If the start of Wimbledon inspires your child to pick up a racket, there are plenty of places to learn. The Lawn Tennis Association has two initiatives aimed at getting budding Henmans into the swing: Ariel Mini Tennis, aimed at 4 to 10-year-olds, and Raw Tennis, for 10 to 18-year-olds. Visit www.arielminitennis.com or www.rawtennis.net for clubs in your area.

REGENT'S PARK TENNIS CENTRE, LONDON Tennis is a great way for 4 to 10-year-olds to develop their hand-eye co-ordination and improve all-round fitness. At Regent’s Park, there are Mini Tennis courts, which are smaller and have low nets, especially for junior players. Mini Tennis is split into three categories: red, which teaches very young children the basics using soft balls; orange, aimed at helping 7 to 8-year-olds to develop rallies, which uses harder balls; and green, for 9-year-olds who want to progress to an adult game. Children can play for free between 3pm and 6pm on weekdays, or book for a lesson after school or at weekends. For over-11s, there are Raw Tennis courses, played on adult courts, that focus on teaching the kids “freestyle” skills.
Suitable for Ages 4 to 18.
Cost A six-week course of either Mini Tennis or Raw Tennis is £45; all classes are after school or at weekends. One-off lessons are £8 an hour. Equipment hire is free.
Contact Regent’s Park, London NW1 (020-7486 4216; www.willtowin.co.uk )

CAMBRIDGE LAWN TENNIS CLUB Voted one of the top three clubs in the country by the Lawn Tennis Association, Cambridge offers Mini Tennis and Raw Tennis for aspiring aces. Lessons focus on improving co-ordination, footwork and agility, and how to serve and return. Children are encouraged to enter “ladder matches” where they can play against each other and are ranked accordingly.
Suitable for Ages 4 to 18
Cost Membership for 4 to 10-year-olds is £35 a year, which includes a free six-week course of lessons. Junior membership costs £60, with a free six-week course of lessons.
Contact Cambridge Lawn Tennis Club, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge (07749 713450; www.cambridgeltc.com )

GOSLING SPORTS PARK, HERTFORDSHIRE Gosling is a vast sports development, with excellent tennis facilities: it has the world’s first indoor clay courts. Here Mini Tennis is divided into two programmes: Mini Tennis Play for children who just want to have fun and get fit; and Mini Tennis Train for aspiring Grand Slammers. There are also 45-minute “mini mini” tennis lessons for 2 to 4-year-olds during the holidays.
Suitable for Ages 2 to 18
Cost A seven-week Mini Tennis course costs £35 for children who are red standard, and £36.40 if your child is orange or green standard. A seven-week Raw Tennis course is £36.40. Day-long Mini Tennis lessons during the summers cost from £13. Day-long Raw Tennis lessons cost £25.
Contact Gosling Sports Park, Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire (01707 331056; www.goslingsports.co.uk )

WESTERN LAWN TENNIS AND SQUASH CLUB, GLASGOW This club offers a ten-week block of lessons and the emphasis is on fun: under-11s are encouraged to develop their ball and racket skills with gentle rallies. Classes are mixed ability, so children whose game is less strong can learn from others.
Suitable for Ages 4-18
Cost Members pay £50 for a ten-week block of lessons, with one class a week. The price goes down the more classes you do. Equipment hire is free.
Contact 30 Hyndland Road, Glasgow (0141-339 0065; www.glasgowwestern.co.uk)

MANCHESTER CITY TENNIS CLUB This club is local-authority funded, which means it is significantly cheaper than others: just £1 for an hour-long lesson, which includes equipment hire. There are six indoor and six outdoor courts and a dedicated Mini Tennis area for trainee champions. Raw Tennis players are encouraged to compete against each other.
Suitable for Ages 4 to 18
Cost £1 a session
Contact Manchester City Tennis Club, Wythenshawe (0161-220 3840; www.manchester.gov.uk/leisure/sports/tennis.htm

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