This will ensure that the right kind is used depending on the location.

Why does the tennis ball have lines and is usually color yellow? That is a good question and it is not for aesthetic purposes. This is designed to create friction, which allows it to bounce and fly in the air similar to how golf balls have dimples.

Tennis rackets were originally made of wood. This was quite heavy for the player. Years later, designers were able to produce lighter versions made either of metal or aluminum. It is also possible to have one made out of plastic but this will really depend on the individual.

The rackets of today also vary in length, weight and head size. This is ideal for players depending on age, gender and experience in the sport.

The best way to check which is the ideal racket is to test it. A few swings in the air can give the person the feel how this will do in the tennis court where hitting the ball and sending it to the other side will determine if this can do the job or not.

Both the tennis balls and the racket can be purchased at the local sporting goods store. Beginners don’t have to buy the kind that costs $100 or more and can probably use one for half the price to get into the game.

Should the person love the game, this is the only time one should consider investing in an expensive one that will surely come in handy both in practice and during a tournament.

The individual should just check the cords regularly since this could be become loose after a few games. This can be brought to the sporting goods store to be tightened making it good as new.

Once this has been chosen, the only thing the player should be considered about is the shoes and the outfit. Being both fashionable and comfortable is the best way to have a good game.

If you are considering having a sport, choose tennis. There are many healthy benefits you can get from playing this sport.

You don’t only get physically fit, you mind gets well too.

Here is a list of physiological reasons why you will be excited to play tennis.

1. It burns your fat and boosts your energy levels by increasing your metabolism and tapping your energy stores.

2. It gives your cardiovascular system a good work thus improving your circulation which leads to having better blood supply to the body.

3. It enhances your oxygen muscle consumption whenever you engage in intense activities.

4. It increases your ability to accelerate through sprinting, lounging and jumping.

5. It trains you to have a quick reaction time and allows you to anticipate movements.

6. It develops your speed whenever you do your sprints and side steps to hit the ball.

7. It strengthens your legs through the number of jumps and lounges you do in the court while chasing the ball.

8. It generally develops your body coordination when you move from one position to the next or whenever you need to adjust your whole body to hit the ball.

9. It also develops your gross motor control especially when you need to use your large muscles like your legs and arms to strike a ball.

10. It also improves your fine motor control when you do drop shots, lobs and angled-volleys.

11. It enhances your agility whenever you need to change your direction for a number times in a few seconds whether during tennis match or training.

12. It gives you a dynamic balance beginning with the stance, serve and countless of different other movements when hitting and chasing the ball.

13. It gives you variety and a whole new way to improve physically when you are an athlete who excels in another sport.

14. It strengthens your bone and improves your bone density allowing you to have a healthy skeleton far from bones diseases like osteoporosis.

15. Because you are exercised by playing tennis, you develop an overall wellness including having a strong immune system that gives you optimum resistance to diseases.

16. It also fosters having good nutritional habits because you develop the discipline of eating properly before a game to have enough energy and after a competition to properly supplement the energy that you have lost.

17. It also develops good eye-hand coordination when judging when to hit the ball.

18. It helps you to be flexible because of the never-ending stretching, twisting and turning to strike the ball toward the other court.

Meanwhile, here is a list of psychological reasons to play tennis.

18. It develops your sense of work ethic because you need to foster dedication and the value of hard work to learn the lessons in tennis.

19. You also develop discipline because you need to practice a lot and to control your movements, your timing etc.

20. You learn to manage mistakes not just in tennis but also in other aspects of your life by realizing that you need to manage and minimize your mistakes in the game to be successful.

21. You learn to be competitive and adjust to the highs and lows of winning or losing.

22. You become more responsible as you accept the fact that it is your responsibility to practice your skills, check your equipment, and eat right when preparing for a match.

23. You manage to adapt to various situations by learning to adjust to things beyond your control like the weather.

24. You can adjust to stress easily and effectively because you have already dealt with a lot of stress affecting various dimensions of your self.

25. You learn to be strategic as you plan your attack and anticipate the moves of your opponent.

26. You develop you skill in problem solving since tennis is a sport that uses geometry and physics.

27. You learn to be a sport as it teaches you to be courteous and fair with your opponents.

28. You learn how to be humble when you win and dignified when you lose.

29. You learn teamwork and camaraderie as you play in doubles.

30. You develop your social skills by interacting and constantly communicating either with your teammate or other players.

31. The most important lesson of all is you learn to have fun and enjoy.

The racquet. Without objection, this is a very essential part of the tennis game. Winning or losing could depend on it. That much-coveted tennis trophy could go down the drain if a player is partnered with the ‘wrong’ kind of racquet.

The racquet, or more popularly spelled ‘racket’, is a netted frame with handle. It is used in different sports like tennis, racquetball, squash and badminton. Traditionally, the materials used in making the frame is wood while the net is made by using catgut. But that was a long time ago. Nowadays, the frames are made of synthetic materials like titanium, ceramics (which were mostly white), alloy, or carbon fibre. The net, on the other hand, is now mainly made of nylon.

The first ever tennis racquet was handmade. Only natural materials were used together with the ashe wood frame. It was already during the 70′s that synthetic materials were used for racquet-making. The mother of all synthetic designs was the Wilson T-2000 which had its head wrapped with wires that were designed by Lacoste.

Soon to follow was the first-ever Prince racquet. This spear-headed the birth of racquets with ‘large’ heads and this happened in the 80′s. Then, graphite frames were introduced, too and became famous. But it was the medium-sized racquets that became the initial standard for professional tennis.

There are also models called stretch racquets. These give the player a longer reach. Less tall tennis players could benefit greatly from these. Modern-day racquets now have different sizes for the head, length and also weight. The length for junior players ranges from 21 to 26 inches. 27-27.5 inches are for stronger and bigger tennis players.

The necessary specifications for tennis racquets are:

Size of the head

Length

Weight (while without strings)

Composition

Weight of the ‘swing’

Balance

Width of the beam

Stiffness

Level of power

Speed of the ‘swing’

Pattern of the strings

Tension of the strings

Now, think of the many available tennis racquets in the market today. Some are moderately priced while some are bordering exorbitant. Which would lead one to think: would the price difference in these products spell the difference in a tournament’s result? Are those more expensive products more dependable than the cheap ones?

Here is a list of today’s leading makers of tennis racquets:

Wilson – one of their most popular models is the one used by Venus Williams (model W5 Divine Iris)

Volkl – their racquets are all about control and precision. Their most popular professional tennis racquet model being the Volkl DNX 10.

Yonex – has models that are being used by Lleyton Hewitt and David Nalbandian.

Prince – these racquets include comfort and ease in their ‘racquet science’. They even boast of having some of their racquets as the choice of editors of the Tennis Magazine.

Dunlop – advanced players should have a good grip on their racquets. This is because their products were made with precision and strength.

Gamma

ProKennex

Babolat

Head

Fisher; and

Technifibre

Well, in the end, only the player will be able to tell by the feel of the racquet if a game is ‘winnable’. And if he would like to have a surefire win, then racquet ‘strength’ should be accompanied by hard work, constant practice, and love of the game.

Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is extremely aching tendonitis that sometimes badly affect an elbow subjected to too much stress, for instance related with tennis. Exactly what causes tennis elbow is unidentified, although it is thought to be for the reason that there are inflammation of the tendon and occurrence of small tears of the tendons that are attach to the muscles of the forearm to the arm bone at the elbow joint.

