The Lessons Tennis Has Taught Me

During COVID, many people have turned to sports like tennis that allow players to maintain a safe distance and minimize talking. I have been no exception to this trend. Despite the demands of motherhood and the time-consuming nature of practicing, I’ve found that the lessons I’ve learned from tennis are well worth the effort. Between chasing after a toddler and chasing after balls on the court, my days are full. But I’m excited to reveal what I’ve learned, and I can’t wait to share what tennis has taught me.

Collaboration

This lesson applies to doubles. When I play single games, I can be angry at myself, but when it comes to doubles, blaming is a recipe for disaster. It’s easy to start the blaming game, especially when you have more experience than your partner; yet, sometimes, when you see your partner making a mistake, instead of coaching during the game or being passive-aggressive, it’s better to keep communicating strategy.

The more you talk, the easier it is to identify how you and your partner can improve, and it’s not just about telling your partner what to do — effective communication in doubles tennis means listening to each other’s ideas and working towards a common goal. When facing difficulties, it’s important to cheer each other up.

I’ve experienced firsthand the transformative effect of supportive encouragement during tough matches. In one game, I felt frustrated and made several mistakes. Instead of getting angry with me, my partner asked me what our strategy should be and how we could bounce back. This shift in focus from blame to planning helped us turn the match around and ultimately come out on top.

Mental Endurance

Mental endurance shouldn’t be a surprise when it comes to sports; whether running a marathon, cycling a long distance, or competing in a multi-day tournament, endurance is an essential quality that all athletes must possess to perform at their best.

In a tennis match, for example, mental endurance can be the key to overcoming a deficit and turning the game around. You can always reverse the result, even when your opponent is five games ahead of you (there are six games in one set); the critical point is never to give up hope and always look forward.

There are several techniques for building mental endurance, including visualization, meditation, and positive self-talk. Using these techniques, you can train your mind to handle stress and adversity and stay focused and motivated even when things get tough.

In daily practice, it’s also crucial for athletes to have mental endurance. They must give themselves enough time to see visible improvement and take every practice session seriously. An athlete’s progress may not always be a straight line; there may be ups and downs along the way. For example, when I started learning a new serve, it was a painful experience that required me to relearn everything from how to hold the racket. Still, the end result was worth it, as I was able to break through the limitations of my “pancake” serve and improve my game. By maintaining mental endurance in both competition and practice, athletes can reach their full potential and succeed in their sport.

Slow Down

This lesson is especially true for me, not only in tennis, but in all areas of my life. My coach once told me I had fast reflexes, but I sometimes hit the ball too early because I felt I needed to act quickly. However, when I watched my games back on video, I realized that I often had more time than I thought to assess the situation and adjust my technique before hitting the ball. Now, by slowing down, I can make better decisions and hit more consistent shots.

Slowing down can also be a strategic move in tennis, as it can disrupt the rhythm of an opponent who is used to playing at a fast pace. By slowing down and making it harder for them to hit good shots, I can gain an advantage and ultimately improve my performance.

No Fear

“We won last year’s USTA sectional!”, a player once told me right before the game started; I still can remember the voice like it was yesterday. Maybe he told me this to boost his confidence or to intimidate me. Believe it or not, trash talk is a strategy you can encounter on the court, even though it lacks sportsmanship. When playing tennis, there’s a ranking system to level players, even for recreational players.

When you play with a player who has a higher rank or more experience than you, it is normal to doubt yourself or feel intimidated. However, having a growth mindset is essential; the more you play, the better you’ll get. It’s normal to lose games, especially when you’re just starting out. However, losing 10 games without reviewing what went wrong won’t get you anywhere. On the other hand, intentionally making mistakes and learning from them will help you improve and grow faster.

Treating every game as an opportunity to grow, you’re more likely to take risks and try new things on the court. You’re also more likely to stay focused and motivated, even when you’re not playing well. These are all vital qualities for any player to have.

Have Fun

“I just want to do some exercise,” I told my husband when I had just started playing tennis. But over time, my mentality changed, and I became increasingly focused on leveling up the USTA rank. I didn’t want to miss any team practice, got upset when I lost a match, and even drove 35–40 minutes to play a single game, despite my usual aversion to waiting more than 15 minutes at a restaurant.

This past winter, a seemingly endless rainy season forced me to stay home for several weeks, giving me the opportunity to reflect on my relationship with tennis and revisit the reasons I chose to play tennis. I realized I don’t need a second job; playing tennis should be fun. While I still care about winning from time to time, I’ve made a conscious effort to prioritize having fun over winning at all costs. By reminding myself that the primary purpose of playing tennis is to have fun, I’ve become less bitter and kinder to myself.

Conclusion

Not only have these lessons helped me become a better player on the court, but they’ve also made a positive impact on my personal life. From facing challenges head-on and maintaining focus under pressure to working well with others and making sound decisions, these lessons have proved invaluable. And you know what? I will keep using them on and off the court to help me become a better athlete, mother, designer, and the best person I can be.