Tennis in Beijing Olympics: Tennis is a game involving two players or two teams of two players . A two players' tennis match is known as singles and a tennis match between two teams of two players is known as doubles . In tennis , a stringed racquet is used by the players to hit a ball . The ball used in the sport is a hollow rubber ball covered with felt . Lawn tennis , the general name for tennis was originated in England in the late 19 th century . Tennis has emerged as a spectator sport over the years since 1890s . Rules followed in tennis have remained remarkably unchanged since its birth.
Tennis in the Summer Games: Lawn tennis was introduced in the Summer Olympics' program in the first modern Summer Games in 1896 . The sport was excluded from the schedule in the 1924 Summer Olympics . Later lawn tennis was held as a demonstration sport twice . Then the sport reappeared permanently in the Olympics ' program in the 1988 Summer Games . Olympic tennis competition is held in a single knockout round . Men and women compete in four events in the Olympic tennis . Men and women compete in singles and doubles matches each.
Tennis at the 2008 Summer Games: At the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, China , the tennis events will be held from 10 th August to 17 th August . The finals are scheduled on 16 th and 17 th August . The tennis events will take place at the Olympic Green Tennis Centre in the Chaoyang District . The number of gold medals in contention for the Olympic tennis competition is 4 .
Thomas Haas, Arnaud di Pasquale, Nicolas Massu, Mardy Fish, Fernando Gonzalez, Nicolas Kiefer, Mario Ancic and Ivan Ljubicic are some expected contenders in men's tennis competition in the 2008 Beijing Summer Games .
Venus Williams, Elena Dementieva, Justine Henin-Hardenne, Amelie Mauresmo, Alicia Molik, Serena Williams, Virginia Ruano Pascual, Paola Suarez, Li Ting and Sun Tiantian are some famous players in women's tennis, who will be seen in the twenty-ninth Summer Games .