Symptoms of tennis elbow include tenderness over the inflamed area and acute pain when the elbow is stressed. The pain connected with tennis elbow more often than not has a gradual onset, although it may as well come on suddenly.

There are quite a number of ideas that tennis elbow is not just simply an “inflammation” of the tendons around the joint. Furthermore, it is thought of as related to a person’s degenerative process. It can either be the result of becoming old or repetitive use.

It can be an outcome of an incomplete curative response in absence of good blood circulation. Consequently access to nutrients and oxygen that is essential for healing is deprived to the sufferer. This results to the deterioration of the tendon that cause the small tears.

Most sufferers of tennis elbow are between 35-65 years old. Both men and women have the same chance of being afflicted with it. Tennis elbow inflicts 75% of patients dominant arm. Any person is capable of being affected, but tennis elbow is in general noticed in two sets of patients, namely:

· Blue-Collar Workers

People who use their hands in working, manual laborers, they are in danger of being affected tennis elbow. Occupations that may lead to tennis elbow include plumbing, painting, gardening, and carpentry works.

· Athletes

Athletes engaging in racquet sports are most likely to develop tennis elbow. Most certainly about 1/3 of regular tennis players suffer from tennis elbow at any time in their playing career. In addition, tennis elbow is also evident in those engaged in playing golf, and fencing, to name a few.

Symptoms and Signs

• Difficulty to hold, squeezes, or clasp things

• Point softness at or around area of the lateral or medial elbow muscles

• Forearm muscle stiffness

• Soreness, stiffness, or not enough elbow and hand action

• Not enough forearm useful power

The disorder is treated by avoiding stress, or in severe cases, by immobilizing the elbow. Healing may be accelerated by anti-inflammatory drugs or by injection of an adrenal steroid preparation such as hydrocortisone. If someone has tried more than two cortisone injections with no relief, it is doubtful that additional injections will help the patient.

There are a number of ways to treat tennis elbow. Nonoperative healing is doing well in majority of patients. Modification of lifestyle is vital for tennis elbow to be cured and to control its recurrence. Anti-inflammatory drugs are frequently used to relieve pain and swelling associated with tennis elbow.

For a tennis player, racquets must be sized appropriately, as well as the grip size. Playing on hard courts add to the possibility of tennis elbow occurrence. Stroke technicalities ought to be assessed to make sure that the ball hit the ball at the middle of the racquet and also the racquet must not be lead by the players on bended elbow.

Wearing of elbow orthosis or elbow clasp help the sufferer. The brace of the elbow clasp will pass on the pull of misaligned muscles. This clasp is proven to relieve the pain during activities. Easy exercises can be valuable in managing elbow tennis symptoms. These workouts must cause no ache, on the other hand, the exercise is supposed to be stopped if pain persists. The tendons and muscles must be toughen as it help keep away its recurrence.

Tennis elbow is a condition brought about by swelling of the tendons on the outer surface (lateral side) of the elbow at a bony prominence (lateral epicondyle) of the upper arm. It does not normally lead to serious harms. However, if left untreated, failure of movement can result to elbow and forearm malfunctions. The condition is not restricted to tennis players.

Alice has bright and shiny ruby shoes. Cinderella fits well into her glass slippers. Puss is comfortable in his boots. And, Imelda Marcos owns more than a thousand pairs of footwear and still wants more even though she can only wear them one at a time.

You buy and wear shoes for different reasons. You probably buy shoes whenever there’s an occasion or maybe just to replace an old one that you have to retire. Maybe, you just want collect shoes. However, your personality also affects your choice for footwear. If you are the pragmatic type, buying any kind of footwear does not really matter as long as you have something to cover you feet. When you are like Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City, you take any pair of shoes that you fancy off the rack, regardless whether it’s expensive or killing the blood supply on your biggest toe, as long as it looks good on you. But when choosing tennis shoes, you have to consider some factors before parting with one from a store.

Generally, good tennis shoes should not be very hard on your feet. Although it should be hard enough to protect you, it should not be too hard because it will restrict you from comfortably doing lounges, sprints or jumps thus jeopardizing your game. Aside from that, it must be something light too. If it’s heavy, you might miss many hits because you needed to drag your feet to get to wear the ball was. Furthermore, when buying tennis shoes, you should also bear in mind that it has to last. Determine how often you’ll use them and how soon you can replace them in case they already wear out. Allot a budget for good quality durable shoes that can last before you can buy another one. Lastly, you should buy something that fits comfortably well on your feet. If you are not comfortable with them, you will find it hard to focus on your play.

Your tennis shoes must give your feet adequate support considering all the footwork you do in the court. It must also be able to support the sides of your feet. You must know that the surfaces of your feet have different needs, and your feet are unique like the creases and prints on your palm requiring something that is also uniquely suited for you.

Although you may be easily be swayed by the attractive style and color of the shoes, you must first consider whether those shoes are compatible to your foot type. How would you know your foot type? Basically, there are three basic foot types. First, if there is a large space where the arch of your foot didn’t touch, your foot is suppinated. Next, if there are little curves on the imprint of your foot then you are overpronated. Finally, if you have an even imprint on both sides of your foot then your foot is ideal.

Once you know your foot type, it is vital to find a shoe that will fit you. When looking for one, allot about half an inch of space between the biggest toe and the rear of the shoe. Your heel should not slip while still allowing some movement. Most importantly, you should feel a comfortable fit without experiencing any stretching.

Ultimately, when you are buying tennis shoes, it has to fit these three things well: your need, budget, and most especially your feet. Remember that comfort is the most essential factor. At the end of the day, if your feet are happy, you will also be.

Although popularly known to have originated from Europe, the origins of tennis can be traced back in ancient Egypt around 1500BC. The earliest evidences are the drawings discovered on the walls of Egyptian temples built more than 3000 years ago. This proves that the Egyptians were the first to have actually played this ball game as part of their religious traditions. Eventually, the concept of this ball game reached Southern France in 800AD brought by the influence of the Moors.

The first Europeans who played the early version of tennis were Christian monks. The game was still called ‘La Soule’ where players used their hands or a stick to hit the ball. ‘La Soule’ soon became a popular ball game outside of the monasteries. Later on, around the 12th and 13th centuries, the game was further developed. Instead of just using the hand, players created a leather glove so that they could take more control when hitting the ball with their hands. As time went by, a wooden stick was added to the glove which led to the birth of the tennis racket. Meanwhile, the ball also had also evolved from solid wood to softer balls that are now used today. It was not long when the game became popular and has entered the royal palaces of France.

It was during the 16th to 18th century that tennis really became the game that we now know today. It was also during this time that it became the popular sport of the royalties in France and was called the game of the palm. The word tennis came from the French word that was being shouted by early French players at the beginning of the game –‘tenez’ meaning play.

Shortly after its popularity among French aristocrats, tennis spread throughout Europe especially in England. In fact, Henry VIII was one of the popular English nobility who became an avid player and even built a tennis court at Hampton Court. Soon, tennis was also greatly accepted in Spain, Germany, Italy, and Holland but its popularity declined during the French Revolution in the 18th century.

But by the turn of the new century, in the Victorian period of England, tennis was significantly revived. New courts were built and tennis clubs appeared. It was at this time that Lawn Tennis came out. With the development of vulcanized rubber, large production of balls that were compatible to the grass thrived and brought tennis into the open. But eventually lawn surfaces became clay and concrete creating no problem at all with the ball.

