People who play tennis know it is a fun sport, but what most people may not know is that tennis might be the answer for securing a healthy heart, creating a fun workout and winning the battle of the bulge. Experts at The Cleveland Clinic, the number one heart care facility in the nation (according to U.S. News & World Report), tout tennis as "an ideal sport for a healthy heart."

"Playing tennis on a regular basis is a good way to get your aerobic exercise," said Gordon Blackburn, Ph.D., The Cleveland Clinic. "You’ll exercise your muscles and burn calories. Tennis can even help lower your blood pressure. All that helps reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke."

Here are some more important facts about tennis. It is ...

• An efficient way to burn calories: According to Consumer Reports (January 2006), tennis ranks among the top five activities for the most calories burned per workout. While playing just a half hour of singles tennis, a 140-lb. person will burn 254 calories and a 200-lb. person will burn 364 calories.

• A full body workout: You need speed to track down the ball, core strength to get power into your shots, stamina to play two-three sets, and mental toughness to stay one step ahead of your opponent.

• The sport of a lifetime: Tennis is a sport that you can play your entire life so get kids started young. More than 70 percent of tennis is played on public courts. Men who start playing tennis in their youth have a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease and heart attack compared to those who didn’t play tennis.

You can learn more about getting into the game, the USTA and its community and professional tennis programs by logging onto to www.usta.com. Resource: National Recreation and Park Association