Last Saturday, one of my teams scheduled a lunch date with an injured teammate who will not be able to play with us this season. The original plan was to get together immediately following our match that morning. It was a rare weekend day when the stars aligned perfectly, allowing me and many others to commit to that post-tennis social engagement. Unfortunately… or fortunately, we all woke up to the sound of rolling thunder Saturday. It was a day filled with scattered showers that taunted us with just enough dry weather to tempt us into drying off the courts, only to have the heavens immediately open up again.
While the Trophy Husband endured a gruelling day of trying to get USTA League playoff matches in, my team was fortunate to get quick rainouts declared all around. That meant we started our lunch a little earlier than originally planned and enjoyed the luxury of lingering over the conversation as the rain continued to fall. It was a lovely tennis lunch.
Our conversation was wide-ranging, but one common theme kept coming up. The reason we don’t gather together like that more often is that most of us play too much league tennis. In our large metropolitan area, most people are on two (and sometimes three) teams competing on the same day. That means that we are constantly rushing from one match to the next with no time to socialize. There simply isn’t time to slow down and connect.
A harsh reality of tennis friendships in the current league environment is that when a person gets injured or stops playing, the bonds with other players can quickly fade. Our injured teammate had been experiencing that sensation of disconnect. The relationships we forge in tennis frequently don’t sustain themselves off the court. It takes effort to develop and maintain those personal connections. Making space for conversation off the court is a vital first step toward ensuring that the relationships we build through tennis are enduring.
That’s what made this past Saturday so refreshing. There was no rush, no frantic checking of watches, no guilt over lingering a little longer. Instead, there was laughter, storytelling, and a shared appreciation for the sport that brought us all together in the first place. Our scheduled tennis may have been rained out, but in its place, we found something just as valuable.
So here’s a challenge to all my fellow league players. The next time rain washes out your match, resist the urge to treat it as lost time. Instead, use it as an opportunity to deepen the friendships that make this sport so much more than mere competition. To reap the social benefits of tennis, we have to be social. Stay for that extra cup of coffee, share a meal, or take a moment to chat beyond the usual match recap. You might discover that the best part of league tennis is the people standing beside you, win or lose.
Tennis naturally brings together players from different backgrounds, life stages, and experiences. It creates a unique opportunity for genuine connections. While not everyone you share the court with will become a lifelong friend, some have the potential to be—if we take the time to cultivate those relationships beyond the game.
Yes! Yes! Yes!!!! Love this.
I obviously absolutely love this! Thank you!