How Superior Fitness Can Change Your Tennis Game
Have you ever seen a top pro who doesn’t look insanely fit? The reason for that is that to be a top pro, you need to be in top-tier shape. Fitness is one of the factors that separates even the best players on the planet. Being fit in tennis isn’t just about looks; it plays a vital role in your overall physical and mental game.
Increased Endurance
There is no time limit in tennis. Unless you’re playing college tennis with no ad scoring, a single game can last five, ten, or twenty minutes. The match itself can be a 3-hour three-setter. In this scenario, the one who outlasts their opponent is the player with the endurance required to win the match. Endurance doesn’t just mean being able to run for every ball point after point. It also means having the strength in that moment to hit a strong and purposeful shot. It can be the difference between winning a tournament or “adding another second to a stopwatch,” as my dad would jokingly say. Everyone can be good at tennis, but the great ones have the endurance to stay in every point during a match.
Better Focus
Have you played a match where you’re thinking to yourself “wow, I’m tired”? When that happens, your focus has shifted from figuring out how to win to focusing on how exhausted you feel The more you think you’re tired, the more it will show. It takes the focus away from playing the match. You won’t worry about running after every last ball if you are in good shape.
I have sometimes wondered during a game, “Why did I just run after that ball? I lost the point anyway.” You’ve already lost with that sort of mentality. As a player, you never know what may happen. When you go into a match knowing you’re at the peak of your fitness, these doubts won’t creep in. The reason you put in the hours training and getting in shape is so you can focus on your technique and strategy during a match.
Refined Footwork
“Move your feet!” We’ve all heard this from a coach before. Those three nagging words however, may be the most important words you’ll hear in tennis. Your coach isn’t punishing you or wearing you out, it’s because it will make you a better player overall. The fitter you are, the better your footwork will be. Good footwork means always staying on your toes and never being flatfooted when you’re hitting a shot. Not just split stepping when your opponent is hitting the ball, but timing it correctly. Don’t just admire your great shot. Get into the best position right away to finish off the point. During a point, your feet really should never stop moving and that isn’t possible if your fitness levels aren’t up to snuff.
The amount of errors you make will decrease as you give yourself more time to prepare, space properly, and be balanced. If your nerves start to get the best of you and you can feel things falling apart, focusing on your footwork can help shift your attention to something constructive. If you hate hitting your backhand and want to hit a forehand to play to your strength, guess what? Having pristine footwork and agility will allow you to do just that. Before you can take your footwork to the next level, it’s important to have the strength, cardio, and endurance required.
Reduce the Risk of Injury
The best ability is availability. You can’t win many matches if you aren’t healthy enough to get on the court. Superior fitness goes a long way in reducing your risk of injury. Besides having elite cardio or bigger muscles, your flexibility and balance will go a long way in helping you avoid soft muscle injuries. Whether that’s supplemental yoga or simple but considered stretching routines, it’s worth taking the time to
People can also struggle with their mental health when they are sitting out due to injury. I have witnessed this firsthand as a college athlete. I was surrounded by injured athletes because they weren’t focused enough on taking proper care of their bodies. Especially if you suffer a long term injury you may start to question your own motivation, which could lead to an identity crisis or depression. If you’ve never gone through this before it may be a shock. In this case, prioritizing your fitness levels will benefit both your body and mind.
All in all, with all the benefits of having superior fitness on the court, you can now play with even more confidence in your athletic and tennis abilities. So, enough of feeling lazy, do that little bit of extra fitness because it will benefit you in more ways than one. Not to mention, it also feels nice when someone compliments your footwork. If that’s not motivation enough, I don’t know what is.
