Last month I attended NSIDE magazine's publishing party at Sazo's and I found myself engaged in a conversation with a local fitness enthusiast who informed me that he no longer played tennis as much as he once did because it was no longer a popular sport. Well my fellow south Texans, I am here to tell you that tennis is still alive and well, not only in the United States, but all over the world, being the international sport it is. Tennis may not be the conversation piece it once was where we could argue who was the dominant gender based on the outcome of the now famous Billie Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs match, but I assure you tennis still gives us plenty to discuss. Furthermore, tennis continues to offer all the health benefits it always has to the 25 million people a year who play tennis in this country.
When I was still a relatively young lad in my mid–twentys I participated in a tennis tournament that was considered the "seniors" state championship in Austin. I took time to watch some of the competitors in the age divisions such as 50s and 60s and I remember making a vow right then and there that I would continue to play tennis for the rest of my life because in my opinion, these guys were drinking deeply from the fountain of youth. They all (both winners and losers) were in great shape. They also seemed to find something they were totally engrossed in and yet smiling and laughing as they enjoyed fellowship through the medium of good old fashion competition. The skills these talented tennis players still possessed left the average tennis player green with envy. Such are the rewards for those lucky enough to have discovered the joys of this lifetime sport. For those playing the aforementioned tournament and those playing tennis today here are some rewards they can look forward to.
STAMINA: The average set between two players of approximately the same level lasts about an hour and since competition is two out of three sets, you are looking at two or three hours of good exercise. In a good competitive singles match a person can run the equivalent of five miles while chasing the tennis ball.
AGILITY: The average point in tennis requires a player to change directions 3 or 4 times and you aren't changing directions at a nice leisurely pace either. Those moves must be made quickly and crisply otherwise that little fuzzy ball goes past you in the blink of an eye. Learning to move properly on the court promotes good balance and this type of dynamic requires good flexibility and leg strength.
STRENGTH AND POWER: Power is strength times speed. If players do not have leg strength there is no power. Consequently, you end up slow on the court. This will usually leave one finishing second in a field of two. When a tennis player shakes your hand you'll know it. Grip strength is a natural byproduct of having a racquet in your hand for hours at a time.
FLEXIBILITY: Tennis doesn't require the flexibility of a gymnast but nevertheless flexibility comes from playing the sport. The amount of knee bending that goes on in the sport makes a person more limber than most. The end result: those famous tennis legs. Nice!
REFLEXES AND QUICKNESS: Good doubles and serve and volley singles require quickness to cut the ball off at net as your opponent is hitting the ball at an attempt to get it by the net person. When the action gets going, the same ball can be on four different players' racquets in less than two seconds. The bottom line is you better be quick and your reflexes will be all the better for it.
ANAEROBIC ENDURANCE: I love running nice, slow distances but I hate running sprints. Unless I am running them while playing tennis, then I don't even realize I have run them. Imagine that, something I hate becoming fun all because it was offered in the form of a game.
When I was a freshman in high school I made a decision to become a tennis player because I wanted to play a sport that I could get out of it what I put in to it. In other words, I wanted to play an individual sport. Little did I know it would be the best choice I ever made. Not only have I made a living at the sport but, because of the wonderful friends I have met through tennis I have also been able to make a life through the sport. And unlike Ponce de Leon, I was able to locate the fountain of youth. There is enough water in the fountain for all of us. Get out and play some tennis. You'll be glad you did because like I mentioned, tennis is alive and well here in south Texas and all over the world. See you on the courts.
