“Firstly, it’s great for improving physical fitness. Tennis improves your speed, stamina, coordination, balance, and a whole host of other areas,” says Ward.

“Playing sport is also linked to positive mental health too, and tennis in particular provides mental stimulus as it requires problem-solving and focus. Also, an often overlooked benefit of getting into regular tennis is that it provides fantastic social opportunities.”

Nell Mead, a physiotherapist, has been playing tennis since she was six years old. “What I love about tennis is how you can have fun at any level. No matter how good or how bad you are at it, if you go to a tennis club, you will almost certainly be able to find someone to knock a ball about with,” she says. “The joy of chasing a little yellow ball around a court is the reason I’ve fought back from injuries and surgery. And it’s brought me lifelong friendships and friendly rivalries, and taught me valuable lessons about fair play, teamwork, winning, losing, resilience and leadership.”

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