Lifestyle

The most Prestigious Tennis Tournaments

Andy Murray at the French Open. Photo by Yann Caradec / CC-BY-SA-2.0 

Historians believe tennis dates back to the 12th century and first started in northern France.

It is now one of the world’s most popular sports to both watch and play, with many action-packed events taking place every year that attract thousands of spectators and millions of TV viewers.

If you’re unsure about the finest events to watch or attend, here are the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world. 

Australian Open 

The Australian Open is the first of four tennis majors that take place every year. While the tournament dates back to 1905, the event has been held at Melbourne Park since 1988.

It is commonly played on a hard-court surface and it is one of the highest attended tennis events in the world, which is held annually during the last fortnight of January in Melbourne, Australia. 

Wimbledon 

Wimbledon is one of most iconic and historic tennis tournaments on the planet.

Dating back to 1877, the finest players in the sport are willing to do everything in their power to win the men’s and women’s singles and double events, so even the best sporting odds might not be enough to secure a winner.  

The annual tournament, which is held at All England Club near London, England, is routinely attended by members of the royal family and A-list celebrities. It also has various customs to adhere to, such as an all-white dress code and the consumption of strawberries and cream. 

Wimbledon’s Centre Court.  Photo by Razzle-dazzle / CC0 

French Open 

The French Open is unlike other tournament mentioned on this list, as it features only clay courts, which are famously challenging to play on. While the likes of Rafael Nadal excel on the court –  he has won a whopping 12 French Open Championships – other tennis stars could struggle with the slower moving balls.  

The 2020 French Open, which dates back 128 years, is expected to be held between May 24 to June 7th in its host city of Paris.  

US Open 

The US Open is the final Grand Slam of the tennis season, which dates back to 1881 and was once known as the US National Championship. Unlike other majors in the sport, the tournament offers a fun, lively atmosphere, which complements its host of New York City. 

The event is held annually at the US National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, with many of the finest stars in tennis taking to the courts.

If you would like to watch a match in action for yourself, you can secure tickets for either late August or early September and can be one of 800,000 spectators absorbing an intense match. 

So, if you want to watch some of the finest tennis stars in action, you should add the above prestigious tournaments onto your calendar. 

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