Come July  2012, over 18,000 of the world's elite athletes will descend on London ready for the opening ceremony of the 30th Olympic Games. Since July 6th, 2005, when London narrowly beat Paris to secure the Games, preparations have been underway to prepare the various venues in the Olympic Park. Many expressed their concerns whether the building work would be complete in time and within budget. But, much to the delight of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and all those involved in the process, the first new Olympic construction, the Velodrome, was finished almost 18 months before the start of the Games.

Often, tennis fans are only alerted to the fact that Wimbledon is fast approaching when the world’s top players start making headline news in Wimbledon’s ‘warm up’ tournaments. It’s also about this time that those without a ticket start worrying whether they’ve left it too late to get one. Fortunately, there is more than one way of getting tickets for Wimbledon so you won't need to miss out on the excitement and atmosphere of a day at this prestigious tennis event.

During two frequently rain soaked weeks, tennis players from around the world descend on Wimbledon, a quiet South London town, and battle it out for their chance of winning the coveted title of Wimbledon Champion.

The Wimbledon tennis tournament dates back to 1868, making it the oldest tennis tournament in history. And while the early years of Wimbledon were very different to the tournament we see today, there are still some traditions as much in evidence now as they were all those years ago.

When learning how to hit a forehand in tennis, prominence is often given to the positioning of the racquet or how to hold the grip and what type of swing to use. Often overlooked though is the importance of your stance.

This needs some consideration because the position of your feet at the point of making contact with the ball can make a substantial difference to the outcome of your shot.

Many tennis players find returning the kick serve to be one of the most difficult shots they have to deal with. This is because when the ball lands it bounces much higher than normal and may also spin away from you. This puts the ball well above the height at which most people are comfortable swinging their racquet. There are however, a few techniques which you can put into practice to help you become adept at returning the dreaded kick serve.

Whether you’re playing singles or doubles, it’s likely that during some point in your tennis match you’ll have to play a volley. And one of the most awkward shots is the low volley.

Because you have to hit the ball from below the net, it’s far more difficult hitting an outright winner. This makes getting in the right position even more important to the success of the low volley.

Whether you bound up to the net at the first given opportunity or remain glued to the baseline, being able to execute a winning volley is a major advantage for any tennis player.

Baseliners seem to dominate matches nowadays. Today’s tennis racquets are lighter and more powerful than ever before, enabling players to increasingly hit winners from the baseline. However, volleys are still the most efficient way to finish a point as long as you

Whether you bound up to the net at the first given opportunity or remain glued to the baseline, being able to execute a winning volley is a major advantage for any tennis player.

When we first start playing tennis, our natural inclination is to hit the ball as hard and flat as possible.

But in order to develop your game into a truly well-rounded one, you need to be able to hit topspin. It’s not easy and takes lots of practice, but once you’ve mastered the technique, your topspin can become a formidable weapon in your game.

Competing against left-handed tennis players often causes great difficulty for right-handers. With their constant barrage of shots aimed at their backhand, it seems the lefty has the distinct advantage. But what is it about playing a left-hander that makes them so difficult to play and what can you do to beat them at tennis?

Picking up a racquet for the first time, be it tennis, squash or badminton, our natural instinct is to hit the ball using a forehand swing. So for the majority of people, this is the easiest action to master and is therefore the strongest and preferred stroke. But if you’re finding your forehand tends to fall short too often, here are a few tips to help you get more depth on your forehand.

Your racquet is your main weapon when playing a game of tennis. And one of the key components of your racquet is the grip size since this can make all the difference to your match play. If it's too large you're forced to squeeze the handle tighter than necessary. But, if it's too small you need more muscle strength to prevent the handle spinning round.  Either way, using the wrong grip could result in wrist, arm or elbow problems. So here is some advice on figuring out your correct grip.

“You cannot be serious”. Those immortal words of John McEnroe have gone down in history as one of the most memorable temper outbursts in Wimbledon history. But McEnroe isn’t alone with his temper tantrums.  As years go by, public displays of temper have become more common place on tennis courts around the world, ranging from major tournaments to the local public courts. If this sounds like you, it’s never too late to learn how to stop losing your temper when playing tennis.

There is no doubt that possessing a big first serve can win matches. Acing your opponent is an easy point for you. But what happens when you net it?

Well, you’ve always got your backup, the second serve. For many non-professional tennis players however, the second serve isn’t usually up to much and they play it safe just to get the ball in the box. But this is a mistake. You have to make the most of your second serve so it’s as effective as the first.

If you’re a tennis player ranked outside the top 100 in the world and harbor aspirations of playing at Wimbledon, chances are, you’ll have to qualify. But everyone has to start somewhere and if you’re aiming for the top, what better place to start than Wimbledon?

Each year during the weeks leading up to Wimbledon fortnight, players and tennis fans wait with anticipation for the announcement of the tournament’s seeding. For the players, their seeding position can make or break their chances of reaching the finals.

The annual Wimbledon Tennis Championships are more than just a tournament. A trip to Wimbledon is an event in which you become a part.  The moment you enter those historic grounds, the anticipation and sense of atmosphere fill you with excitement and it’s what keeps tennis fans and non tennis fans alike returning year after year.

If you’re visiting Wimbledon for the first time, be prepared for a long and enjoyable day.

During two frequently rain soaked weeks, tennis players from around the world descend on Wimbledon, a quiet South London town, and battle it out for their chance of winning the coveted title of Wimbledon Champion. The Wimbledon tennis tournament dates back to 1868, making it the oldest tennis tournament in history. And while the early years of Wimbledon were very different to the tournament we see today, there are still some traditions as much in evidence now as they were all those years ago. Read on to find out what Wimbledon used to be like.