History of tennis royal families of Europe were besieged and real tennis was largely abandoned. Real tennis played a minor role in the history of the French Revolution, through the Tennis Court Oath, a pledge signed by French deputies on a real tennis court, which formed a decisive early step in starting the revolution. In England, during the 18th and early 19th centuries as real tennis declined, three other racquet sports emerged: racquets, squash racquets, and lawn tennis (the modern game). The modern sport is tied to two separate inventions. Between 1859 and 1865, in Birmingham, England, Major Harry Gem, a solicitor, and
United States Court Tennis Association United States Court Tennis Association The United States Court Tennis Association is the governing body for the sport of real tennis in the United States. The first association president, William L. Van Alen, convened its initial meeting on January 30, 1955 at New York City's Racquet and Tennis Club. William F. McLaughlin Jr. was president from 2001-2006 and while the USCTA celebrated its 50th Anniversary at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia. The new president, Jim Wharton, was appointed in 2006. The United States Court Tennis Preservation Foundation, incorporated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 26, 1994 is an affiliated charitable organization