Doubles for Life
For me, August is peak tennis season. I’m freshly off the tennis court as I write this — drenched in sweat with a big smile on my face. It’s that one time of year that I get to play mixed doubles with Tim (my husband), and I feel like a little kid getting to be part of the Cool Players Club. Just seven years earlier, mixed doubles was the very way Tim and I met. (I should’ve known at the time he was after something other than my tennis skills.) I’ve been playing recreationally since I was old enough to hold a racquet, but, given that, should be better than I am. Tim, on the other hand, is a beautiful, competitive, and gracious player. (He even won an NCAA title while playing for Williams.) When we got married in 2022, it was on a tennis court. (I thought he’d dread the ceremony less if it was in a setting he was comfortable with - I was right). So, safe to say, tennis is an important theme in our lives.
Like ocean swimming, tennis is a recreation that’s considered holy in my family during the month of August. Family tennis games abound, as do (fairly competitive) club tournaments, and I get my one and only chance to play side-by-side with my favorite player, Tim ❤️. Then, the month closes with the US Open kicking off the Monday before Labor Day weekend. It is peak tennis season, indeed. While tennis holds a special place in my heart for many reasons, its benefits extend far beyond personal sentiment. Tennis is a lifelong sport that has been shown to be the top activity for enhancing longevity and overall well-being, thus, serving up health advantages for life.
According to Forbes Health, tennis might just be the best thing you can do to extend your life. A 2018 study from Denmark found that, surprisingly, tennis was associated with the highest increase in life expectancy, significantly more than any other sport included in the study. For reference, here were the findings by sport:
Tennis: 9.7 years gain in life expectancy
Badminton: 6.2 years
Soccer: 4.7 years
Cycling: 3.7 years
Swimming: 3.4 years
Jogging: 3.2 years
Calisthenics: 3.1 years
Health club activities: 1.5 years
One possible factor is the social aspect of the game. Tennis, badminton, and soccer, as mentioned in Forbes, all require two or more people and involve social interaction. We know isolation isn’t good for us and a robust social community contributes positively to health and well-being as we age. The researchers behind the study also suggest that it could be that the short bursts of activity you get in tennis – rather than consistent, steady plodding – might be better for you. If you’re dubious, you can look to a separate, similar study that concluded racquet sports to be the strongest preventer of all-cause mortality, followed by swimming and aerobics.
The long and short of it is: tennis is a wonderful game that, turns out, packs a powerful health punch! It’s never too late to start playing. It’s fun, it’s physical, and it’s social. If you haven’t already, pick up a racquet and get out on a court!
As my friends over at The Perfect have pointed out, “they don’t make tennis skirts like they used to.” They’re here to reignite our love for the perfect vintage tennis skirt — expertly sourcing the coolest 90s skirts from around the internet. Read it here.
While the above may be true, it does seem like Wilson has really upped their women’s tennis game lately. This midtown skirt, this tank, this dress are all in my cart right now. Also, a brand I love for easy, everyday dresses also has me with this tennis in Ivory/Clay.
Allaire Bartel (whose photography I love) makes an interesting point about the influence she’s seeing tennis have on brand photography lately and fashion at large, otherwise known as “tennis core.” Shoutout to the Rothy’s x Evian tennis collaboration I worked on in here – always love to be “ahead of the trend.”
A new player in racquet sports, Spence is coming soon to give us a fresh take on tennis style. I can’t wait!
Not new to this week, but I’d be remiss no to mention King Richard in this conversation – a film that tells the incredible story of Venus and Serena Williams that, actually, my husband produced! Yay Tim. In 2022, it earned a Best Picture Oscar nomination and a Lead Actor win for star Will Smith. Here’s the link to watch - it’s now available on Netflix!
For your viewing pleasure, this is one the greatest tennis points of all time. It’s Jimmy Conners, who, at 39, had come back to play the 1991 US Open vs. Paul Haarhuis in the quarter finals. Haarhuis is at net and Conners is on the far side. Conners’ reaction at the end with the crowd is my favorite part - just iconic. It’s one of those purely electric, early September nights at the US Open. If this doesn’t get you fired up for the tennis to come later this month, I don’t know what could!
And with that — thank you for reading. Let’s hit some tennis balls this week!
Love this piece!! Completely agree with all particularly family tennis warfare preferably on red clay courts. The drop shot!!! Toughest and best shot in test. Test of character, conditioning and control.
King Richard is an incredible film, kudos to Tim!