With the success and popularity of tennis in Europe, it soon replaced croquet as the summer sport. Although croquet enthusiasts tried so hard to revive their game, the organization they formed in 1869 did not succeed in attracting people to support their sport. The croquet club became the Lawn Tennis Club in 1877 which was responsible for the first Lawn Tennis Tournament. The tournament gave rise to a committee that established the rules of the tournament. After this the Wimbledon Championship emerged.

The Wimbledon Championship was one of the highlights in the history of tennis. It is responsible for the high regard given to this sport. It gave the public great champions to admire and to imitate like Fred Perry, Henri Lacoste, and Billie Jean King. With the advent of the radio in the 1930s, the game became increasingly more popular than ever. However, all this suddenly came to an end during World War II. Yet, after the war, the game became resilient as before and more people started playing the game while more technical improvements were added to the game.

If you are a beginner, an important tennis lesson that you should learn is how to serve. Developing this skill and learning the different ways to hit the ball will give you a competitive advantage over other players.

There is a series of motions involved in making a serve but the main objective is to hit the ball in a well-timed manner to be effective. The stroke of the serve includes how to properly hold the racket, how to throw the ball, how to position the body before the racquet hits the ball.

The flat serve, topspin , and the slice are the three basic serves that you need to know and practice so that you can use them in an appropriate time when you play the game. The flat serve or basic serve is when you hit the ball on a flat

trajectory making moderate spin. Next, the topspin is done by doing high arcing trajectory and with high strong bounce. The last one is the slice. This type of serve is made by doing a combination of a sidespin and a bit of topspin to make the ball swerve in the air following the bounce.

Here are the elements of the serve before the racquet hits the ball:

Service Stance – Adjust your stance according to the appropriate service you’ll make. Remember to have your feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent, your front foot not stepping on the baseline and it should be two feet away from the center mark.

Continental grip – This is the ideal grip which allows you to have maximum wrist action for a powerful stroke.

Ball Handling – You should hold the ball between your thumb and all four fingers.

Feet Position – Align your feet with your toes pointing toward the target area.

The Ball Toss – Toss the ball in front, slightly to the right, and a little higher than your racquet could reach so it is just in time as it reaches the ball.

Now that you know the basic elements of a serve, you can now follow these steps to develop a good basic serve.

1. Begin with the service stance and hold the racquet using the continental grip.

2. Push your weight on the ground while keeping your front knee as you part your racquet arm and your tossing arm. Twist the serving shoulder a little so the racquet arm and tossing arms align.

3. Do the ball toss by releasing the ball slightly in front of the shoulder while the racquet is facing downwards and is terminally retracted. Bend your racquet arm elbow to elevate the racquet while the left arm remains pointing at the ball.

4. While the ball is at its highest point, prepare for a throwing position by dropping your racquet and keeping your elbow high. As the ball falls from its peak, gradually drop your left arm away from the side.

5. Then, straighten your legs by pushing your weight upwards and forwards behind the racquet arm. When the ball has fallen 4 to 6 inches, hurl your racquet up to hit the ball

6. While your racquet arm is fully stretched and your weight is channeled on your front foot, hit the ball.

7. As you create a forward momentum, continue swinging the racquet in the direction of your chosen target.

8. Do a follow through by swinging down your racquet at the left side of your body while your foot slowly comes down to a finish.

Think of the most famous female tennis players of all time. Now, picture their fashionable outfits, most specially their skirts. Makes you want to do an appreciative whistle, huh? Well, do you think your reaction would be the same if their skirts were ankle-length? Or would you scratch your head and wonder ‘what the heck has gone wrong’?

You see, early tennis skirts, WERE long skirts. In the 1800′s it was outrageous to have skirts worn above the ankle. If you have period films in the 1800′s setting, you would be able to observe that most women wore corsets and empire cut dresses. The main purpose of these designs were to ‘hide a woman’s legs!

It was not until 1922 that the skirts became less-restrictive. Thanks to Suzanne Lenglen who showed up in a game wearing the shortest skirt then. She also shed the usual hat that is donned with the outfit. It was not advisable to not wear a hat for tennis games before. It was only in 1930 when a ‘hatless’ head was already accepted, together with a very short skirt.

In 1947, a more fashionable look was introduced by Teddy Tingling. Dior’s sense of fashion inspired the man so he made tennis skirts look more feminine by adding more flair to them. Very soon, aside from the femininity of the tennis skirts, comfort was also prioritized. And since tennis is sports, the outfit that goes with it should serve its purpose.

Modern-day tennis skirts have gone a long way from its predecessors. Most are brilliantly designed to fit the player’s needs, style wants and comfort. They come in many fabrics and colors that women could choose from. Common fabrics are cotton (this is used due to its softness and breathability), nylon (this one is used because of its durability) and spandex (due to its elasticity). The most popular brand of spandex is lycra.

Also a necessary part of choosing skirts is the buyer’s personal style. A serious woman, for instance would not want to go for the loud colored-fabrics or cuts that are sure to turn every head. The flamboyant girl is sure to become a wallflower if she settles for plain fabric and design.

Here are some of the famous manufacturers of top-line tennis skirts:

Reebok- its skirts boast of moisture management which is very essential during a heated match. It also has a wide array of fashionable designs.

Nike

Adidas

Balle De Match

New Balance

LBH (lilys of Beverly Hills)

Tail

Fila

Tretorn

Prince and some imported skirts such as:

Diadora

Bolle

These manufacturers give value to the buyers’ money by giving them style, elegance, and most importantly, comfort. Most can be purchased online, some are fairly-priced while others are a bit on the expensive side. But some might reconsider because the more expensive skirts are promised to last.

There is no need to state that tennis skirts are an essential part of the game itself. Before a woman can show her top form, she must first feel comfortable and confident about the way she looks. Bagging that trophy will never happen with drab clothing on! Believe me.

With the increasing prices of fuel and other commodities, people nowadays are becoming more and more conscious of how they spend their precious money. Many have become expert in bargain hunting and even carefully budgeting their money. Aside from money, time is also a valuable resource that many of us are trying to manage well. That is why we are fond of stores and places that can offer us most of what we need in just one roof.

Our desire to manage our time and money well has led to the emergence of discount stores and warehouse shops. Now, you can see warehouse stores for office supplies, grocery, and even sports equipment. With the popularity of the Internet, such warehouse stores are not just physical establishments but are cyber shops as well, making shopping more convenient for most of us.

If you are a tennis aficionado, one warehouse shop that will surely cater to all your tennis equipment needs is the Tennis Warehouse. This cyber shop does not only provide you with almost everything you need for your game, but also offers free tips and advice regarding tennis-related subjects, such as stringing your racquet. Furthermore, Tennis Warehouse does not only sell goods in the US, but also in many parts of the world. Wherever you may be in the world, you know that Tennis Warehouse will almost always be willing to serve you.

Here are some of the goods and services that are available in Tennis Warehouse:

Tennis Rackets

Tennis Warehouse offers a wide variety of racquet for almost everybody – men, women, and kids. Feast your eyes to tennis racquets made by almost all of well-known racquet manufacturers all over the world. If you are not sure what type of racquet is ideal for you, the store has a catalogue of racquets based on price, performance, length and weight. Examples of its tennis racquet categories are: junior tennis racquets, super light tennis racquets, and maximum power tennis racquets.

