Are You Too Old To Play Tennis?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
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In today's video, I discuss when you are too old to play tennis and how you can make it a lifetime sport.
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I have an uncle who started playing again at 88. Refused to play pickleball, said, "That's for old people"
i agree w your uncle
Absolute chad!
😂👍
Couldn't agree more. I'm 75, still play singles, don't like doubles, and have resolved to live to over 100 and both play (singles) and teach tennis on the day I die. Wish me luck, please.
Inspiring!! Good luck!!!
@@dreamy7335 Thank you, Dreamy. Appreciate it.
I sincerely wish you the best! My tennis goals are the same. I’m in my early 50s and I want to keep playing singles as long as I can
@@testplatform582 Good! You have my best wishes.
We're pretty much on the same age level. At the very least, I can say this for myself having reached our age I think we already have all the luck in the world. My body and my wife say I'm too old to play but my mind says otherwise.
In my club we have 96 years old guy playing. He is not moving on the court much but he is pushing the ball over the net and still enjoying himself. So, not speaking about professional tennis, there is no limit.
Started playing again after 47 years, am now 65 yo. Wasn't very good back then. Almost three years in, now. I had two hip replacement surgeries last year. I go out to the courts, working on something, rain or shine. Also do daily yoga workouts. Thank you for the optimist's view.
@@bournejason66 Yes. I started playing in November 2019. Had surgeries in June and October 2021. Was playing tennis almost up to the day of each surgery--limping and wincing but playing and trying to learn things. Back on court 3-4 weeks after each surgery.
@@bournejason66 I can't say it was tennis alone, if at all. In 2015 I hiked 2000 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. In every year up to 2020, I probably walked 1500 miles--most people don't walk five miles a day. Maybe I'm a genetic mutant as no one else in my family needed joint replacements. Nothing wrong with my knees so far, though.
I'm certain tennis can't wear out two hips in two years. Andy Murray has been playing for decades and had his hip surgery a few years ago. It takes a lot of tennis.
My dad is about to turn 94. He plays most every day the weather permits.
Thanks again. My forehand is now a weapon. Developed the modern forehand today.
I started watching tennis obsessively when I was around 25, but only played super casually with friends a few times a year. For some reason I didn't think you could START playing a sport somewhat seriously if you haven't played as a child (unless it's golf...). 13 years later at 37 I finally joined a club and get coaching each week + a regular court time for my own practice and I've improved dramatically. Faster than most juniors in the club, actually (so you CAN teach an old dog to sit). I think starting at an older age makes you focus 100% on every lesson (and outside) since you know you have catching up to do, and not an unlimited time to improve :).
Looking forward to playing at a relatively high recreational level in my 40s.
Similar experience. Started really well then had 2-3 months of hell being unable to do the single hander backhand from deep in court. Eventually cracked it somewhat and still progressing but slower. Slow is better than not at all though. I am very very focussed in coaching - possibly too much at times as get very down in a not so good session.
@@spooky1304 people advance at u ages. Keep going. Teen protégés are usually a bit messed up too much pressure on the body and mind too young
My daughter has just gotten into tennis more seriously at 31 and plays with me (68). Sure she beats me but we’re both enjoying the game and now obsessively watching all tennis matches on tv! I have to stay out of the room if Djokovic is playing. Every time I watch, he looses points!
This is kinda my story)
Ken Rosewall, maybe my favorite player, played in a Wimbledon final (1974) when he was 40, and was a world top 10 player for 25 years. (or something like that) Anyway, totally agree with you that tennis is a lifetime sport. I credit my low level recreational league tennis playing with keeping me alive and kicking. I think that tennis is THE BEST sport for elderly people. Have a match today at 3:30pm. I'm 75. My opponent is 30 something. hahahahaha Most of my opponents are 2 or more generations younger than me. That 70 year old guy Robert who you coach can really stroke the ball. Great to see that. He will no doubt be playing competitive tennis into his 80s. Thanks for the vids. Nice work!
NEVER - I'm probably going to die on the tennis court at 117 years of age.
Spot on I am 51 and in the middle of my journey of weight loss 💪🏼
Keep going King 💯
Congratulations my friend, I am 52 years old and I started playing tennis again after a 23 year hiatus. I love playing tennis!
I restarted playing tennis at 73, after not running for 15 years. It took a lot of patience with myself to get my court coverage back. I'm up to 3.5 and still improving.
The documentary Gold Balls follows the ultra-senior league. The "Roger Federer" of that league was in his mid 90's when they filmed it.
Great documentary👍🏼
I'm 64 and started playing tennis (a bit obsessively) a year and a half ago. I had played LOTS of racquetball in the 80s and am naturally quick. I'm not skinny, but not fat either. I still have the quickness and instincts, and have been working on technique and strategy, losing the R-ball muscle memory that was oddly persistent. I love your videos and have learned a ton from you, but I do have to say that you have a clear bias against doubles. While for some folks, doubles may be the only option, for many, it's fun, strategic and social at the same time. I absolutely love it. Where I play in the summer, the town rec department has a 3-day/week senior doubles round robin on the beautiful town courts, Men, women, great players, mediocre players, all over 60 and a few over 80. I think you have an opportunity to do some tutorials on doubles strategy, which would broaden your audience.
