With the US Open well into the swing of things, there are plenty of people around the world keen to dust off their racquets and find the nearest tennis court for a hit.

The sport of tennis has been around for centuries, and while it can logistically be a nightmare to play, it seems that it has a rich history, dating back well before the 19th century.

Originally classed as a white collar sport, or private school sport, which was mostly only played by rich individuals and upper class society, the sport has seen a rapid transformation in recent decades.

Now, tennis is played by all walks of life, and the social divide that once existed is slowly fading away forever.

For those of who who might somehow have no idea about what the sport is, here is a brief description.

Tennis is a ball sport played between two or four individuals.

Each player has a racquet and stands on opposite sides of a court that is divided by a net.

The aim is to hit the ball over the net on the full, into your opponents half, but within the boundaries indicated by a white line.

Each point you win counts to a game score, which then adds to a set tally.

The person who wins the most sets is called the winner.

The good thing about tennis is that it requires good athletic ability without putting too much strain on your body.

Anyone, any age is able to play, and being non contact, it is sure not to leave you with too many injuries.

The only downside to the sport is the fact that it can be quite challenging at the beginning, as trying to serve and get use to the racquet may be tough.

However, with a bit of practice you should find it to be a great and enjoyable sport.