1954 Mixed Doubles Sterling Trophy

From royal courts to country clubs, the game of tennis has long been steeped in history, elegance, and a spirited sense of play. Its earliest incarnation—jeu de paume—was played in French monasteries as far back as the 12th century, with bare hands batting a ball across a rudimentary court. Over time, rackets were introduced, the game flourished in aristocratic circles across Europe, and by the 16th century, it had earned the title “the sport of kings.” Henry VIII, famously fond of the game, even had a private court built at Hampton Court Palace.

But it was in Victorian Britain that tennis truly transformed. As the rhythms of outdoor life shifted with the rise of the middle class, the game adapted to newly popular garden lawns. With the invention of vulcanized rubber and a standardized set of rules, lawn tennis was born—and quickly became the sport of summer afternoons and smart socializing. By the time Wimbledon held its first championship in 1877, tennis had stepped gracefully into modernity.