Even though the price of goods in Tennis Warehouse is already rock bottom, there are still some racquets on sale. So, if you are on a tight budget, just got to the sale section of the website and avail yourself of big discounts. There is also a section for used racquets, for those who just want to play tennis once in a while and does not want to invest much money on the sport.

Tennis Shoes

The right shoes are very important in this sport. Ill-fitted and inappropriate footwear may not only result in discomfort, but also accidents. In Tennis Warehouse, shoes are categorized based on gender and manufacturer. There is also a wide variety of tennis and running shoes available for children. To make your shoe shopping more convenient, there is also a shoe finder on the cyber store, enabling buyers to immediately find the shoes that they are looking for.

Tennis Bags and Apparel

Tennis Warehouse, which offers customers the latest in tennis apparel, sell almost all brands of tennis clothing for both men and women, and boys and girls. Aside from the clothes, the store also sells socks, wrist and headbands, visors, bags and hats.

Tennis Accessories and Other Equipment

Other products available in Tennis Warehouse are different kinds of grip, strings, and tools. Tennis instructional videos, balls, sunglasses, fitness guide, books and even watches are also available. You can also give your friends and family Tennis Warehouse gift certificates, if you are finding it difficult to choose a gift for them.

For anyone who is taking tennis training seriously should also give serious consideration to what to wear. Dressing for comfort is the primary concern of every tennis player. But for those who are more fashion-conscious, there are many stylish way of dressing right for the came, a style that is comfortable but does not take fashion for granted.

When choosing your outfit, there are plenty to consider. The heat and humidity in your play area could make you sweat profusely and look ragged in a few minutes. The very ground you will play on will also have an effect on your comfort.

For you tennis players out there, here are some tips you should have in mind when dressing to play tennis.

If your prefer comfort and style, choose a light colored fabric for your tennis outfit. Light colors reflect light, making you absorb heat less. This is why traditionally, tennis players wore all-white outfits. Up to the present, white is still the dominant color in most tennis outfits. However, designs have evolved into sexier, more comfortable and trendier designs.

The club of Wimbledon requires players to wear all-white. However, the pros have always gotten away with wearing whatever color and design they want. There is a lot of designs to choose from that would surely fit your taste.

If you are the go-getter type, you could go for the neon-colored fabrics that are the trendy colors for sports these days. You wanna get that ball past your opponent? Wear something neon to momentarily distract him or her.

Go lightweight. The material of your tennis wear should have enough natural materials that would allow your clothes to breathe and prevent heat accumulation in your body. It should, likewise, have enough synthetic material that would prevent your clothes to wrinkle.

Short pants or short skirts are mandatory because pants just won’t be right, they will just weigh you down. Skirts with built-in shorts are preferable as they provide enough comfort and the trendy fashion.

Choose the perfect tennis shoes to go with your outfit. It is just not the color or the style that counts, the design is what should be taken seriously. This is the most important tennis wear a player should invest in. The worst that could happen to a player is to lose a game because of painful feet.

When choosing shoes, purchase from the best manufacturer that ensures the best quality materials. Chances are, the more expensive the shoes, the better the quality.

Tennis shoes should be lightweight, durable and gives good support with a snug fit. Tennis shoes should be able to give the support needed for side-to-side movements done during playing tennis. The rubber soles are just as important. They should be able to get a firm grip on the ground for those tennis maneuvers.

If you are indeed into serious tennis, do invest. Dressing right could be the key to doing those winning moves. Don’t forget that comfort is foremost in decision-making. Style is an add-on but your safety and comfort should be number one in your list.

After watching the match between the top two seeded male tennis players Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, you feel you can do what they do. So you purchase a tennis racquet and a couple of balls and hit the tennis courts.

The good thing about tennis is that it is a sport you won’t have any problem understanding. Actually, just by frequently watching the game played on TV, you can already get the drift.

It is interesting to note that tennis rules have not changed through out the centuries. The main objective of the game is for a player to get the ball over the net and the other player not hitting it.

Opponents face one another on the court’s opposing sides. The “server” throws out the ball and starts the set. The “receiver” is the player on the other end. The “server” and “receiver” are decided by a coin toss.

The server stands behind the base in the confiness of the singles court when it is a singles game, and in the doubles line when it is a doubles game.

The odd points are set in the advantage court whereas the even points are set on the deuce court. It is important the server be mindful of the receiver. He must only serve when the receiver is prepared.

Serves must be from the server’s deuce base to the receiver’s service box. If the server doesn’t hit the ball twice, he basically doesn’t get the point. The first miss is referred to as “Fault” whereas the second miss is called “Double Fault.”

The receiver must return the server’s ball. He can stand wherever he chooses but he must allow the ball to bounce within the serving box. When the ball fails to do so, then the umpire calls it as “fault.” Another serve must take place. If the ball is struck by the opponent before it bounces, then the server gets the points.

If the ball falls into the net or outside the confines of the court, then the player who hit that ball loses the point. Players must not touch the net, drop the racquet while hitting the ball or let the ball bounce over the net. If he does, then he loses a point.

The scoring is 15, 30 and 40. When there is a tie, the umpire calls it as “deuce.” In a case of “deuce,” when one player gets a point, then the umpire calls it as “advantage.” That player must then gain another point for him to win the set. If not, then the umpire calls “deuce” again.

In announcing the score, the server’s score is called first. If the score is zero, then the umpire calls it “Love” and not zero.

The first player to get 6 games in a set is declared the winner of that set. Let’s say the score reaches 5-5, then there will be a tie-breaker. This is a relay resulting to the first player to get 10 points.

From 5-5, the score can either be 6-5 or 5-6. The first player to get 7 points is the winner of the set.

For a men’s match, there is a maximum of five sets. The first player to get three sets is declared the winner. For a women’s match, there is a maximum of three sets. The first player to get two sets is declared the winner.

Personality, passion, power. These are ATP’s mission statement. The fact of the matter is that ATP is the world’s foremost body that governs the men’s tennis professional circuit.

Believe it or not, ATP Tennis organizes more than sixty tournaments in thirty countries for this current year.

ATP Tennis showcases the finest and best athletes that compete in the most enthralling venues all over the world, from Europe to Australia, to Asia and America.

Another fact about ATP Tennis is that its website set a new record in traffic when just this October, more than five hundred thousand unique visitors went to their site specifically during the Madrilena Mutua Madrid Masters.

Also, the ATP Tennis site was able to attract almost two million users as tennis fans were able to register almost ten million impression pages.

These numbers basically represent a thirty seven percent to forty percent increase in users compared to last year’s number.

The Spanish language site of ATP Tennis was also able to record a significant increase for this year, with the impressions increasing up to fifty percent.

Another news on the ATP Tennis in Europe is that they have a new CEO as personified by former UK executive in sports, Andy Anson.

Anson has a degree in Mathematics from the University of Oxford and was able to receive his Masters degree in Business Administration in France, Fontainebleau. He will be assuming the ATP Tennis position come April and will replace outgoing Horst Klosterkemper as CEO – who oversaw the ATP Tennis in the European region back in 2004.

Another ATP Tennis activity is their fund raising efforts with the assistance of the UNICEF during the Masters Tennis Cup in China, Shanghai.

Facts about ATP tennis, anyone?

