Club News & Blog

When I was 13, my family moved to Minnesota. Being in a new place, I joined the John Marshall tennis team to stay active and make friends. Little did I know making friends was just one of the many benefits I would appreciate while learning the sport. Discipline, hard work, and respect are just a few of the life lessons I have learned from being involved in tennis.

At that time I would have never predicted that today tennis would become my career. Due to my experiences, I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to give tennis a try. Here are 6 reasons why I believe you should try tennis!

1. Easy to Start

Tennis is available just about anywhere you go, and it is a popular sport worldwide. While in Minnesota playing conditions are weather dependent, there are several public courts to play at here in Rochester and we are lucky enough to have two indoor locations. At the RAC, we offer introductory orientations to anyone who has yet to try our program. We provide equipment, courts, and a trained professional to help anyone interested in starting this assessable sport.

2. All Ages are Welcome

At young ages, tennis provides a platform for children to improve their dexterity and hand eye coordination. As teen years ensue, tennis becomes an avenue for building physical strength, agility, and mental toughness along with opportunity to socialize. For adults, tennis offers healthy activity, the same fitness benefits, and the chance to be part of a group. Whether you are an adult well into retirement or just entering preschool, tennis is a sport that can be enjoyed by all.

3. Unlimited Health Benefits

Tennis is a non-contact sport. It has elements of both aerobic and anaerobic exercise. The aerobic based element strengthens the cardiovascular system. The anaerobic activity improves the musculoskeletal system function. In addition, tennis is a dynamic sport with movements that integrate many different muscle groups and joints. Strategy is employed while playing the game which strengthens the cognitive processes as well.

4. International Sport

As mentioned earlier, tennis is a worldwide sport and accessible. Public courts are common and through organizations like the ATP World Tour and the Women’s Tennis Association tennis at the professional level has grown exponentially. You can follow players from many different countries. There are four Grand Slam tournaments that are internationally recognized: US Open, Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon.

5. Overall Athletic Enhancement

Tennis has universal traits that are transferable to other sports. Specifically, tennis helps to build agility, balance, and a connection between body and mind. Footwork and coordination are essential in tennis and moving to and from the ball requires short acceleration bursts. Balance is needed to execute proper form in hitting the shot. Tennis at a competitive level demands a connection between the body and mind for immediate reactions and tactical decision making.

6. Develops Mental Toughness

Tennis is an individual sport and while there are instructors to help during lessons, there will be times where self-reliance is key to competing. This sport urges its players to be self-disciplined and problem solve. Even in a team setting, tennis is still an individual sport where the ability to set up a point technically and tactically is key to success.

My decision to play tennis was one of the best choices I ever made. Not only have I turned it into a career, but I’m staying healthy and active while making lifelong friends. For anyone that is interested in giving tennis a try, feel free to reach out to me at Katie Krull.