6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
Those numbers might mean nothing to you, but they are the outcome of the 2017 Men’s Australian Open Final in which Roger Federer defeated Rafael Nadal to win his 18th Grand Slam. That was my reason to watch tennis…
Tennis is a fast-paced sport. A sport of emotions, strategy, resilience, and motivation.
It’s global, meaning fans can follow tournaments from around the world, from Grand Slams to local events.
An ‘elegant’ sport, tennis conveys qualities reflected in the words of its champions.
“The only way to prove you are a good sport is to lose.” – Rafael Nadal
“You have to believe in yourself when no one else does.” – Serena Williams
It teaches focus, sportsmanship, and respect, qualities that can be used beyond the court.
Singles are true individual battles. Doubles are more strategic, requiring teamwork.
In both cases, there’s 23.77 metres between one end of the court and the other – the players only have themselves; their coaches shout, their fans cheer, but only they play.
The scoring system makes tennis even more exciting; being at deuce, going into a tiebreak, drawing level in sets – that tension, that emotion, transcends screens.
From the echoing thump of the ball to the sudden silence before each point, tennis creates an atmosphere unlike any other sport.
Even the bounce of the ball is satisfying. Research from China West Normal University shows the sounds associated with tennis, such as hitting the ball, can provide emotional relief for viewers.
Often described as ‘chess at 100 miles per hour’, players must constantly adapt. Watching them may even make you more strategic and improve decision-making.
Top players constantly overcome adversity and achieve greatness – this can be deeply inspiring.
Those are some of the reasons you should watch tennis.
Featured image credit: Mudassir Ali via Pexels
