Introduction

At the end of 20th century Georgian Tennis has celebrated its 100th anniversary. According to its results and success Georgian Tennis – alongside Football and Basketball was taking leading position in Georgian Sport for many years.
By the twenties of the 20th century – at the early stage of tennis development in our country Georgian tennis players were already reaching great successes. The team of Caucasian tennis players, consisting only from Georgian players took the 2nd place at the Spartakiada of Soviet Nations’ in 1928.

Those years many splendid tennis players such as Jan Homer, Eduard Negrebetsky, Archil Mdivani, Tamar Gogolauri, David Guliashvili gained tremendous success and fame in Soviet Union.
Despite the fact that in the past years Soviet Union was considered to be the closed structure, contacts with foreign players was limited Georgian Tennis was still developing and making progress. It is important to note that Georgian tennis was developing right way. Soon after getting chance to demonstrate their talent and abilities many of Georgian tennis players managed to become successful and to show their decent playing.

The first generation of Georgian tennis players has managed to make basis for further success of the next generations. The names of Ivane Elerdashvili, Boris Krupenikovi, Givi Kokaia, Victor Uraevski, Alexander Metreveli, Nugzar Mdzinarashvili, Teimuraz Kakulia, Irina Riazanova-Ermolova, Rena Abzhandadze, Ala Ivanova, Nino Tukhareli, Leila Meskhi, Vladimir Gabrichidze, David Kacharava will make the golden page of Georgian Sport History. Thanks to the success of Georgian athletes, tennis has become one of the most popular sporting events in Georgia.

The year of 1991 was one of the most remarkable and unforgettable years for Georgian tennis players. That very year – alongside the foundation of Georgian tennis federation we managed to enter in International Tennis Organizations. Since 1992 Georgian Tennis Federation is full and equal member of ITF (International Tennis Federation) and ETA (European Tennis Association). Since 1994 our sportsmen are regularly participating in Davis Cup and Fed Cup Championships (men’s and women’s group championships). Junior tennis players are regularly participating in European group and individual championships. Thanks to the efforts of Mrs. Leila Meskhi – President of GTF the Men’s and Women’s professional tennis tournaments are regularly conducted in Tbilisi and in Batumi since 1997.