National Play Tennis Day
National Play Tennis Day is celebrated every year on February 23.
It’s a simple, feel-good observance with one message: grab a racket and play whether you’re a complete beginner, a weekend hitter, or someone who hasn’t stepped on a court in years.
Story of Tennis
Long before today’s rackets and neon balls, tennis traces back to medieval France. Early forms were linked to jeu de paume that literally is game of the palm because players originally hit the ball with their hands.
Over centuries, that handball-style game evolved into racket-based play and eventually helped inspire the outdoor version we recognize as modern tennis.
A major “launch moment” for lawn tennis came in 1874, when Major Walter Clopton Wingfield introduced and promoted a boxed lawn game often associated with the name 'Sphairistike' that helped spread standardized equipment and rules.
Celebrate National Play Tennis Day
The best way to celebrate National Play Tennis Day is to actually step onto a court no matter your skill level and keep it light. Book a public court at a park or community sports complex, grab a friend, and make the goal simple: rally more, stress less. Even 30 to 45 minutes of hitting counts.
Not in the mood to play a full match? Celebrate by watching one but watch it like a fan and a learner. Pick a match and notice the simple patterns: players rally cross-court to stay safe, they attack short balls, and they change direction only when they’ve created an opening. It makes tennis instantly more exciting because you can feel the strategy behind every shot.
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