The sponsor of the said China tournament includes Mercedes-Benz, Lacoste, South Africa Airways, RADO.

The doubles and singles tennis players were able to raise more than a hundred thirty thousand RMB for the United Nations Children’s Fund.

For the very first robin round, a match was made between circuit leaders Andy Roddick and Ivan Ljubicic, which had thirty five aces.

The ATP Tennis auction for charity was held at the Stadium of Qi Zhong and also featured banners and t-shirts autographed by various ATP Tennis stars.

Roger Federer’s shirt fetched the highest bid that amounts to twenty eight thousand RMB. A close second were two bobby Mercedes-Benz cars autographed by all ATP Tennis players that are in the eight man elite team field, the total of which fetched to twenty five thousand RMB.

Additional funds were also raised thanks to the exclusive sales on site of the Beanie Baby Feder-bear. It made its debut public at the booth of the UNICEF in the stadium.

Believe it or not, more than two thousand Feder bears were purchased during the Masters Tennis Cup, all of which total to a contribution of seventy five thousand RMB to the UNICEF.

The fact of the matter is that Feder bear is the official Beanie Ty Baby that is exclusively produced for the ATP Tennis.

All proceeds from the Feder bear Beanie Baby sale – which costs eight dollars each – will automatically go to the UNICEF program.

For those interested for the same Feder bear, this item will be distributed this coming season of the holidays worldwide.

All in all, where would the tennis fans be without ATP?

It would be impossible to discuss tennis and the name Prince would not come up. Prince and Prince products have long dominated the market in terms of providing quality tennis apparels and equipments. Would you like to go back down the memory lane and see how the phenomenal success of this company came to be?

Prince began by being a manufacturer of machines for tennis balls. They soon ventured into racket manufacture and engineering (oversized, graphite, to name a few). They made some of these rackets world famous in such a short period of time that the name Prince became synonymous with tennis.

One of the continuing marketing strategies of the company is to sponsor top tennis performers such as: Maria Sharapova, Jennifer Capriati, Guillermo Coria, Martina Navartilova and Patrick Rafter. With championships bagged by these athletes, most consumers started to show interest in Prince products.

The company today remains a leader not only in manufacturing the latest innovation in tennis products but also in sponsoring tennis events. Take a look at tennis tournaments and you are set to see a logo of the company on the background!

It would be hard to believe now that Prince all started from a useful invention that was born in a small garage. From there, we see the achievements of the company:

1.Invention of the machine for tennis balls by Bob Mclure in 1970.

2.Oversized racket was introduced to the market in 1976.

3.In 1976, a racket made of graphite was born.

4.In 1978, a string which has multi-filaments was created.

5.Sports bags were first sold in the early 80′s.

6.In 1989, the grip on racket handles were improved.

7.Tunnels of wind on their rackets were engineered in the year 2005. It deviated from the conventional racket holes where the strings were tied.

And because of these ‘tunnels of wind’ another tennis legend has signed up to do endorsements for the company- James Blake.

The products that are currently being sold worldwide by the company are:

1.Shoes- which the company guarantees to not wear out within the year it was purchased. Repairs and replacement are choices that an unsatisfied customer can opt for.

2.Rackets

3.Tennis Balls

4.Strings

5.Sports bags

6.Grips

7.Items used on the court as well as machines!

8.Clothings; and

9.Accessories

It may come as a sad thing to some that Prince products are not sold directly to the consumers. There are dealers that are authorized to sell the products to the buyers. One could go online and find the nearest one to her home.

Currently, the partners of Prince are the following:

NBTA or the Nick Bolletierri Tennis Academy- no less than the likes of Andre Agassi, Anna Kournikova and Jim Courier were given instructions in this academy.

University of Miami Online High School

Cardio Tennis- fitness group focuses on professional workouts.

Saddlebrook Resort

Tennis Europe- a famous partner on accessories.

SAP Open

Family Circle Cup

US Sports Camps

To make make things more exciting, the company also has the famous Club Prince where one could become a member. The benefits of being a member of this prestigious club are updates on players’ tours, latest information on Prince products, contests and inside news. This is a fun way to get into the sports called tennis.

Prince tennis has really carved a name for itself in the tennis industry. There are several competitors but the company’s name remains a strong contender. One would be foolish to disagree.

Young girls who have taken serious interest in tennis are almost always dreaming of joining the Women’s Tennis Association, or the WTA Tour. Who doesn’t want to join the tour – the women’s counterpart of the ATP Tour – after the Williams sisters, Anna Kournikova, Maria Sharapova, and other contemporary women tennis players have shown that playing tennis can both be intense and glamorous?

Requirements

If you are interested in competing on the WTA Tour, which changed its name to Sony Ericsson WTA Tour in 2005, the first thing you have to do is submit a duly accomplished Mandatory Player Form. This form, which is submitted before every tour year by everyone who wants to join the tour, is available on Sony Ericsson WTA Tour website and must be forwarded to the Tour’s office in Florida through fax.

Aside from the usual information collected, such as name, birth date and complete address of the player, the aspiring players of Sony Ericsson WTA Tour must also submit coach and agent information. Furthermore, you also need to sign Anti-Doping Consent and Player Agreements. When you sign the Anti-Doping Consent, it just means that you are willing to undergo drug testing in compliance with the tenets of the World Anti-Doping Code.

For first-time applicants, you are required to furnish a copy of either your birth certificate or passport, as proof of identification. If you are below 18 years old, you can still join the WTA Tour. You just need to provide the group with Minor Medical Release information and consent from either your parents or legal guardian.

All players who want to join the WTA must submit an annual physical examination clearance, which ensures that she is physically fit and capable to join the games. You should also reach at least the minimum educational prerequisite of your country of origin, before you could join the tour.

Career development and opportunities

The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour is serious in developing and enhancing the professional career of its members; that is why it provides educational assistance and mentoring programs for those who are just starting out. Furthermore, most, if not all, of its new athletes, particularly the minors, must experience the Rookie Phase. In this phase, the player undergoes orientation on the WTA Tour, where she is taught about her responsibilities in and out of the court, what she should expect during the game proper, as well as other business opportunities related to her career.

Here are some of the professional development programs sponsored by Sony Ericsson WTA Tour:

Partners For Success

This is a mentoring program, the first of its kind in professional sports history, that teams a protégé, players over 18 that are included in the Top 100 singles rank, with a veteran tennis player, who will serve as the protégé’s mentor. The goal of the program is to help budding players chart their professional career.

Athlete Assistance

The Athlete Assistance is an answer to the player’s need for more education and tips in handling their professional career. The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour regularly provides education topics, available on its website, that are focused on improving the player’s performance on the court and answering other problems they may encounter as a professional tennis player.

Media Training

Professional women tennis players conduct themselves well during media interviews and conferences, partly because of the media training provided by the WTA Tour. The training you will get will depend on the professional development phase you are in. Members in the rookie phase are given only basic media training, while members of the Premier and Elite phases are provided a more advanced media instruction.

Parent Orientation

The WTA Tour believes that the parents perform a crucial role in the career development of their children. Thus, the WTA Tour requires all parents to attend and complete its parent orientation, which discusses the facilities and services made available by WTA to the players and the possible obstacles their daughters will encounter in professional tennis.

So you decided to take tennis seriously. First thing’s first. In order for you to become a really good tennis player, you must have the equipment. It is like a knight marching off to a battle with the best weapons.

