Sharlene Jerome
For those of you who not only like to play tennis but also enjoy watching the pros, you may have seen this tagline on U.S. Open Arthur Ashe Stadium: “Tennis Is the World’s Healthiest Sport.” So, why is it such a contender for this honor?
Comprehensive Physical Benefits: Tennis provides an excellent full-body workout that engages multiple muscle groups and systems by improving cardiovascular fitness; enhances strength, agility, and balance; and burns calories.
Longevity and Disease Prevention: Regular tennis players may live up to 9.7 years longer than sedentary individuals, is associated with a 66% lower risk of cardiovascular disease, and helps maintain bone density, reducing risk of osteoporosis.
Mental and Cognitive Benefits: It improves critical thinking, mental alertness, and tactical thinking and requires quick decision-making, which may help keep the mind sharp as we age.
Social and Lifestyle Factors: Tennis can be played at any age, making it a lifetime sport that promotes long-term health.
While many sports offer health benefits, tennis stands out for its combination of physical, mental, and social advantages, as well as its accessibility across age groups and skill levels. This comprehensive approach to health and fitness makes tennis a strong contender for the title of “World’s Healthiest Sport.”
SunBird Tennis is back in action after another summer scorcher! Social tournament season has begun as we welcome back all of our deeply missed snowbirds. So, what’s stopping you from coming out and enjoying this great sport? As of November, our daily (Monday through Friday) mixed doubles drop-ins have resumed at a start time of 8 a.m. Please remember to sign up via TeamReach so that we have an accurate player count and can act accordingly. Feel free to reach out to President-elect J.D. Stephenson at [email protected].