Tennis started as past time for the upper echelons of English society but it has developed into a universal sport that can be played by anyone with a racquet.

One of tennis’ great appeals is the fact that very little has changed in the last hundred or so years. The basic tenants of the sport are the same as they were all the way back then. To win a point you need to either beat your opponent with a clean winner or hope that they make an error. When enough points and you win a game, win six games and you take a set, win two (sometimes three) sets and you win the match.

Tennis is a universal sport played all over the world and that was recognised when it was reintroduced to the Olympics in 1988. The main testing ground for the world’s best players are the Grand Slams. These include the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. The last man to win all four Grand Slams in the same year was ‘Rocket’ Rod Laver in 1969. The last woman to achieve the same feat was Steffi Graf, who did it in 1988.

The professional tennis tour for men and women runs all year round, meaning a tennis fan never has to go too far to watch their favourite player strut their stuff. Tennis has also become one of the most profitable sports in the world. The winner of Wimbledon receives a cool $1.6 million for winning seven matches.