奥运知识—现代网球比赛的诞生 When & How

 

　　In 1874, Major Walter C. Wingfield patented in London the equipment and rules for a game fairly similar to modern tennis. In the same year, the first courts appeared in the United States. By the following year, equipment sets had been sold for use in Russia, India, Canada, and China.
　　在1874年，Walter C. Wingfield市长发明了一种新的网球装置和游戏规则，类似现在的网球，并获得了专利权。同年，在美国出现了第一个真正意义上的网球场地。随后的第二年，这种装置被销售到俄罗斯，印度，加拿大和中国。

　　Croquet was highly popular at this time, and the smooth croquet courts proved readily adaptable¹ for tennis. Wingfield's original court had the shape of an hourglass, narrowest at the net, and it was shorter than the modern court. His rules were subjected to considerable criticism, and he revised them in 1875, but he soon left the further development of the game to others.
　　在那时，槌球很受欢迎，并且槌球的场地直接可以用来玩网球。Wingfield所设计的场地形状象沙漏，在球网处最狭窄。他设计的规则虽然遭到了很多非议，并与1875年别修改，但是他却带来了现代网球的开端。

　　In 1877, the All England Club held the first Wimbledon tournament, and its tournament committee came up with a rectangular court and a set of rules that are essentially² the game we know today. The net was still five feet high at the sides, a carryover from the game's indoor ancestor, and the service boxes were 26 feet deep, but by 1882, the specifications³ had evolved to their current form.
　　在1877年，一个英国的俱乐部展开了第一次Wimbledon锦标赛，比赛所设计的长方形场地和比赛规则和今天的一样。网子仍然是五英尺高，发球箱仍然是26英尺深，但是在1882年，进行了一些细微的修改，才产生了现在网球。

1 adaptable   

adj.能适应的，适应性强的，可改编的

参考例句：

• He is an adaptable man and will soon learn the new work.他是个适应性很强的人，很快就将学会这种工作。
• The soil is adaptable to the growth of peanuts.这土壤适宜于花生的生长。

2 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

3 specifications   

n.规格；载明；详述；（产品等的）说明书；说明书( specification的名词复数 )；详细的计划书；载明；详述

参考例句：

• Our work must answer the specifications laid down. 我们的工作应符合所定的规范。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This sketch does not conform with the specifications. 图文不符。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》