Tennis is a hugely popular sport and is enjoyed recreationally as a spectator sport and in huge tournaments and events. As an Olympic sport it draws huge crowds across the world but it also has many high-profile competitions a little closer to home such as Wimbledon. Placing a bet on tennis is great fun, as the pace is fast and furious and the television coverage of many of the major events extensive.

Odds are that you have already heard of tennis, with the name conjuring up images of strawberries and cream and summer days - but what exactly are the rules of the game? Well, the tennis rules have hardly changed since the 1890s, with the modern game of tennis that many enjoy originating in the UK as lawn tennis. It is simple to play and anyone who can hold a racket can theoretically practise the game, which has made it very popular with those in wheelchairs.

Tennis can be played in teams, doubles, or one-on-one, singles. Usually the big tournaments are with players competing against each other in singles matches. Men do not play women and there are separate tournaments for both sexes. The object of the game is to hit the ball over the net with the racket so it hits the floor inside the court in the opponent's side.

As mentioned earlier there are loads of great tennis events to place a bet on, with the major competitions usually running in the summer months. Ones to look out for include the American Grand Slam tournaments (which are often referred to as the majors), the French Open, the Australian Open, the US Open and Wimbledon.