Hannah Gray and Jemma Walton get some tips on taking up tennis and also find out the best places to buy refreshments if you're more into the spectating side.

Federer and co may make it all look so easy, but John Rudd has a word of warning – tennis can take some mastering.

John (59), who is the racquets manager at Thorpe Wood Health and Racquets Club, said: "It's not an easy game to learn to play. There's a high skill level to tennis. Of all the racquet games, it's the most difficult."

But it's worth sticking with, for a variety of reasons.

"According to studies on exercising in various sports, tennis burns more calories than aerobics, skating and cycling and playing helps improve your cardiovascular fitness," John said.

"Speed, leg strength and agility are but a few of the physical benefits of playing tennis."

It's not just about the physical, however, as John believes there are other benefits.

"It's a good social game. It's good for meeting new friends and developing friendships that way," he said.

And John ought to know about the benefits as he has been playing for 50 years, since he first picked up a racquet with his dad in the park, aged nine.

As well as working at Thorpe Wood, he is also the captain of the Cambridgeshire men's team.

Naturally, John says there is an annual peak in interest in the sport when Wimbledon is on the TV, but unfortunately, not everyone continues after the final.

So what are his top tips to make it a hobby you can stick to?

First of all, he recommends taking a few lessons to make sure you're learning the techniques of the game.

If you are going to pay a coach, make sure you've got the right person, preferably a licensed LTA (Lawn Tennis Association) coach. And join a club, where you can play with people of the same ability as you, so you don't end up discouraged. But, even if you get on well, it's perhaps wise not to expect to end up on centre court any day soon.

It is estimated it takes something like 10,000 hours to get to the level of a professional tennis player – so you could be a long way off lifting that silver gilt cup or that silver salver.

Thorpe Wood Health and Racquets Club has six courts in total, which are under cover during the winter.

Non members, including children, can attend courses at the club, and it will soon be starting Cardio Tennis sessions, which are fun, high-energy group sessions set to music and aim to improve timing and co-ordination.

The sessions will be free to any member of the public next Wednesday, June 25 at noon and 7pm. Anyone interested should call 01733 892289 to book a place.

The club will also be holding a strawberries and cream ladies doubles tournament on Friday, June 27, at 10am.

» Find more tennis courts and clubs in and around Peterborough.


Fashion: Make sure you look the part

Let's face it, Maria Sharapova wouldn't turn up for a match in old grey jogging bottoms, so you may need a new outfit in the obligatory white to go with your new hobby, plus of course the right equipment.

JJB Sports, in Long Causeway, Peterborough, has Olympus balls for £1.99 for three, and Slazenger Wimbledon balls at £4.99 for four. Racquets range from the Slazenger 290 at £19.99 to a Slazenger Quadflex Pro at £59.99.

For men, they have a Nike Dri-fit Velocity top at £24.99 and Nike Power Shorts at £29.99. Ladies could try a white Reebok V-neck and sleeveless top for £9.99 and Reebok Oasis shorts at £17.99.

Both men and women could complete the look with a Slazenger three-racquet bag for £19.99.

For men's outfits, JD Sports in Queensgate has a white Reebok T-shirt for £14.99, and white Reebok shorts, also £14.99. Ladies could treat them- selves to a Nike Air racer back vest in white and green for £15.99 and team it with a pair of Los Angeles Tees white shorts with pink writing for £9.99.


Food & drink: Find that tennis taste this summer

Watching tennis is all very well, but everyone knows that to really make the most of Wimbledon fortnight you have to stock up on plenty of gorgeous goodies.

Waitrose is the place to head to buy your drinks. Tennis is a champagne kind of game, and the Queensgate supermarket has lots of lovely offers for cheap champers on at the moment. The best is Veuve Clicquot Brut, which was £30.16, now £27.16.

But if you're looking to splash out, Waitrose stocks Dom Perignon, which is a snip at £95.

If you've got better things to splash £100 on, their Nederburg Chardonnay Viognier was £4.99 a bottle, is now £3.99.

It's not fizzy, but it is very delicious.

And no Wimbledon session would be complete without a bucket or two of Pimm's.

This light, fruity drink, which is best served chilled and with lemonade, chunks of cucumber (trust us on this one), celery, apple, mint, lemon and orange, is on offer at the moment.

A litre of Pimm's Number 1 Cup is reduced from £17.79 to £11.99, while a 70cl bottle was £12.00 and is now £10.99. Marks and Spencer has chiller cabinet after chiller cabi- net chock-full of fruit and the most delicious puddings imaginable.

A 400g punnet of stawberries from Kent or Scotland is currently on two-for-£4, or £2.49 each. Drown these in West Country Double Cream (£1.15) and you'll be in Wimbledon heaven.

Other gorgeous puds include chocolate eclairs (£1.59 for four), a profiterole stack with fresh cream (£3.29), a tarte aux pommes (£4.09) and summer puddings (two for £2.99). Game, set and tuck in.


Betting: Can you pick this year's Wimbledon winner?

Wimbledon comes but once a year, and so a little flutter on the runners and riders surely isn't too naughty – and might just pay off.

The battle for the men's singles title at Wimbledon is one of the most eagerly anticipated in years, with three big beasts contending for the £750,000 prize.

Five-times winner Roger Federer was laid low by a virus at the start of the year, and will be battling to keep hold of his crown, rather than let it fall into Spain's Rafael Nadal or Serbia's Novak Djokovic's hands. Federer is still the bookies' favourite though with odds of 5/4. Britain's hope, Andy Murray is at 20/1. Djokovic is rated at 9/2, and Nadal is given 15/8.

Meanwhile, on the ladies' side, Maria Sharapova is ready to take on the double Serbian challenge of Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic as she bids to become world number one again at Wimbledon. The bookies are giving Maria 9/4, Ana 4/1 and Jelena 10/1 odds.

Five-times champion Roger Federer and new top-ranked woman Ana Ivanovic are the No 1-seeded players.


More external tennis links:
Official Wimbledon tennis tournament website - www.wimbledon.org.

British Lawn Tennis Association - www.lta.org.uk.