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Sport explainer

What is tennis?

Tennis is the classic racket sport: technically demanding, physically hard in singles, and much more forgiving in doubles.

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Quick facts

Type
Racket sport
Players
2 or 4
Match length
60–120 minutes
Origin
Lawn tennis codified in England in the 1870s
Cost to start
Rackets from $60; park courts free to $15 an hour; club membership $200–800 a year.
Fitness needed
Singles is demanding; doubles is far more accessible.

Tennis explained

Tennis is the classic racket sport: technically demanding, physically hard in singles, and much more forgiving in doubles.

Club box leagues are the best-kept secret for adults — you get matched with players of similar standard and play monthly fixtures.

Public park courts make it cheap to start, and cardio tennis sessions offer a low-pressure way in.

The rules that actually matter

You don't need the full rulebook to play your first session. These are the rules that shape every game of tennis.

  • Scoring runs 15, 30, 40, game; six games win a set (win by two)
  • You get two serves; both faults lose the point
  • The serve must land in the diagonal service box
  • Tiebreaks are played at 6–6 in most formats

Equipment you need

Beginners consistently overspend here. This is the realistic starting kit list for tennis.

  • Racket
  • Balls
  • Court shoes for the surface
  • Overgrips

Formats you can play

Tennis isn't one thing. Picking the right format is the difference between enjoying your first month and quitting it.

  • Singles
  • Doubles
  • Club box leagues
  • Tournaments
  • Cardio tennis

Where it's played

Typical venues for tennis, and the places worth checking when you're looking for a session near you.

  • Public park courts
  • Tennis clubs
  • Indoor centres
  • School courts

Why people take up tennis

Beyond the sport itself, these are the reasons adults commit to it.

  • Playable for life, at any age
  • Box leagues match you by ability automatically
  • Doubles is social and lower impact
  • Public courts keep entry costs near zero
  • Skill ceiling is effectively unlimited

Similar sports

If tennis isn't quite right, these sports attract similar players: Padel, Pickleball, Squash, Badminton.

Your first month

  1. 01

    Week 1 — group lesson

    A beginner group session teaches grip, stance and the forehand in a low-pressure setting.

  2. 02

    Week 2 — rally practice

    Book a court with a friend and rally cross-court. Count consecutive shots instead of playing points.

  3. 03

    Week 3 — learn the serve

    Serve is the hardest shot. Fifteen minutes of serving at the start of every session.

  4. 04

    Week 4 — first match

    Play a set of doubles or enter a club box league at the lowest level.

Find people to train with

SportConnect is free: set your sport and level, browse players, coaches, clubs and gyms near you, and message the ones running beginner-friendly sessions.

Find tennis near youExplore your city

Frequently asked questions

Is tennis hard to learn?

Steeper than padel — expect a few months of lessons to rally comfortably.

How much does it cost to start tennis?

Rackets from $60; park courts free to $15 an hour; club membership $200–800 a year.

Do I need to be fit to play tennis?

Singles is demanding; doubles is far more accessible.

How many players do you need for tennis?

2 or 4. Singles is the standard format, but smaller variants exist: Doubles, Club box leagues, Tournaments.

Do I need experience to join a club or session?

No. Most local clubs, gyms and open sessions run beginner groups and are used to people arriving with zero background. Say you're new when you message them — it changes how they set the session up for you.

Is SportConnect free?

Yes. Creating a profile, browsing players, coaches, gyms and events, and messaging other members is free.

How do I find people at my level nearby?

Set your sport, level and city on your profile, then browse players, coaches and gyms in your area. Filtering by level is the fastest way to find sessions you'll actually enjoy.

Find a tennis coach

A few sessions with a coach shortcuts months of guesswork. Every coach on SportConnect lists their sport, location, session formats, rates and availability, so you can compare before you message.

Browse tennis coachesTennis on SportConnectHow to find a coachCoach directory
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Keep reading

How to get into lacrosseHow to get into mmaHow to get into yogaHow to get into padelHow to get into pickleballHow to get into boxingHow to get into runningHow to get into swimmingHow to get into cyclingHow to get into basketballHow to get into soccerHow to get into american football

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