Mens tennis was part of the first 
modern Olympics and womens 
singles were added in 1900.  But 
from 1928 to 1984, tennis was 
dropped from the Olympics, 
although in 1968 and 1984 it was 
a demonstration sport.  When it 
was reinstated as an event, in 
Seoul in 1988, Steffi Graff of 
Germany  won the Gold in 
Women's Singles, topping off a 
year in which she won the 
Grand Slam -- the Australian, 
French and U.S. Open, and 
Wimbledon.

Until the late 1960s, all tennis 
rackets were made of wood.  
Now, they are constructed of 
kevlar, graphite or other 
lightweight materials.  The new 
wide-body rackets have heads 
almost twice the size of 
traditional models, which helps to 
put more speed and power on 
the ball.  These equipment 
changes have literally changed 
the nature of the game.