The Spiritual Game of Tennis

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Guest Post by Jim Jackson

Tennis is a unique sport or creative activity, in my opinion, although many others would say the same about their activity or sport. But tennis has so many good qualities, and only one “so-so” quality – which like most activities – sports, requires a specific place to play, in this case, a tennis court. (Although, when I began, I would hit for hours against a cement wall, as there were few players in my small town.)

The great qualities that stand out are that it is a sport which can be played for a lifetime and requires only one other person (or 3 for doubles) to play.  No 17 others for baseball or 21 for football or 9 for basketball. 

One might say golf requires NO ONE else, but it is a game where one is really playing against only one self. That is a great challenge – but I’m sticking with tennis because it also deals with RELATIONSHIPS – with your opponent (s) and partner, (if doubles), oneself, a moving ball, and at times with the spectators before which one is playing.

No matter at what level of play, those relationships add a huge amount of potential LIFE EXPERIENCES condensed within one and a half hours. And, of course, there are a few, mainly in the younger ages, who carry “off-court” anger, excess attachment, greed, and vanity.

 I would imagine the major reason people don’t stick with tennis is that it can be especially frustrating for a beginner. After 30 minutes of continually running after balls, swinging and missing, or hitting the ball into the net or backstop – and chasing balls your hitting-partner sprays away from you – one might yell out, “This isn’t much fun, let’s quit!”

Tennis will always test your PATIENCE!!!

When I began playing tennis at the age of 15, 73 years ago, because of my birthday being in December, my tennis age was considered to be “16.” So when I played in five tournaments that summer, I had to play 3 years up in the 18 and under age group . I also entered the men’s division. In those matches I won exactly one solitary game in those 20 sets. I was a 6–0, 6–0, “loser” – but in all those losing and frustrating experiences, I was learning more about the game, the strokes and strategy both, and getting a little better each match. Between my matches, I watched and studied, intently, how the best players played. And I practiced every hour I could between tournaments .

The next year when I entered high school, I began that spring as number 4 on the tennis team. I finished the school season as number one and got to the second round of one of the state tournaments, losing to the winner. In Oklahoma both OU and OSU held state tournaments. The next year, my junior year I got to the finals of the OSU tournament, but lost in the quarterfinals at OU to a guy I’d beaten earlier in the league season; very disappointing!

In my senior year, I won both state tournaments. Patience, goal setting, and lots of practice were paying off. And for my parents, too, with all their great support, as those 2 wins earned a tennis scholarship at Oregon State University, when our family moved to Oregon for my dad‘s business that summer. 

I hope the above is not taken as an example of vanity and boasting, but of PATIENCE. I still had a long, long way to go to be a good player.

Tennis is a game of continual varied challenges – nothing is ever the same: one’s opponents, each with a different style of play, one’s health conditions, the court surface, the weather, the lighting, and on and on. 

There’s a saying, “The older I get, the better I used to be.” But in the past, I could RUN. But my tennis has had to change in my older years, especially with my now “gimpy” knees. Life always requires changes and so does an aging and far-less mobile tennis player.

I now play in the 65 and over (the oldest age group) and I find those young mid 60 whippersnappers a big challenge to me in our competitive league matches. But my love for the game, and my friends and my commitment to keep trying for a change for the better in my own game – dulls the pain and illusion that I could still reach a ball that was so easy to do 10–20 years ago. “Times are a-chang-in.”

All my regular group of tennis friends I play with, some for 30 – 40 years) have their own physical ailments. It’s part of life – the part, we and most others don’t want to reach SO SOON.

As my longtime friend and doubles partner, Don Tisdel, once said in the locker room to a guy complaining of his sprained, sore and swollen ankle, “Oh, that wouldn’t even make my top 10 list.”

Of course, there are great physical test in tennis, but the vast, most meaningful – maybe even SPIRITUAL TESTS – come in the mental-emotional realms:  

A) frustration with our own bad day or poor level of play 
B) dealing with our partners bad day.
C, dealing with opponents, idiosyncrasies, unsportsmanlike conduct, or outright cheating.
D dealing with being tight in important points and times.
E) dealing with unfair match scheduling, i.e.: three matches in one day and or no rest between matches.
F) dealing with playing with or against spouse or sibling in a tournament.
G) dealing with motivation to train and practice.
H) dealing with off-court rumors and gossip.
I )dealing with winning and losing – being and staying in balance and control, no matter the outcome of a match. Being a true good sport.

Over the years, I’ve given myself a 1000 reasons to keep running, but it always comes back to where it started, it comes down to self satisfaction, and a sense of achievement.
                               —Steve Prefontaine, Oregon and Olympic record holder

The MAIN REASONS why athletes, and creators of all kinds compete, or why they love their sport or activity is not just the winning and success, but the personal passion, the joy, and the fun – these are the real motivators.

When the athletes and creators spot–light the little things that help their PERFORMANCE and keep their focus on the smaller tasks at hand, not just on winning, they tend to be in CONTROL of their performance and become CONFIDENT. When athletes – creators are confident, they usually ENJOY and LOVE what they are doing – and EXCEL in it.

Great athletes – creators, do serious (meaning “lots of”) INNER WORK. They become still and quiet, relaxed, and single focused on the little things that matter to their performance: you may call it contemplation or meditation  or visualization, but it is what it is. It’s what makes things happen and in their control. Not for the end result, such as winning, but HOW ONE PERFORMS!

 If an athlete – creator can do this in their sport – activity with good results, why don’t we do it in our own daily life? 

Life is a process! It’s one thought, one step, and one initiation at a time, into the different areas of life!

FACT:   People who play tennis regularly, LIVE  9 years longer than those who don’t!!!!!!!!

PS:  I wrote this piece near my 80th birthday and I was still able to play then – and our league team had won 

Its’ way to the national’s twice, but when Covid hit and I re-injured my knee, it was time to retire. But a dozen of my long time tennis buddies and I meet for a 2 hour lunch and gab session the 2nd Tuesday of each month.

We are still living and learning in our special relationships – now off-court.  I find FRIENDS to be so meaningful, especially in older age.

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Jim Jackson enjoys reading, writing, and sharing his experiences with those in his community and friends. He still has an interest in tennis, he says.