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or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history podcasts at IntoHistory.com. It's July 9, 1877 at the All-England Club in South London.

27-year-old Spencer Gore bounces lightly from foot to foot on the freshly rolled grass.

He grips his wooden racket, his eyes

locked on the ball as it arcs towards it. Then with a smooth swing, he sends it sailing back over

the net to his opponent. This is just a warm-up, so both men are conserving their energy for now.

Today is the first round of a new lawn tennis tournament, and Spencer's match is the opener.

Spectators have gathered on the makeshift benches that line the cord.

There are more people than seats and a group of schoolchildren jostles for the best vantage point.

Spencer is a bit surprised that so many people have come.

Lawn tennis is a new sport.

Its provisional rules are a mix of croquet and racquet

and racquet. And despite the curious crowd today, Spencer is far from convinced that this game

is anything more than a passing fad. But before he can give that notion any more thought,

the referee calls for play to begin. Spencer steps up to the baseline and readies himself. And as the

serve comes in this time, he doesn't hold back. Spencer lunges forward, meeting the ball early

and driving it low across the net. It's a strong first hit, but his opponent handles the return

with ease, keeping Spencer moving. With each swing of the heavy racket, Spencer feels a jolt through his elbow and wrist,

but he grits his teeth and keeps the rally alive determined to dictate the pace.

Finally, with one last ferocious swing, he smashes the ball across the net and beyond the reach of his scrambling opponent.

...