The tennis we love today has a rich and surprising history. From medieval ball games to professional courts, this sport has evolved to become a global phenomenon.From Medieval Roots with Jeu de PaumeThe ancestor of tennis is Jeu de Paume, which appeared in France in the 12th century. First played with bare hands, then with gloves, and finally with rudimentary rackets, this sport was very popular, especially among royalty. The term "tennis" is believed to come from the server's cry "tenez!" (meaning "take it!"). The rules were different, but the principle of returning the ball over an obstacle

Choosing the perfect padel racket is essential for your progress and enjoyment on the court. A true extension of your arm, the "pala" must adapt to your playing style and level. This guide will help you navigate through the multitude of models to make the right choice.🎾 The Fundamentals of a Padel Racket Understanding the basics is the first step to choosing well. Each characteristic of the racket has a direct impact on your feel and performance.The Shape: Power, Control, or Versatility? The shape is not just about aesthetics; it truly impacts your game, so you need to adapt it to your needs

Facing an opponent who keeps smashing powerful shots? Don’t panic! Here are 5 key tips to defend well against a smasher in badminton.Work on your positioning The foundation of good defense is proper positioning. When receiving a smash, stay slightly bent, racquet in front, ready to react. Keep your footwork active and position yourself in the rear center of the court to cover as many angles as possible.✅ Tip: don’t stand on the back line. Stay about 1 metre in front to have time to react.Anticipate trajectories A good defender reads the opponent’s play. Watch their movement: a cross smash ha

The forehand is a key weapon in tennis. To gain more precision, power, and consistency, here are 5 simple steps to follow.Adopt a good ready position Even before hitting, everything starts with your base position. Feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, racquet held in front of you, body weight leaning forward: you’re ready to react quickly to any ball.Prepare your stroke early A good forehand begins with quick and smooth preparation. As soon as you identify the ball coming to your forehand side, turn your shoulders perpendicular to the net, bring the racquet back, and slightly tilt

Born in an American backyard, pickleball is now one of the fastest-growing racket sports in the world. This blend of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong attracts players with its friendliness, simplicity, and strategic play. But where did this uniquely named game come from? Let’s trace the history of pickleball.The Origins: A Family-Inspired InventionPickleball was created in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, Washington, by three friends: Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum. Looking to entertain their children, they improvised a game using ping-pong paddles, a badminton net, and

Discover the leading squash nations, from historic countries to new powerhouses. A world tour of the strongholds of this fascinating sport.Egypt: the new squash superpowerSince the early 2000s, Egypt has dominated the global squash scene. With legends such as Amr Shabana, Ramy Ashour, Nour El Sherbini and Ali Farag, the country has accumulated world titles in both men's and women's competitions. This supremacy is due to a strong squash culture, a well-developed club network, effective training programs, and media enthusiasm that has popularised the sport on a large scale. Today, several major

Discover how ping pong, born in English parlours, became an Olympic sport played by millions of enthusiasts around the world.The origins of table tennis: an aristocratic parlour gameTable tennis emerged in late 19th-century England as a miniature version of classical tennis. British aristocrats, looking for indoor entertainment during rainy evenings, improvised the game using a dining table, books as a net, and champagne corks or cork balls as balls. The term "ping-pong" appeared in 1901, derived from the onomatopoeia mimicking the sound of the ball being struck. The game quickly gained popul

Tennis, badminton, squash, padel, ping pong, pickleball… Which racket sports offer the highest earnings for professional and semi-professional players? I’ve investigated.Tennis, the king of financial earningsUnsurprisingly, tennis remains the most lucrative racket sport in the world. With huge prize money in Grand Slam tournaments, a player can pocket between €2 and €3 million for a win. Even the world’s top 100 secure comfortable earnings, between €500,000 and several million per year, not including sponsorship deals.Key figures: – Novak Djokovic has surpassed $180 million in career prize m