Life isn’t very easy on the road for a professional tennis player, what with the amount of travelling, training and playing at the highest level, not to mention spending time away from loved ones.
One of the most important aspects of playing professional tennis, therefore, is the need to be able to find time out for oneself and discover ways to keep that tennis-playing fire ignited.
You probably know that the average person does all kinds of things in his spare time. They go outside, hand out with their friends, and play games at Polskiekasynaonline or similar gambling platforms. After all, social activities and games of chance can be quite fun.
But what about professional tennis players? How do they spend their free time when they are not competing or training?
Most will tell you that they spend much of their spare time relaxing, either by reading books or watching movies.
This is especially true for the top players, who spend a significant amount of time on the road and must be careful to conserve their energy for when it really counts. However, we can identify a few other activities that are quite popular among these pro athletes.
Let’s check them out one by one!
They Spend Time with Their Families
The first entry on our list is quite obvious – most tennis players dedicate a lot of their free time to family. After all, they have often been away from home during tournaments and training sessions and need time to connect with the ones they love.
That is particularly the case with athletes who have kids, as they obviously want to spend quality time with them.
Take the world’s best player, Novak Djokovic, as an example. He simply loves spending time with his wife and two kids, as he often states in interviews. They even try to attend his matches whenever possible, which is also the case with this year’s ATP Tour Finals in Turin.
They Practice Their Hobby Outside of Tennis
Practicing your favorite sport all the time can be tiresome. That is why most professional players look for something else to do in their free time, so they don’t get burned out on tennis.
This can range from simple activities like playing video games to more complex endeavors such as learning an instrument.
Similarly, one-time French Open winner Li Na was also known for taking charity tours where she played piano and hung out with kids. Younger players like Stefanos Tsitsipas even have their own YouTube channels, where they post a lot of interesting content.
They Stay Active Off the Court
Staying in shape is a top priority for any professional athlete, and tennis players are no exception to that rule. It’s no secret that they must stay in shape and practice consistently if they wish to remain competitive.
That is why many of them are also fitness enthusiasts. Many pro athletes on tour use their free time to engage in other sports or physical activities, such as running, swimming, cycling, or even playing other racket-based sports like squash. Take Caroline Wozniacki as an example.
The former world number one was quite active off the tennis court and took part in various running events. He even completed a marathon back in 2014, which was quite impressive considering her pro tennis status at that time.
It is the only way for pro athletes to exercise without holding the racket.
Some of Them Study When Possible
Some tennis players also use their free time to engage in more intellectual activities. We can name a few names here, such as Anastasia Rodionova. She graduated from Indiana University East, just like Sloane Stephens and Irina Falconi.
Meanwhile, Eugenie Bouchard is quite the linguist, as she can fluently speak three languages – English, French, and some Spanish. The same goes for Djokovic, who also speaks English, German, Italian, and a little bit of French and Spanish.
It goes without saying that studying can be a great way to improve yourself intellectually and stay sharp when you’re off the court. And if you happen to make it big in tennis like these three did, it will also come in handy when you start to prepare for life after your playing career.
The Bottomline
All in all, it is safe to say that tennis players enjoy a wide variety of activities during their down time.
From spending time with family and friends to practicing hobbies or staying active off the court, these pro athletes have plenty of ways to stay entertained and productive when they’re not competing.
And, most importantly, by engaging in such activities they are able to stay sharp and motivated while keeping their competitive edge intact. It’s no wonder why so many of them have been able to remain at the top of the game for so long!