Collection: Tennis Trading Cards

Home | Tennis

Tennis, a sport of grace, power, and endurance, has evolved from its aristocratic origins into one of the most widely played and watched games in the world, defined by legendary players and historic tournaments. The roots of tennis trace back to 12th-century France, where a handball game known as jeu de paume eventually gave way to racquets in the 16th century. The modern version, called lawn tennis, was codified in England in the 1870s, with Wimbledon, first played in 1877, becoming the sport’s oldest and most prestigious championship. The establishment of the other three Grand Slams—the U.S. Open (1881), French Open (1891), and Australian Open (1905)—cemented the game’s global tradition. Early stars like Bill Tilden, Suzanne Lenglen, and Helen Wills Moody popularized the sport in the early 20th century, while the post-war era introduced greats like Rod Laver, the only player to win the calendar Grand Slam twice, and Margaret Court, who amassed a record 24 major singles titles. The Open Era, beginning in 1968, transformed tennis into a fully professional sport, ushering in rivalries such as Björn Borg vs. John McEnroe, whose contrasting styles defined the 1970s and 80s. The 1990s and 2000s brought global icons including Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, and Steffi Graf, the only player to achieve the Golden Slam in 1988 by winning all four majors plus Olympic gold. The modern era has been dominated by the “Big Three” of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, who together rewrote record books with dozens of Grand Slam victories and some of the sport’s most unforgettable matches, while on the women’s side, Serena Williams redefined dominance and longevity with 23 Grand Slam titles. Today, rising stars like Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Świątek, and Coco Gauff carry tennis into a new era, ensuring the sport’s legacy of brilliance and global appeal continues.