Every Monday, this site publishes a curated set of news capsules summarizing important tennis news stories from the previous week that enthusiasts might have missed. Producing that post requires me to scour the internet’s dark corners to find those niche tennis articles. It is astonishing how many obituaries that exercise turns up each week. Sometimes, the dearly departed is a beloved figure in various local tennis communities or someone noteworthy in the tennis industry. However, it is also fairly common to find accounts of people who died on the tennis court after going into sudden cardiac arrest while playing. This happens more frequently than you would think.
A preponderance of data shows that tennis improves cardiovascular, muscular, and mental health, leading to longer lifespans. If I were to conduct the same type of search focused on another sport, say pickleball, or even a specific venue like golf courses or swimming pools, I would likely uncover a similar number of obituaries. Sudden cardiac events can strike in any setting where people physically exert themselves. The nature of my weekly news hunt simply makes these stories more visible, but they are not unique to tennis.
For me, personally, suddenly dropping dead on a tennis court sounds like a pretty good way to go. However, I feel like I have many good years ahead of me and am not thrilled with that particular thing happening in the immediate future. Tennis is a significant part of my strategy to delay my inevitable demise as much as possible.
Last week, I completed a refresher course required to renew my CPR certification. I am committed to maintaining currency for the rest of my life. I sincerely hope I am never in a situation requiring me to perform that lifesaving technique. However, I also want people around me to be able to use CPR to buy me a little more time should I ever need it. It is a shared community obligation.
This Valentine’s weekend, I’d like to take the opportunity to encourage everyone to find time to take a CPR class. For tennis players, the reasons to learn CPR are particularly compelling. Our sport brings together people of all ages, often pushing them to exert themselves in ways they might not in their daily routines. The risk of sudden cardiac arrest—while rare—exists. Having someone nearby who knows CPR can mean the difference between life and death. The reality is that in a cardiac emergency, every second counts. Just as we spend time improving our skills in tennis, we should also invest in the knowledge that could one day save a life.
For anyone looking for ways to get certified, the American Red Cross searchable CPR Certification landing page is a great resource for locating a training option near you. Additionally, my class provided each participant with a keychain face shield to be used in this era of increased concern over communicable diseases. I keep one on me at all times.
Whether on the tennis court or any other place as we go about our daily lives, the ability to step in and help during a crisis is an invaluable skill. Being ready to assist in an emergency is the highest form of teamwork. A few hours spent learning CPR could one day mean the difference between tragedy and another chance for someone to step back onto the court.
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.
Two things:
Firstly, I understand that performing rythmical chest compressions is now reportedly more important than mouth to mouth blowing air into the lungs.
Secondly, as I too become closer to my death, thoughts about how it would be nice to leave consciousness come to the fore. I had thought dying like Bing Crosby, who finished his round of golf and had a heart attack while bending down to untie his golf shoes in the locker room might be a good way… Finish your round of golf, tennis match and then go….
A friend had such an attack on the tennis court in the middle of a doubles match. One of the players gave him mouth to mouth, another player compressed his chest and the third ran to the office to get the defibrillator. They saved his life but were very traumatized! So tramaitised I am consiering which other way I would like to go.