My Tennis Addiction

As the Australian Open tennis tournament moves toward its Big Finish, I decided to share some thoughts on a game that millions enjoy watching – while few enjoy playing.

At least in the U.S.

When I was in my 20s and 30s – back in the 1970s and ‘80s – tennis as a participation sport was in full bloom. Tennis courts were everywhere, and yes, Virginia, sometimes you even had to wait for a court to open.

It coincided with the time of my mostest physical fitness, which was great for me. Although growing up in a small town without tennis courts, it was a sport that had remained slightly foreign to me. There was no tennis instruction offered in my little high school, so it wasn’t until college that I really became aware of the game.

Even then, though, I regarded tennis as a rather elitist pursuit populated by rich kids in sports cars. Not something my hippie-ish spirit looked upon favorably.

But after marrying my sweet wife in my late 20s and moving to a Big City with lots of courts, we started playing a bit of tennis and it was fun. Not that we could break loose and play that often with two little kids part of the family.

But slowly – over the years – I began to have a deeper appreciation for tennis – at least as it existed on TV. We basically stopped playing tennis after moving up into the mountains where the nearest court was 35 miles away.

But I still enjoyed watching tennis – especially the four Major tournaments – and that’s continued to this day.

When you think about it, tennis is the ONLY sport that both men AND women compete at the same event. NOT against each other – of course (unless the growing trans crowd continues to invade women’s sports) – but during the same event.

There’s simultaneously men’s tennis and women’s tennis, though they’re segregated to different courts. You can watch a men’s match in one arena or check out a women’s match in an adjoining arena.

Where else would this happen? Baseball? Football? Basketball? Soccer? Hockey? Not even golf, that most non-physical “sport.”

Nope. All those sports are segregated by gender. Except tennis, where both genders are welcome to come and play on the same day in the same complex.

So there’s that going for tennis. And another thing that’s great about the game is – other than boxing and martial arts – it’s the only sport where it’s one-on-one competition (except for doubles, and tennis even has MIXED doubles).

But it’s basically fabulous duels where each contestant is putting it all on the line.

It’s NOT a team sport, unlike almost every other athletic competition. Don’t get me wrong: I also like some team sports, but I think it’s great when you can watch only TWO competitors go at it (without getting punched in the face).

But I worry a bit about the future of American tennis. There ARE still a few very good American tennis players showing up in the major tournaments, but the Glory Days of Tennis seem to be slipping away in America.

Once ubiquitous tennis courts are being redeveloped or are sitting empty with grass growing up through unrepaired cracks.

And when you look at the lineups for international matches these days, most of the names have a very Eastern European look and sound. 

Young Americans seem to be too busy lying around indoors staring at their smartphones. I mean: How can you play tennis with only ONE hand while texting with the other?

And then there’s pickleball – which is essentially tennis for OLD people who can’t play tennis anymore – or never did.

But I will give pickleball players some credit: At least they’re outdoors (usually) and moving their bodies. God bless ‘em… 

I just wonder: In 20 years, will people be watching the Australian Open Pickleball Championships?

I shudder to think about it.