Why do tennis matches start with words of love? Let’s break down a funny tradition

Tennis is very popular today. A great merit in this belongs to Russian athletes who are successfully performing on the international arena. We proudly follow their matches that take place in different countries, but sometimes we are perplexed….

No, it’s not the game itself, but the design of the game. Fans often have questions during the broadcast. The most frequently asked one is why the word “love” is used to denote a zero score in tennis?

The uniqueness of tennis

Tennis is an amazing sport. The scoring here is unconventional. The scores are 0 (“love”), 15, 30 and 40. How did this happen? There is a legend that originally the score was kept by clock, and each earned point was fixed by turning the hands by 1/4 turn. This equaled: 15, 30 and 45. But the last number was shortened for comfortable pronunciation.

There is another version. In the Middle Ages, betting was popular in France and Germany. However, the laws did not allow them to be worth more than 60 dinars. Coins had a value of 15 dinars, that is, 15 per point won.

But that’s not all. In the 19th century, during a trial in England, the 15-pound guns of the main deck were fired before the fireworks. Afterward, 30-pounders. At the end – from the heaviest – 40-pound guns from the lower deck of the ship.

So, we’ve learned that tennis is very interesting. Now let’s move on. It’s going to get even more interesting! Because we’re going to add a secret ingredient – love…

“Love” in tennis

The score in a tennis set starts at zero. However, instead of “zero”, the British say “love” (“love”). That’s why you can often hear “40-love” on the broadcast. Which means “40-0.” It is used mainly by foreigners. In Russia, however, it is extremely rare.

Tennis in the 1920s

Where did this “love” come from

1. Die French are said to be to blame . Tennis originated there. That’s why most of the terms in the sport are French. “L’oeuf,” which is the same as “love,” means “egg.” It’s similar to “zero.” There’s a common expression, “out for a duck’s egg”. It was used in cricket, and it too had the meaning of “zero”.

2. The term “love” comes from the word “lof”. It translates from Dutch as “honor.” When a player could not score a single point, it was said that he was “playing for his honor”.

3. “Love” (“love”) is taken literally. It means that at the very beginning of the game two tennis players still “love” each other. So far, there are no reasons for hatred between the opponents. In the course of the game they appear.

4. In sports there is an important principle “to play for love”. Literally, it translates to play for pleasure. That’s where tennis “love” comes from.

5. Historians say that it all goes back to the 16th century. Why? Back then, tennis was played by hand. Scoring was done using symbols and numbers. Zero was marked with an “O”. However, it was later replaced by “love”.

It’s not known how it really happened. But now calling a zero score with the word “love” is a tennis tradition. Isn’t it very beautiful?