This week’s featured tennis exercise briefly appeared in Season 2, Episode 5 of the Netflix docuseries “Break Point.” Jessica Pegula and Maria Sakkari were preparing for a head-to-head semi-final matchup at the Mubadala City DC Open as the episode focused on each of their struggles to win tournaments.
Jessica Pegula is shown performing a side-to-side footwork activation drill while swinging her arms. She is performing this motion at a fairly high intensity, likely intended to raise her pulse rate so all the muscles in her body are primed and ready for the moment the players step onto the court. Jessica is also shown wearing headphones, which many players use to get into the right headspace for tennis.
I almost skipped over this exercise, thinking I had already written about it. However, after searching for it on this site, I found no indication I had, which is a glaring oversight. As I close in on five years of daily posts about tennis, I also have to consider that I might be losing my mind. I will inevitably accidentally start repeating myself.
This kind of warm-up that Pegula is seen performing is crucial for tennis players, especially before a big match. Stepping directly onto the court from a resting state is risky because there is limited time to warm up once the match is assigned to a court. Most players will not achieve the physical and mental readiness needed for competition before the match starts. If you’re a slow starter, this is exactly the pre-match activation exercise you should do on the sidelines before you play.
This clip also begs the question of what Pegula is listening to through those headphones. Though I couldn’t resist alluding to the song title from LMFAO that I used in the headline of this post, I don’t think that “Every Day I’m Shuffling” is exactly it. Instead, my best guess is that it might be “Jump” by Kris Kross. To my eye, her pace and rhythm align perfectly with that song.
Unlike so many other players, Pegula hasn’t recently disclosed her playlist. However, in a 2012 blog post from Wilson, when she was still considered an up-and-coming player, Pegula indicated that she didn’t listen to music before a match. However, she expressed a preference for anything Skrillex, which actually graces the playlists that I use when working.
Consistently performing a pre-match warm-up can make all the difference when stepping onto the court. This side-to-side footwork activation drill is a great example of something any player can incorporate into their routine. It’s an effective way to raise your heart rate, activate key muscle groups, and prepare your body for the quick lateral movements required in a match. Developing a solid pre-match routine tailored to your preferences and needs can help ensure that you’re fully ready to compete from the very first point.
Fiend At Court participates in the Amazon associates program and receives a paid commission on any purchases made via the links in this article. Details on the disposition of proceeds are available on the “About Fiend at Court” page.
