Why I like tennis

Why I like tennis
Tennis isn't always interesting and I've been wondering what makes for an exciting match.
Firstly though, my history with tennis, plays a part in my enjoyment of the game. Sports that I have never participated in are less interesting than those I have. Much of the male only sports like football (of all types) and cricket (though women do play this now) and motor sports, I have no interest in. Sports too which Australians don't play a lot of, are of no interest like baseball and curling. So, one's interest in a particular sport is much decided by what country you live in or even what region you live in.

Whether one likes sport at all is determined by many factors, probably most to do with the interests of one's parents. Although my father had a professional job as did I, he always maintained an interest in his beloved sport (AFL football rules). He never played that, but here in Melbourne, Australia if you don't barrack for an AFL team you are considered a bit of an oddity. Somewhat like in the USA if you don't follow a baseball team, I suppose.

My father also constantly made reference to a fit body and a fit mind. He maintained his fitness throughout his life by walking and playing golf. I haven't exactly followed suit in that regard because in the 60's when I went to university, women playing sport were considered to be weird or lesbian. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but in those days feminism hadn't exactly hit the scene in Australia.

So, from university on the only sport I played was social tennis, after having been involved all my high school years in swimming, hockey, tennis, gymnastics and softball. I knew the feeling of catching a softball at a crucial time. I loved my flat fast forehand in tennis. I loved the movement of the body. But now at a more advanced age, I don't play sport anymore and watch tennis and swimming instead. My partner, on the other hand, hates all sport. He went to one of those male only schools where, if you didn't play sport, you were a homosexual. He is very handy with a tennis racket however.

I started watching tennis on TV in 1978, so missed seeing the great Australian male tennis players. But it wasn't too late to see Evonne Goolagong, both on TV and in the flesh. She has been the only indigenous tennis player Australia has produced. She had such grace and I saw her at the Australian Open at Kooyong playing when she was 3 months pregnant with her first child.

I wasn't just interested in Australian players though, but then not as many countries were developing tennis. It's only in the last decade that people from Asian countries have played. Other new countries participating and doing very well now are Russia and all the countries in the Russian Federation or the independent countries after the breakup of the USSR. Spain and other countries in South America who are usually great clay courters, have now started to adapt to the grass courts and hard courts.

That brings me to the court surface. I generally don't like clay court games as much as grass. But grass has been deleted from the Australian tennis season now, using only hard courts or rebound ace. That's a pity in my view although let's hope Wimbledon will always stay on grass. It delivers the best kind of play, the serve volleyer, the best chance to win. Lleyton Hewitt was the first Australian player to change that kind of play. He is a baseliner and has been successful at that, so we in Australia are beginning to appreciate this kind of play more. I'll never forget the serve volleyers like Patrick Rafter (my all time favourite), Mark Philippoussis and Pat Cash though.

Why do I like tennis? It's a one on one game rather than a team game except for the Davis Cup. It is never the same game. It is like a game of chess. It requires fitness, practice and physical skills but at the top it requires a mental ability. The best players are mentally aware of where they are on the court and where the other player is. They are patient. They wait for the right shot to make a winner. They have good court sense. They fight for each point. And when they win they are exuberant. And when they lose they are very upset, whether they show it or not.

It's a passionate game. Every player can get better. There are records to be broken. There is enormous pressure. There are the chokers and those who cope better with the pressure. It is a psychological game and it therefore continues to be interesting. It isn't like barracking for a team. It is about appreciating great shots when they come. It's about appreciating athleticism and movement. And it is bathed in history.