 Tennis Anyone?
Playing the Game at Any Age,
Plus Pointers from Pros
Lindsay Davenport and Tracy Austin
By Michelle Levine
Can you imagine having your first child (by Cesarean, no less), and within months, getting back on the tennis court to win tournaments and aim for the Olympics? Former world number one tennis player Lindsay Davenport has done just that. You too can play the game even if you are not a young mom, winner of 54 career single titles and a likely member of Team USA headed to Beijing for the Summer Olympics. (Editor’s note: as of press time, the team had not yet been officially selected.)
Remember Tracy Austin, setting records during the ‘70s and ‘80s as the youngest player in women’s tennis and, in 1992, becoming the youngest inductee into the International Tennis Hall of Fame? She may have started playing at a young age, but Austin is now 45 and insists, “Of course it is possible to start tennis in your forties and later.”
Indeed, men and women of all ages are finding that tennis is a wonderful way of getting active, even if they have never picked up a racquet before.
Fun and Fitness
Tennis is challenging and competitive yet enjoyable and social. You can play as casually or as intensely as you choose; there are clinics, leagues and tournaments just for adults and seniors. It is an ideal aerobic exercise that is extremely heart-healthy while also improving balance, mobility and strength. A head-to-toe workout, hitting the courts for an hour can burn as many as 300 to 600 calories.
Louise Spadaro, M.D., FACC, a cardiologist at St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, touts the health benefits. “You are working all of your muscle groups, getting your heart rate up—which is exactly what you want from aerobic exercise—plus you’re toning as well. Tennis really provides the isometric as well as cardiovascular benefits and is a great physical activity.”
Research shows that just three hours of moderate aerobic exercise every week can cut the risk of developing heart disease by 50 percent. By hitting the tennis court, you exercise your muscles, burn calories and help lower blood pressure—all of which adds up to a significantly reduced risk of heart attack or stroke.
“Certainly, any form of exercise is beneficial as far as the heart is concerned,” states Stanley Katz, M.D., senior vice president of Cardiac Services for the North Shore LIJ Health Systems. “Tennis simply makes it more fun.” Katz recalls, “I started playing tennis at 8 years old and stopped in my late fifties due to knee injuries,” he adds, “Tennis makes exercise more interesting than just walking or jogging. It is a great social outlet as well and gets you outdoors for the summer.”
Game Safety
Whether you are returning to the sport or trying tennis for the first time, there are steps you can take to minimize the risk of injury. As Katz mentioned, joint injuries are invariably a risk, especially when playing a sport such as tennis that works the shoulders, knees and elbows.
Stretching and hydration are the keys to safe play. Before grabbing that racquet, spend at least five minutes warming up your muscles and joints. Dynamic stretching (stretching with movement) is best-suited for warm-up activities—walking, light jogging, jumping jacks and similar activities that get you just to the point of beginning to perspire. [Of course, if you feel any kind of chest pain or other discomfort during warm up or playing, you should stop immediately and consult a physician. Seek the advice of your physician if you are on medication or under medical care; an exercise stress test might be prudent before starting a new activity.] Static stretching (stretching without movement) is ideal for after your match. Lunges and other gentle motions that elongate the hamstrings, hips, shoulders and arms help gradually reduce your body’s temperature and heart rate. An illustrated stretching guide is
available online at clevelandclinic.org/heartcenter/pub/guide/prevention/exercise/USTA.PDF.
Drinking water before, during and after a game of tennis is especially important during the summer months. Katz suggests playing earlier or later in the day to avoid the extreme heat and urges people to pace themselves and keep fluids available. Staying well-hydrated also contributes to keeping your skin healthy. Sun protection and adequate moisturizing is crucial when spending time exercising outdoors.
Get Moving
There are myriad opportunities to play tennis. Tennis Welcome Centers across the Island offer various introductory programs designed to have you hitting a ball in no time. (Find a center near you by entering your zip code at tenniswelcomecenter.com or by calling 800-930-4TWC.) If you played years ago and stopped, the USTA has a Welcome Back to Tennis™ program for men and women ages 50 and over.
