[i][justify]Between 1859 and 1865 [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Gem]Harry Gem[/url] and his friend [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augurio_Perera]Augurio Perera[/url] developed a game that combined elements of [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racquets_(sport)]racquets[/url] and the Basque ball game [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basque_pelota]pelota[/url], which they played on Perera's [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croquet]croquet[/url] lawn in [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham]Birmingham[/url], England, United Kingdom. In 1872, along with two local doctors, they founded the world's first tennis club on Avenue Road, [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leamington_Spa]Leamington Spa[/url]. [br]In December 1873, British army officer Major [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Clopton_Wingfield]Walter Clopton Wingfield[/url] designed and patented a similar game ;– which he called sphairistikè ([url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language]Greek[/url]: σφαιριστική, meaning "ball-playing"), and was soon known simply as "sticky" – for the amusement of guests at a garden party on his friend's estate of [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nantclwyd_Hall]Nantclwyd Hall[/url], in [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llanelidan]Llanelidan[/url], Wales. According to R. D. C. Evans, turfgrass [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agronomist]agronomist[/url], "Sports historians all agree that [Wingfield] deserves much of the credit for the development of modern tennis." According to Honor Godfrey, museum curator at Wimbledon, Wingfield "popularized this game enormously. He produced a boxed set which included a net, poles, rackets, balls for playing the game – and most importantly you had his rules. He was absolutely terrific at marketing and he sent his game all over the world. He had very good connections with the clergy, the law profession, and the aristocracy and he sent thousands of sets out in the first year or so, in 1874." The world's oldest tennis tournament, the [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Championships,_Wimbledon]Wimbledon Championships[/url], were first played in London in 1877. The first Championships culminated a significant debate on how to standardize the rules.[br][/justify][/i]