Taking a walk down campus, towards the athletic fields, there are tennis courts. While they may rarely be used now, tennis and tennis courts are becoming very popular across the city.

The 2015 U.S. Open tournament is approaching its end. It is the 135th edition of the tournament, lasting 14 days total. It has not been decided who will play the final, but the weekend of September 10 is when the match is set to play at the Arthur Ash Stadium in New York City.

Currently, there are two Chicago natives that are rising stars in the tennis circuits. Donald Young is currently ranked 79th in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). Meanwhile, in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), the 19-year-old, Taylor Townsend, is ranked just within the Top 200. Young made headlines when he reached the third round of the 2014 French Open.

While in Chicago, tennis may not be as followed as the Blackhawks for example, it is still a popular sport. In the summer evenings, parks around the city are filled with people playing the sport. Not to mention, the city of Chicago is making an effort to increase the popularity of tennis.

In fact, the Washington Park neighborhood recently broke ground for a new tennis facility. The goal is a completion by 2016. Through this project, Mayor Emanuel hopes to expose CPS students to the active and healthy lifestyle of tennis.

According to physician Ralph Paffenbarger of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), “People who participate in tennis three hours per week (at moderately vigorous intensity) cut their risk of death in half from any cause.”

So while tennis can seem difficult to play, it is actually a good workout for anyone looking to try something challenging.