Hey Tennis Freaks,
It’s Cade & Chris here. Over the years, coaching and playing tennis, we’ve had juniors, club players, and college athletes all ask some version of:
“Be honest… is tennis one of the toughest sports to play?”
We’re biased, obviously. However, as you know, Dad (Chris) played hockey professionally, so we have massive respect for how brutal that sport is. The hitting, the speed, the back-to-back shifts, the toughness. Hockey players are warriors.
Dad playing for the pro hockey team, the Shreveport Mudbugs, in 1999
Young Cade, playing U10 hockey in 2012
But after living tennis from every angle, here’s why we still believe tennis is one of the most demanding sports in the world and why your recovery habits matter more than you probably realize.
Why Tennis Players Are Built Different
1. You need almost every physical skill at once
In one match, you are using sprint speed, change of direction, endurance, power, and fine motor control. You don’t get to be just strong or just fast. If one piece drops, your level drops.
In hockey, you empty the tank on a shift and then you rest. In tennis, there is no bench. Once you step on court, you’re on until it’s done.
2. There is nowhere to hide
In team sports, you can specialize. For example, in baseball, you can be a pitcher, or in soccer, you can be a striker. In tennis, if you cannot serve, cannot return, cannot rally, or cannot move, you simply do not win. Every weakness gets exposed over and over again.
3. Constant solo decision-making
Every 25 seconds you must reset emotionally, choose targets, adjust patterns, and manage nerves. You repeat that hundreds of times while tired, frustrated, and under pressure. It is physical and mental stress layered together.
4. The invisible load adds up fast
Late matches. Early mornings. Back-to-back days. Different courts. Different balls. Trying to recover fast enough to do it all again. Even at the club level, the stress on your body stacks quickly.
That is why we believe tennis players are some of the most complete athletes in sport. And that is exactly why your post-match routine matters.
A Simple Post-Match Routine You Can Steal
Most players train hard, compete hard, and then completely wing recovery. If you want to feel better, play better, and reduce injury risk, treat recovery like another skill.
Here is a simple template you can use after league nights, tournaments, or college duals.
Right After the Match
Walk for two to three minutes instead of sitting right away. Let your heart rate come down.
Start hydration immediately. Water or electrolytes. Do not wait until you get home.
Take three to five slow deep breaths to help your nervous system calm down.
Within 20 Minutes
Get quick fuel in. A smoothie, yogurt and fruit, or a protein bar and a banana all work.
Do a fast stretch for five to ten minutes. Focus on calves, quads, hip flexors, glutes, shoulders, and forearms.
If cold is available, use it. Cold plunge, ice bath, or even a cool shower after long matches.
Later That Day
Eat a real meal with protein, carbs, and some colour from fruit or vegetables.
Do ten to twenty minutes of easy movement like a walk or light bike to flush out stiffness.
Protect your sleep. If you can, shut screens down thirty to forty five minutes before bed. Sleep is still the best recovery tool we have.
How This Applies to You
You might be a club player squeezing matches in after a long workday. A junior grinding a full tournament weekend. Or a college player playing singles and doubles back to back.
No matter your level, the rule is simple:
Tennis is hard. Your recovery has to match the sport.
You do not need pro-level facilities. You just need consistency.
Move, hydrate, and breathe right after you play.
Eat something within 20 minutes.
Stretch something instead of nothing.
Give your body a real chance to recover overnight.
Hit reply and tell us…Which sport do you think is the toughest? What part of your post-match routine needs the most work right now? Hydration, stretching, or sleep?
See you on court,
Cade & Chris
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