运动休闲—网球运动的前世今生 Tennis story

Each summer at the US Open, the world’s top tennis players smash rubber balls back and forth¹ across a net, while crowds wait politely until the end of the match before cheering. Such is the modern sport of tennis, once the genteel pastime of the idle rich. First played in thirteenth-century France, tennis was an indoor sport, with players using the palms of their hands to hit the ball. Later, in the sixteenth century, people picked up rackets and headed to outdoor courts for the action.  story
　　每年夏天，世界顶尖的网球好手都会齐聚美国网球公开赛，在球网两侧相互回击一颗橡皮球，观众则彬彬有礼地在一旁守候，直到比赛结束时才报以欢呼声。这就是现代网球运动的实况；在过去，这种运动可是有钱人用来消磨时光的上流社会休闲活动。网球起源于13世纪的法国，当时还是一种球员以掌心击球的室内运动。后来到了16世纪，人们才拿起球拍，走向户外球场从事这项活动。

　　Tennis is still much the same, although nowadays it’s enjoyed by people from all walks of life—not just aristocrats². Professional player Pete Sampras, for example, is the son of Greek immigrants to the US. He began playing as a child, hitting balls against the wall in his basement. Sampras soon dominated the courts, not because of pretensions³, but because of his ability to“ace”the ball: Sampras can serve it so hard that opponents can’t return it.
　　网球运动至今并没有太大的变革，不过喜爱这项运动的人却遍及各行各业——而不仅仅是贵族了。举例来说，职业选手皮特·桑普拉斯是美籍希腊移民之子，小时候就在家里地下室对着墙壁击球，开始了他的网球生涯。桑普拉斯很快便纵横球场，靠的不是自命非凡，而是发球得分的能力：因为桑普拉斯发球力量很大，对手毫无还手的余地。

1 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

2 aristocrats   

n.贵族( aristocrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Many aristocrats were killed in the French Revolution. 许多贵族在法国大革命中被处死。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• To the Guillotine all aristocrats! 把全部贵族都送上断头台！ 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

3 pretensions   

自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力

参考例句：

• The play mocks the pretensions of the new middle class. 这出戏讽刺了新中产阶级的装模作样。
• The city has unrealistic pretensions to world-class status. 这个城市不切实际地标榜自己为国际都市。