Tennis: its fun and an fantastic way to keep fit. As British hopeful Tim Henman plays his second match of this year's Wimbledon, John Ives reveals everything you need to know to get you started.

WIMBLEDON is here - so why aren't you out playing too? It's healthy, it's fun, it's easy to pick up and it's not as expensive as you might think, and with around 35,000 courts across the UK, you've got no excuse not to join in.

You don't have to be the next Tim Henman to enjoy a spot of tennis this summer - people of all ages and abilities are joining in, getting fit and having fun.

Around 3.5 million people play tennis in the UK, according to the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), and the sport is ranked among the top five in the world for participant numbers.

But before you rush off, here's all you need to know about getting started in tennis.

WHY TENNIS IS ACE

''The key benefits of tennis are that it's healthy, you can play it at all levels and abilities, and you can have it as a team game or a gladiatorial clash,'' says Rebecca Miskin, director of tennis operations at the LTA. ''Tennis can also be very sociable. You can have a drink at the bar afterwards, meet new people. The first thing I do when I move home is join a club.''

Miskin points out that tennis also fits in well with modern, time-starved lifestyles. ''One of the reasons that a lot of people don't do some form of sport in this country is time constraints, but with tennis you can book a court, turn up, play, shower and be home in an hour and a half - and you only have to organise it with one other person.''

Tennis can also be a good stress-buster, too, she adds. ''I have got rid of my week by bashing the hell out of the ball.''

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

''TENNIS really is a lifetime sport,'' says Christine Tinker, executive director of the British Tennis Coaches Association. ''The age of people playing ranges from four to about 90 - I knew someone who was playing at 93. You can vary the game to suit your ability and activity levels.''

You don't need to be fit to get started, Tinker says. ''You can start off at the appropriate level and you can build up to get fitter. All you need is hand-eye co-ordination so you can connect racquet and ball, and most people are able to do that.''

There are also thriving circuits for disabled athletes and deaf players; tennis is one of the fastest growing wheelchair sports in the world.

Marshall Thomas, a spokesman for the LTA's charity arm, the British Tennis Foundation, explains: ''The only difference with the wheelchair game is that players are allowed two bounces of the ball before they have to return it, with the first bounce having to come inside the tramlines of the court.''

MONEY MATTERS

TENNIS is steadily shedding its upper-class image, thanks to the likes of Harlem sisters Venus and Serena Williams and current British women's number one Anne Keothavong, who hails from Hackney. ''Going to a tennis club is not quite what it used to be, in that it's much more open and accessible,'' says Tinker.

And the perceived cost of the sport is much higher than the actual cost. ''People think that tennis is expensive, but actually it's probably cheaper than going to the gym in most areas," says Miskin. ''The average cost to juniors is around £30 or £40 for a year's membership at a club, and for adults it's £70 or £80. It used to be a hobby for the privileged few, but now we're turning it into a sport for the masses.''

GETTING STARTED

MINI-tennis is a good place to start for kids. The smaller court, lighter racquets and softer balls that move slower through the air have all been designed to help children learn the basic skills and gain confidence before they progress to the full game.

Adults might want to go along to a group coaching session to pick up a few tips and meet people of the same ability. Look for coaches with the LTA Development Coach Award, who are well qualified to teach beginners.

This summer, the LTA's Play Tennis campaign is Europe's biggest free sport participation event, offering hundreds of free coaching sessions across the country from now until September.

Miskin says: ''There are 1,100 clubs opening their doors for a free day's induction, so if you are in two minds about tennis, go to one of these clubs and see how you feel.''

TENNIS TIPS

Tennis coach Christine Tinker says:

* Move to the ball so you can then make a comfortable swing at it, forehand or backhand. You want to feel yourself just lifting the ball over the net.

* Watch the ball right into your racquet strings. The tendency is to look up too soon thinking about where you're going to hit it.

* For volleying, hold the racquet very firmly and punch at the ball. Don't take a big swing at it.

* On the serve, place the ball up in the air a bit in front of you and keep your eyes on the ball as you swing your racquet at it. If you can't master the overhead serve, you can always just drop the ball, let it bounce and hit it underarm into your opponent's service box.

* In singles games, try to keep to the centre of the court and get your opponent moving. You are trying to hit the ball where they're not, making life difficult for them.