Tennis is the glamour sport in the racket category. There will be even more hype because the Olympic tournament comes on the heels of Wimbledon, the pro tennis circuit’s biggest event. Unlike other events, where athletes are unknown before the Games, most of the competitors going for gold in tennis are already household names.

Players are selected by a ranking process. This ensures that the world’s best will be taking the court in Beijing (unless they bow out to rest up before the U.S. Open). The level of competition will be high. The event will be held on the Olympic Green, near the National Stadium.

But Tennis is not the only racket sport at the Games. Badminton and table tennis will also be on the bill.

Badminton is known as the fastest racket sport. Rodger Federer’s 130 mph serve has nothing on Indonesian ace Sony Dwi Kuncoro. He can get the shuttlecock to reach speeds of over 200 mph. Indonesia and China usually dominate the event, though upstarts from Denmark and South Korea sometimes challenge their dominance. China has won 8 golds in singles and doubles events since badminton became an Olympic sport in 1992. South Korea and Indonesia each have five wins.

Table Tennis will take place at Beijing University’s Gymnasium, which has been renovated to hold the crowds that are sure to come watch one of China’s favorite pastimes. Even pop culture points towards the popularity of this event in China. A recent Visa commercial shows Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan competing at the Olympic table tennis.

Why so popular? China has dominated the event since it joined the Olympic line-up in 1988. The PRC team has taken 33 medals, more than twice the tally of any other country.