What Makes Tennis One of the Greatest Games
It wasn’t always regarded as the intensely athletic sport that it is.
TL;DR
- Tennis is increasingly recognized for its intense athleticism and mental challenge.
- In 1903, sports were viewed as crucial for developing masculinity and martial virtues, with football often favored over tennis.
- Football was embraced for its inherent risks and demands for coordinated action, with some even viewing violence as necessary for character building.
- Tennis was historically perceived as a more peaceful, genteel game, unsuitable for cultivating the same 'manly' virtues as football.
- An argument was made that tennis develops strength and vigor through its physical demands and intellectual complexity, fostering attributes like steadfastness, temper, and kindness.
- Modern tennis, exemplified by players like Ben Shelton and Coco Gauff, showcases a speed and power that confirms its status as a demanding athletic pursuit.