The basic tennis equipments are racquets, balls, shoes, socks, caps, hats, sunglasses and towels.

This article will share tennis equipment tips a newbie has to know:

1. Save Your Strings

String savers are those tiny plastic pieces inserted in the section where the strings touch the racquet’s sweet spot. These prevent the strings to rub against one another. It also aims to achieve a long string life.

In a tennis match, having string saver are not illegal because the ball does not really touch these.

String savers are used by players that have gut strings. These are effective in prolonging string life. But there are those players who don’t like String Savers primarily because it gives their racquets a stiff grip.

If you wish to prolong the string life of your racquet, use a thick gauge string. We highly suggest that you replace your strings many times in a year, that is if you frequently play.

2. What You Should Know About Your Strings

- Lower string tensions equate to more power

- There is more ball control with higher string tensions

- Lower string density caused by fewer strings equate to more power

- the thinner the string, the more power

- the more elastic the string, the more power

- the softer the coating, the softer the string, therefore the less tendency to vibrate

- thinner strings produce more spin

- fewer strings equate to more spin

3. What You Should Know About Your Tennis Racquet

The general rule for tennis racquets is that the stiffer the frame, the more power it generates. This is because:

- the heavier the frame, the more power it generates

- the heavier the frame, the less it vibrates

- the stiffer the frame, the more power it generates

- if the frame is stiff, then it transmits more to the arm

- a stiff frame entails a more uniform ball response against the swing of the racquet

- the larger the frame, the more power it generates

- the larger the frame, the more resistant it is to twisting

4. Safe Racquet Storage

It is necessary that you do not leave your tennis racquets in the car. If your racquet has synthetic strings, then it begins to lose its tension at about 43 degrees C or 110 degrees F. Always leave your racquet at a cool storing place in order for the strings to stay intact.

5. Racquet Stringing Frequency

Tennis players wonder how often they must have their racquets re-strung. Answer it should it must be re-strung at least twice a year, even if the string remains in tact or it breaks. The player must always restring his racquet as many times in one year as he plays in a week. For example, you play four times a week, then have your racquet re-strung four times a year.

Tennis is a sport worth investing on. Whenever you play, it keeps the blood pumping and also exercises your reflexes. Just stick to these tips and soon enough you’ll notice what a better tennis player you’ve become from the time you first held a racquet.

Without question, tennis is a very rigorous game, one that requires great amounts of strength, energy and willpower. From the rackets, to the balls that the players use, to the apparels, it is necessary to invest not only in style but also in comfort. The same is true for tennis shoes.

First, a brief history. By definition, tennis shoes are synonymous to running, sport, casual or gym shoes. Its modern names are sneakers, trainers or sandshoes. The very first sneakers were born in 1893. The materials that was used was canvas. It was made for boaters to eliminate the use of dress shoes on the deck.

Well, this is just going to be a simple list of what to shop for, how and which. We have to know the different materials that are being used to manufacture tennis shoes. For the upper materials, canvas is best used because of its breathability. Because of this, chemicals are less likely to enter the skin. Leather, on the other hand, is set to keep the players’ feet dry on environments that are off court. The third material that can be used is vinyl. This tops in keeping the feet dry. But beware, what’s set to keep the feet dry can make it ‘wet’ during seasons of hot weather (hello smelly feet!).

Upper materials for tennis shoes are made to last, except that the rigors of tennis eat up the soles fast. Yes, the soles are first to go so it is best to examine them closely before deciding to purchase any pair.

Another important factor to consider aside from the materials is the types of feet and the kinds of shoes that go well with them. There are 3 types of feet: pronated, supinated and neutral. Feet that are pronated have arches that are low. They walk or run with the heels first ending with the toe. These have greater tendencies to fall over so the shoes that fit them are the ones that resist falling over. Cushioning is not an issue with this feet type.

Feet that are supinated are high-arched. This type tends to wear out shoes around the edges. Cushion, not protection from falling over, should be the top priority in buying tennis shoes for this type,

Neutral feet evenly wear out shoes. It would be more difficult to choose tennis shoes for this feet type because one should find shoes that provide both fall protection and cushioning. The good news? Only 10% of the entire population have this type of feet. Two words to remember for all feet types when buying their first pair of tennis shoes: ankle support. Remember, remember!

Now it is time to know get down to the classifications of tennis shoes: Men’s, women’s and junior shoes. There are numerous manufacturers of tennis shoes in the market today. Now that you know what to buy for your feet type, go out there and scout among these popular brand names:

Nike

Adidas

Fila

Reebok

New Balance

Converse

K-Swiss

Puma

Shaq

Asics

Etnies

These brands have been known to stand by their names as they all promise durability and comfort. There are a lot more of brands out there. When you do get out and shop, consider reviewing all the information discussed here, first. It could save you time, energy and money!

INTERNATIONAL TENNIS FEDERATION (ITF)

International Tennis Federation is the presiding body of all global tennis organization. It consists of 202 national tennis associations. Twelve national associations established the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) in Paris, France on 1 March 1913. In 1924 it turn out to be the officially accredited organization with authority to be in-charge of lawn tennis all over the world. In 1977 it removed ‘lawn’ from its name, as it recognized that majority of tennis games are not played on grass courts.

The ITF’s commitment is to extend the span and strength of tennis sports. An wide-ranging expansion programme make sure that numerous people must have the chance to engage and try playing tennis worldwide. Affiliate countries include nations from the different continents like for example Australia, Brazil, China, France and Mali.

Top sports competitions like the Olympic Tennis Tournament and the Grand Slam Matches – Wimbledon, Australian Open, US Open, and the Roland Garros, are among the professional events that ITF engaged itself with. The ITF Futures Circuit and Men’s and Women’s Satellite are additional tennis sporting events they organized. Lots of ITF matches and group competitions for the amateurs, experts and disabled tennis players are also being organized.

Men’s team tournament such as, BNP Paribas’ Davis Cup, and Fed Cup

for women, are some of the competitions organized by ITF. In these matches the tennis players are given the chance in representing their country. The yearly Australian tournament, Hyundai Hopman Play-Offs, owns by ITF, in addition offers competing players the chance to enjoy varied team tennis when the season starts. ITF also certified Nations Senior Event in 1999. It is the first senior play-offs among nations that bring together a great number of retired prominent

professional tennis players from ATP and Davis Matches. Tennis Masters Event as well as Grand Slams and ATP are also being co-hosted and co-owned by ITF,

International tennis number (ITN)

The International Tennis Number stands for the general category of a

player’s performance. It is aspired for that all tennis players worldwide

would have an ITN in the near future.

Under this scheme tennis athletes will be given performance ratings

from ITN 1 – ITN 10 range. ITN 1 corresponds to high-level player (holding

an ATP / WTA standing or of a comparable playing standard). The ITN 10

is a player who is capable of serving and returning an ordinary ITF

ball in a full court.

ITF uses the Description of Standards and On Court Assessment to rate

the players if there are no available results from competition.

The ‘ITN Description of Standards’ gives an idea about the ten ranking

categories.

ITF Coaches Commission and ITF International Tennis Rating Taskforce

approved the guide, which will facilitate the accurate ratings of the

players. The Description of Standards is made detailed and clear as

possible. The Taskforce keep it uncomplicated and not too much technical.

The purpose is for the player and the evaluator easy understanding.

