The Benefits of Playing Tennis

By Raihan Sayeed

A pre-medical student at Loyola University Chicago, Raihan Sayeed dedicates a lot of time to his schoolwork. He serves as a USGA senator at his school, and he recently shadowed Dr. Prem Rupani at his clinic, Sinai Medical Group. Outside of studying and volunteering, Ray Sayeed enjoys playing golf and tennis.

Whether playing the sport for fun or competition, tennis is a great way to get the body moving and have some fun. Playing tennis offers several benefits, including decreasing the risk of heart disease. On average, players burn around 420 to 600 calories playing one hour of tennis. The activity level helps lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and stress. Playing tennis regularly also improves speed, fine motor control, balance, and coordination. Additionally, tennis enhances bone strength to prevent osteoporosis and improves hand-eye coordination, energy production, and immunity.

Playing tennis also offers psychological benefits. It requires players to think creatively and tactically, which promotes neural connections and improves brain power. It also helps players develop a work ethic and teaches sportsmanship.