Joe Arias, president of Arias Tennis and president of the USTA Suffolk County District Board, is enthusiastic about welcoming people back to the sport. “The equipment, the shoes, the actual play— so much has changed since years ago, it is truly amazing,” raves Arias. As Director of Tennis at the Port Jefferson Country Club and founder and Executive Director of the Suffolk County Junior Tennis League, Arias is a lifelong fan and the game is part of his daily life. He wants people to know that it is never too late to learn.
Identifying himself as the only national specialist on Long Island for the QuickStart Tennis format, Arias wants to prevent people from giving up too soon after trying
tennis. “QuickStart is geared to kids but can be used with beginner adults as well. It specializes instruction by age and skill level and uses different-sized racquets, modified court lengths and three stages of balls to make learning tennis easier and keep people playing,” he explains.
However, don’t expect instant perfection, cautions Tracy Austin. “It might be a little difficult in the beginning, especially if you have not been active. Stick with it, and don’t get discouraged.” Finding a good instructor can also help, Austin advises, especially for lessons when you are a beginner.
Spadaro concurs with the take-it-slow approach. “Don’t launch yourself into hours of play at once; build yourself up. Maybe you want to start indoors, keep cool, especially if you have asthma or other health issues. Listen to your body,” she urges.
A Game for All Ages
Gain inspiration in August watching Team USA at the Beijing Olympics. Three-time Grand Slam champion Lindsay Davenport was somewhat motivated by these summer games when she decided to return to competitive tennis after the birth of her son in June 2007. “I thought it could be a fun experiment, and I have a full schedule this summer.” Davenport grew up watching the Olympics, and she was a member of the team in 1996 and 2000.
Of course, long before Davenport ever set foot on a court, Billie Jean King was doing her part to pave the way. In the 1973 Battle of the Sexes, King defeated Bobby Riggs, and sports history was forever changed. With the 35th anniversary of that match upon us, Billie Jean King has a forthcoming book (expected in August), Pressure is a Privilege: Lessons I’ve Learned From Life and the Battle of the Sexes (LifeTime Media).
The Sports Museum of America, which opened in downtown Manhattan in May, is home to the Billie Jean King International Women’s Sports Center. Founded by the Women’s Sports Foundation (headquartered locally in East Meadow), the gallery is dedicated to equal play and highlights female athletes.
With all of these happenings around the world and right here in our backyard, everyone seems to agree: tennis can be enjoyed by just about everyone in your family for years to come. So, get moving!
Skin Care
on the Court
As a new mom, Lindsay Davenport got to see a lot of pictures taken with her son. “I looked so old, had so many lines; I freaked out. I believe the sun severely aged my skin,” says Davenport. “I started playing tennis at 6, and I don’t think I wore hats or always had sunscreen.”
Fellow California girl Tracy Austin concurs. “I played for so many years in the sun without protection; now I’m paying for it.” As a network commentator, Austin sees herself on High Definition television and started noticing facial lines, especially the “parentheses” that form around the nose and mouth.
Each woman had long-standing relationships with dermatologists they trusted, and when they asked what could be done, Juvéderm™ was mentioned. A dermal filler that is a non-surgical treatment for the facial wrinkles and folds that trouble many men and women, Juvéderm proved to be a success for Davenport and Austin, and they joined the Decades of Smooth™ campaign to share their positive experience. Davenport, 31, appreciated that the key component in the filler, hyaluronic acid, a natural substance already produced by our bodies. Austin, 45, loved the lack of downtime and her ability to get a treatment in the morning and carry on with her busy schedule.
Juvéderm is an official sponsor of the U.S. Open, Aug. 25 – Sept. 7. Local physicians will provide complimentary facial analyses, and Davenport and Austin will be on hand to share their beauty secrets for smooth and healthy skin. As Davenport summed it up, “I loved the results and feel really good. That kind of confidence makes people happier in all that they do.”
—Levine |