The ITN Description of Standards has stay away from evaluating players

solely on the technical consideration on a person shots. It has used

the following for basis:

• general distinctiveness of a variety of playing levels

• five-matches / tactical strategies of tennis ( serving and returning

at baseline, approaching, passing)

• game-technique of player.

International Tennis federation, being the central figure in the tennis

world is considered as the unifying force that aims to strengthen the

game and be appreciated by people in all countries of the world. The

interests of the professionals, the retirees, and the amateur players are

given priorities by this international governing body.

A tennis court is a flat rectangular surface, with line markings on it outer borders. These boundaries are termed as sidelines and baselines. There are two smaller rectangles on the interior that serves as the service boxes.

For the singles game, the court measures 78 feet (23.77 meters) in length at the sidelines and, 27 feet (8.2 meters) in width at the base lines. While for the doubles, the court is made of 9 feet (2.7 meters) wider by making the base lines 4.5 feet (1.37 meters) longer in both directions. These added extensions on the sidelines are identified as alleys.

Boundaries for doubles are identified as “doubles alleys”. Alleys near the area of the court are required for players when reaching for swarming balls.

Net designed parallel to the base lines is stretched out and separate the court at the midpoint. The net made from natural or synthetic cord is tied amid two posts. It is 3 feet (0.91 meter) far above the ground at the center and 3.6 feet (about 1 meter) at the sideline posts.

On either side of the net, 21 feet (6.4 meters) from it and parallel to it, are the service lines. A centerline between the service lines and parallel to the sidelines creates two service courts, each 13.5 feet (about 4 meters) wide. These are used in serving for both singles and doubles matches.

There are four foremost types of courts depending on the kind of material used in the court surface: grass, clay, hard courts, and indoor courts. Whichever of among the several court surfaces the size, shape and markings, however, are standard.

Clay Courts

Flattened shale, brick or stone, are the materials used for clay courts. They can either be green or red in color. American or green or clay is faster, than the red ones. Courts made from clay are being regarded as “slow”, since ball bounces rather high and much more slow, This makes it more hard for the athlete to strike an overrun ball.

A game on clay courts usually entails the capability to glide hooked on ball when hitting, as against on a hard or grass court while running or stopping. Clay courts typically are found in the European and the South American countries.

Hard courts

Hard courts, commonly made from concrete or plastic materials, and are considered “average to high-speed” surfaces. Hard courts are more fast than courts made from clay. However, hard courts are much more slow compared to grass courts. Being regarded as the most unbiased kind of playing court, it is intended to any mode of play. The acrylic solid court is used for US Open Play-Offs, whereas, Australian Open is done on synthetic hardcourt.

Grass courts

Considered as the fastest court in the tennis sports are the grass courts. They are made of grass cultivated on compressed soil, akin to the green grass used in a golf course. Several variables are considered when using grass courts: bounces rely on how good and fitting is the grass, when the mowing of the grass has been done, and is overuse by a recent play.

A world known grass court is the Wimbledon Centre Court. Itssurface is not as tough as the hard courts, making the ball bounce lower, which necessitates faster reach for the ball.

Indoor courts

Indoor courts are made of lumber, cement, or ‘rug’. Artificial turf is the other name it is known for. Fairly fast and the most typical is the carpet style indoor courts. A less popular indoor surface is the wood courts.

To summarize, a tennis court is a place where a tennis game is played. It is a solid rectangular flat surface with a net standing in the center. The court can be outdoors or indoors and can have a diversity of surfaces. Each court surface, regardless of its type is with drainage layer to counteract rain.

Famous Male Tennis Players

Roger Federer. This 25 year old Swiss tennis professional currently ranks No. 1 in the world. He is a very promising talent and has proven many great achievements since he started playing tennis. In 2004, he won three Grand Slam singles tournaments. By 2006, he has already won at least ten singles championships for three consecutive years. He has won three Tennis Masters Cup, 12 ATP Masters Series, nine Grand Slam singles titles, and won for three consecutive years the Wimbledon and U.S. Open singles titles.

Andy Roddick. He is an American tennis player born on August 30, 1982 in Omaha, Nebraska whose full name is Andrew Stephen Roddick. In 2005, he was ranked as the best male US tennis player. He began playing tennis professionally when he was 18 and has achieved great success since then. In 2003, he ranked as the No. 1 American to finish a year. In 2004, he was recorded to have the world’s fastest serve. He established his own foundation and became the model of Lacoste.

Rafael Nadal. Born June 3, 1986, this famous male Spanish player entered the world of professional tennis when he was just a teenager. He is also known as the King of Clay. He is the second youngest player to be included in the top 100 players of the world. He considers Roger Federer and Andy Roddick to be his greatest opponents.

Pete Sampras. Although he has been retired since 2003, this American tennis player still remains very popular. He was the youngest male player to have won the US Open singles by beating Andre Agassi. He has gained 11 Masters series titles and about 64 other titles. He is the only player to finish No. 1 for six consecutive years from 1993-1998.

Famous Female Tennis Players

Anna Kournikova. She was born in Moscow, Russia on June 7, 1981. She started playing tennis at a young age and was enrolled at Nick Bolletierri’s tennis academy by her parents. At the age of 14, she was the youngest to have won the Fed Cup match. Although she ranked the top 20 players in the world in the singles division, she was more recognized in her doubles ranking. This Russian girl has captivated many fans and photographers with her good looks making her the most photograph tennis star and a bankable endorser.

Lindsay Davenport. Born on June 8, 1976 in Palos Verdes, California, USA, she started playing tennis at the age of 5. She won three Grand Slam tournaments at the end of the 90′s She left the world of tennis to recuperate from a back injury. She came back in 2005 with a bang as she was ranked No. 1.

Maria Sharapova. She was on April 19, 1987 in Russia. She began playing tennis when she was only 4 years old. At 6, her talent in tennis was discovered and moved to the US to hone her skills under professional coaching. When she started playing professionally in 2002, she only ranked at 186th. But on the following year, her ranking greatly improved being at 32nd. In 2004, she became the second youngest to win the Grand Slam Wimbledon Championship.

Serena Williams. She is an American born on September 26, 1981 in Saginaw, Michigan, USA. She won her first ever tournament when she was four years old. She became a professional tennis player in 1995 at the age 14. At the end of the 90′s, her career took off when she consistently ranked in the top 20 players in the world beating many star players like Lindsay Davenport and her sister Venus Williams.

Got some old, smelly tennis shoes in the closet? The Fox Chapel Garden Club and the O’Hara Girl Scouts want them.

The groups hope to collect 1,000 pairs of shoes this month to ship to Nike for its Reuse-a-Shoe Program, in which shoes are ground up and used to make running tracks, rubberized athletic floors and playground surfaces.

The communitywide program, in its fourth year, strives to involve students, businesses and residents in the effort to keep used athletic shoes out of landfills.

About 40 brightly painted boxes have been placed throughout the community for the collection of the shoes until the end of October.

The boxes can be found in all Fox Chapel Area School District schools, local churches, the Fox Chapel Borough Building, Shady Side Academy, Boyd Community Center and local health clubs.

Susie Williams was co-chairwoman of the Fox Chapel Garden Club’s conservation committee in 2007 when she heard about the shoe-recycling program.

“We wanted to do something with recycling that also involved the kids in the community, and fall is a perfect time when they go back to school and people are buying new shoes for fall sports,” Mrs. Williams said.

