The earliest forms of tennis were played on monastery courtyards in France, with players using their hands instead of racquets. It has since evolved into the game which is still played today.
Tennis as we know it originated in the 19th century in Britain and was referred to as “Lawn tennis”. The first Ladies’ Championship at the prestigious Wimbledon tournament was held in 1884, with Maud Watson as the first victor.
Though the Open Era in 1968, women were given more opportunities. However, major gaps persisted between how much men and women were paid in terms of prize money – until 1973, when the US Open awarded equal prize money to both males and females.