Real tennis 1599. The game thrived among the 17th-century nobility in France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and the Habsburg Empire, but suffered under English Puritanism, as it was heavily associated with gambling. By the Age of Napoleon, the royal families of Europe were besieged and real tennis, a court game, was largely abandoned. Real tennis played a role in the history of the French Revolution, through the Tennis Court Oath, a pledge signed by French deputies in a real tennis court, which formed a decisive early step in starting the revolution. During the 18th century and early 19th century, as real tennis
Tennis at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's singles Tennis at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's singles The women's singles tennis tournament at the 2012 Olympic Games in London was held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon from 28 July to 4 August 2012, and was the first Olympic grass court tournament since tennis was re-introduced to the Games. Elena Dementieva was the reigning champion having won gold at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She retired from the sport in 2010 and thus did not defend her title. The first round provided some surprising results, with Li Na and Samantha Stosur both eliminated