Sandy Garcia-Tunon is leader of Girl Scout Junior Troop 50139, which has 11 fourth- and fifth-graders involved in the project.

“They loved doing it last year when they were Brownies, and they voted to do it again this year,” she said. “Community service is a huge part of the Girl Scouts and giving back is one thing we always encourage.

“They learn a lot about recycling, which they study in school, too,” she said. “And it gives them a sense that we don’t have to just throw everything in the trash.”

The Girl Scouts take posters into school classrooms and speak to their classmates about the project. The girls also learned the importance of teamwork, Mrs. Garcia-Tunon said, as they collected mountains of shoes and worked with the Garden Club members to pack boxes for shipping.

Nike accepts all types of athletic shoes, except those with cleats or large metal parts. The shoes are slit and ground and sorted into hard rubber for running tracks and soft rubber for playground mats. The canvas and leather upper parts go into a layer that is used for shock protection on basketball courts.

Nike began the Reuse-a-Shoe program in 1993 and said it has recycled 20 million pairs of shoes into material used in 250 sports surfaces.

Recycled shoes are part of the rubber floor in the wellness area of the new PNC YMCA Downtown, according to Richard Perallo, vice president of facilities for the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh.

Mrs. Williams says it costs the garden club about $800 a year to ship the shoes to Nike on the West Coast. That comes out to about 75 cents a pair of shoes, she said.

The club has been awarded a National Garden Club Federation Award for the tennis shoe program.

View the original article here

A cricket bat autographed by ace cricketer Sachin Tendulkar would y be the major attraction at a sporting memorabilia charity auction scheduled to be held on October 29 in Mumbai.

Tendulkar donated the bat, which he used during a one-day international innings in New Zealand.

“It was satisfying not least because I kept up a decent strike rate [with it] and India won the game!” the BBC quoted him, as saying in a statement.

The auction would also reportedly include a number of items of tennis superstar Roger Federer, chess world champion Vishwanathan Anand, and Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra.

The items for sale include a cricket bat used by Tendulkar, tennis shoes signed by Federer, Anand’s world chess championship gold medal, and Bindra’s world championship rifle.

The amount would reportedly be given to a charity, which funds schooling for children in remote parts of the country.

The auction has been organised by the charity’s founder, Rahul Bose, a former national rugby player and a well-known Indian actor.

“When I thought of raising funds… many suggested an art auction but I know nothing about art,” the report quoted Bose, as saying.

Organisers say they were “pleasantly surprised” when a variety of sports celebrities readily agreed to contribute towards the auction with their memorabilia.

Over 200 selected bidders will take part in the auction, the report said. (ANI)

View the original article here

Jake Haakenson will once again not be able to participate in the 5K run/walk he’s helping organize.

He’ll be busy running the show, making sure everything goes as planned. And that’s OK with him. The Woodcreek High School senior just wants as many other people as possible to lace up their tennis shoes and sprint, jog or leisurely walk in the third annual fundraiser event.

Proceeds from this year’s program benefit the Gathering Inn in Roseville.

“(The organization) is local and we wanted to help a cause that’s local,” Haakenson said. “We like what it does for the community. And it’s a lot of fun and good exercise.”

Members of Woodcreek High School’s National Honor Society organize the annual run/walk. The first year served as a fundraiser for Roseville Home Start. Last year, about 100 students, parents, teachers and community members participated — raising $1,200 for the Gathering Inn.

The nonprofit organization relies heavily on the generous donations of others. About two-thirds of the organization’s $500,000 annual budget comes from private donations and fundraisers, said Executive Director Suzi deFosset.

“(The run/walk) is especially exciting because we have a matching grant and Sutter (Roseville Medical Center) is matching dollar to dollar, so it makes these little fundraisers even more potent,” deFosset said.

The Gathering Inn serves the area’s homeless population by offering shelter, counseling, access to Placer County medical and mental health screening services, substance abuse treatment programs, public school enrollment for children, vocational training and more. Homeless people have an opportunity to shower at the organization’s headquarters before going to an “inn” — or one of 60 local churches — for meals and a place to spend the night. A group of ministers formed the organization in 2004.

“We’re all affected by homelessness, whether we’re living on the street or not,” deFosset said.

James Geyer, Woodcreek High School senior and member of the National Honor Society, said his group makes a big impact at school and around the city.

“Our run/walk means a lot to our group because we are directly influencing those in our community,” Geyer said. “Donating to the Gathering Inn supports a local charity and ensures that they can continue helping our homeless.”

Sena Christian can be reached at senac@goldcountrymedia.com.

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What: Woodcreek High School’s National Honor Society 5K run/walk to benefit the Gathering Inn

Where: Maidu Regional Park, 1550 Maidu Drive in Roseville

When: Check-in at 9 a.m., race at 10 a.m. rain or shine Saturday, Nov. 6

Cost: $25 each, $20 for three or more sign-ups on the same check. Drop-ins on day of race are welcome, but no T-shirt will be provided. Mail registration money, name, telephone number, e-mail and T-shirt size to: Jon Smith, Woodcreek High School, 2551 Woodcreek Oaks Blvd., Roseville, CA 95747.

Info: Call (916) 771-6565 ext. 4421

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GREEN BAY ? Skirts, slacks and tennis shoes are OK. Shorts, halter tops and piercings anywhere but the ears are not.

These and other new clothing guidelines could soon face Green Bay city workers, as the city considers imposing its first-ever official dress code.

City workers who also are football fans would still be allowed to wear green and gold on casual Fridays or whenever the Green Bay Packers are playing.

City officials say they want to formalize workplace attire standards that have been widely acknowledged and accepted in the past.

The final decision on the policy will come from the Green Bay City Council. After some adjustments, the proposed dress code will be presented to the council’s Personnel Committee in a few weeks.

Alderman Steven Deneys, chairman of the Personnel Committee, said visitors to City Hall frequently get their first impressions of Green Bay from the way city employees are dressed. Deneys said he supports implementing an official dress code.

“It gives us a more professional look,” he said. “What kind of an impression do we want to make, is what we’re looking at.”

Among other things, the proposed dress code requires city employees to “present a professional image at all times” with “acceptable business casual attire.”

Although details still are being discussed, the code as originally presented would prohibit employees from wearing dresses or skirts shorter than two inches above the knee; denim jeans, sweatpants or exercise pants; mini-skirts, strapless dresses or mid-drift tops; anything that is “too revealing or inappropriately fitted;” or clothing with cartoons, political statements or offensive words.

Acceptable attire would include slacks, dress pants, sleeveless sweaters or shirts, and dresses or skirts split at or below the knee.

Casual wear permitted on Fridays and on Packers game days would include Packers green and gold, as well as jeans, sweatshirts and T-shirts in good condition.

None of the dress code would apply to city employees who wear uniforms at work, whose clothing is determined by a union contract, or who work in park maintenance, bridge tending or certain other public works jobs.

Some employee groups have approached city officials to raise concerns about the dress code ? and to negotiate compromises.

“Nobody knows what to think of it yet,” said Mike Micksch, vice president of the local chapter of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

AFSCME represents about 150 employees in various city departments.

None of the other 30-plus AFSCME union locals in Northeastern Wisconsin have faced a dress code proposal in recent years, said Randall Etten, the union’s staff representative for the region.

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