Anyone for tennis? Why you’ll want to get into the swing
Inspired by the Australian Open to dust off your racquet or take up tennis? The game provides plenty of fitness benefits, so here is how to get started.
You’re sitting on your couch, or in the stands at Melbourne Park, watching the world’s best tennis players battling it out.
From a distance, it looks so easy – graceful even.
And you might wonder why you ever gave up the sport, or never actually started.
So if centre court – or just your local court – is calling, what should you consider?
Benefits of playing tennis
Tennis offers countless mental and physical benefits.
“It’s good for cardio, for interactions, friendships, a sense of belonging,” tennis coach and Elite Tennis Academy founder Lynton Joseph says.
It can also be quite high intensity, depending on the lesson or match so is fantastic for burning calories, Lynton explains.
Then there’s the satisfaction of learning new skills.
Plus, playing tennis is great for your pins.
Sports and exercise physiotherapist Sam Donaldson says tennis is beneficial for your whole body, including your legs.
“In particular, we’re talking your hips and your thighs and around your knees, but also your ankles and calves,” Sam, who is a director at RHP Physiotherapy in Brisbane, says.
Your shoulders and trunk also get a solid workout when you’re on court, he adds.
Can anyone play tennis?
Tennis is generally considered a sport for all ages, and it’s easy and cheap to get your friends or family together for a “hit and giggle”.
“Assuming you’re able to safely at least walk or jog a little bit, then it (tennis) is something that most people can try,” Sam says.
Failing that, other versions, such as pickleball, are just as much fun, he adds.
How to avoid tennis injuries
While tennis may have been a doddle in your teens, Sam recommends taking it easy on your comeback charge.
Starting out
“If you want to pick up tennis again and you haven’t done it for some time, you can’t just go out and play a five-setter, and then think you can back it up the very next day,” Sam says.
He suggests starting slow, and giving yourself a day or two off between sessions.
Warming up also helps, he adds.
“An amateur doesn’t have to do high knees and butt kicks, but a little bit of a jog around the court is useful,” Sam says.
What about tennis elbow?
Playing tennis can obviously cause tennis elbow, but you can also develop the condition from overdoing it on any sport that requires gripping and repetitive movement, particularly if your body isn’t used to it.
“Getting well assessed, and getting a good diagnosis and good individual plan, is the best approach to treating it,” Sam says.
How to take up tennis
Ready to play but not sure where to start?
Tennis Australia can help direct you to local options, including coaching, Cardio Tennis, POP Tennis (played on a smaller court, with a slower ball) or Padel (a mix of tennis, squash and badminton).
But before you rush to pick up a racquet, Lynton warns against spending top dollar on the best equipment, which may not be suitable anyway.
“Someone in their 40s coming along doesn’t need a tour player’s racquet because the sweet spot is so small, and there’s not much give or margin for error,” Lynton says.
A good coach can suggest an affordable racquet, or even lend you some demo racquets to try.
Chemist Warehouse is a proud partner of the Australian Open 2024.
More fun ways to step up your fitness:
- 5 fun retro activities that are great for fitness
- Try a triathlon for triple the fun – and fitness
- Why women over 30 are flocking to try bodyboarding
- How aerial fitness can take your workout to new heights
- Why ballet is a great all-body workout for adults
Written by Larissa Ham.
