Why I Love Tennis By Juliet Hubbell
At one point, my husband said to me, “You’re playing WAY too much tennis.” It’s a little like being told you might have a drinking problem, but I reassured myself with all of the ways tennis has embellished my life.
I count the majority of my long-term friendships as tennis-originated ones. Doubles partners are as solid a friend as you can get. The expression, “I’m glad I’ve got you on my side of the court,” has great resonance for me because it is no longer the literal, green tennis court, but life’s more difficult, virtual one. Tennis friendships don’t exist just within the walls of the Greenwood Tennis Club, either. They transform themselves into baby showers, sick meals, job leads. Some of the best psychotherapy I’ve ever not had to pay for was conducted across the net, between sets, or after a long match.
Clearly, tennis is a physical activity; I don’t deny that. Billie Jean King once said, “Tennis is a perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of total tranquility.” The ball machine is an example of what a great outlet tennis is. There are more times than I’d care to admit where I have rented the ball machine for no other reason than to bash the ball. If I hit the back curtain more than the inside of the baseline, it really didn’t matter. Tennis allows you room for that. There’s very little swearing, certainly few fisticuffs, and no one is the wiser if you are envisioning the person who cut you off on the highway that morning as you whack at the ball.
My more epicurean friends say, “Oh, no, the best thing about tennis is the food after the matches.” It is true that the exotic appetizers and gourmet desserts we bring trying to outdo one another is a plus. And the camaraderie upstairs on the observation deck is easy and natural after an evening of play.
Fashion maven friends say, “No, it’s that I get to buy cute tennis clothes,” or my ever practical male friends point out that “…it’s a game I can always improve at.” These are true as well. However, my protestation to the spousal “WAY too much tennis” remark is categorical and unwavering. It’s not about tennis at all. It’s about the people.
Juliet is a long time Greenwood member and wrote this article for the “Pulse” newsletter a couple of years ago. I thought it was outstanding and worth replaying here. Look for Juliet to be contributing more member perspective articles in the future.