Don’t have a bias against doubles at all. I will be featuring content down the road with doubles tutorials.
Great video as always Nick. I'll be turning 70 in a month and still out on the courts. I do play singles every once in a while and doubles frequently. People are shocked that I'm still throwing aces down at my age and against much younger players. I agree 100% a player must keep the weight off and stay lean, walking 3-4 miles daily helps tremendously.
Good point about bodyweight for older players.
I play from time to time with a man named Bernard Kucheida he won 2nd this year in Senor games Las Vegas 70 to 75 and is really good. Always something I can learn from his game.
As a younger player, I had visions of myself stroking beautiful forehands, and backhands into my advancing years. The reality: diabetic, and overweight, and brutally difficult to drop a single gram off my frame. Impending mortality can encourage you to eat that blueberry muffin cuz, well, you see people getting their wings off the planet all around you, and as you get older you know it's just a matter of time until that ball drops into your number. So, here I am off to the club to hit some balls, sweat it up a little bit, and try, as hard as it is, to turn things around. With all the stuff going on these days, it's a balancing act like no other.
I've been playing the game for most of my life. Now, I'm in my mid-seventies and my body says I'm too old to play tennis but my mind says otherwise.
I am 6' tall, weigh 150 pounds, and am 43 yrs old... I move very well on the court. I play singles and doubles.... but i love the intensity and cardio workout of a singles match. I get a sort of "runners high" from competing in singles. I hope i can continue for a long time.
I just started to learn Tennis and I am not the youngest monkey in the jungle. My physical and mental health improved greatly. I think it is important to make sure that you work on the right things and an correct technic to avoid injuries. I also found your advice really inspiring to set small goals. Any minor improvement is a big success.
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74 years old; 4.0; singles only…. can run with the best of them!
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I play quite often (3-5x/week), and It’s a MUCH better experience on clay. The concrete/hardcourt surfaces in the US are not kind to joints, etc.
we don't have clay courts in the US 😥😥😥😥😥😥
@@keith6032 We have Har-tru.
Both of Jimmy Connors and Ken Rosewall you didn’t retire until they were in their late 40s. And my dad knew a guy in high school, this guy actually as a junior beat both Agassi and Chang, and his first name was Mike but my dad can’t remember his last name because he hasn’t seen him in like over 35 years, I hope I find out his last name someday I would like to look up where he ended up in the world.
Ken Rosewall was in the Wimbledon and US open final at age 39. He continued to win titles into his 40s; his last being the Tokyo open final at age 43 with a win over Ilie Nastase
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...in a time where only a small selection of extraordinarily privileged individuals were playing let alone competing in tennis.
That was in the 70s ; his final opponent at Wimbledon 1974 and US open 1974 was Jimmy Connors. The same Jimmy Connors who could only make the semi final when he was 39.
@@MrMSS22 Maybe so in the '50s and most of the '60s. But after that, especially by the early/mid '70s (when Rosewall was still competing at the highest level), 'everybody' was playing tennis. My local free public courts were bustling with activity back then -- every day and night. They're still used a lot now, but it's not like it was back in the '70s.
Correction. Rosewall was born in 1934, so when he played the finals at Wimbledon and the US Open he was 40 years old.
In addition to staying lean I'm going to suggest weight room training 3x/week and a good stretch routine as you age. Keep the body lean, strong and flexible as we age
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i have to start working on the getting trim part....need to lose maybe 10-12lbs
You are not alone.
On European clay courts tennis is a routine senior activity. Hard courts have ruined this game for those with ailing bodies. Such a shame.
Totally agree! As much as I try to believe it’s mind over matter and push myself, tennis certainly takes a toll on the body. I too agree it’s the hardest sport in the world as other sports usually focus on a specific skill of expertise, whereas a tennis player utilizes everything including mental and strategic skills.
When I played doubles years ago I often played with Frank who was 87 and had a lot of fun playing.
I have two tennis partners on is 94 and the other is 97. The only professional athlete that competed past 50 is George Foreman who won the Heavyweight Championship after the age of 50.
Great video Coach Nick!
George Foreman won the heavyweight championship in his 50s. It all depends on how athletic a person is and how well they took care of themselves. I am 52 years old and it’s tough some days just to do daily chores, but I push myself and do my best. Great job on the video my friend.
Interesting... I had a knee operation in 1997 and was then 42 years old and playing low-level county matches. Still playing singles, but started to move toward more doubles play. Now at 66 I only play doubles, the shots are still there, and I am thin, but lung capacity drops from around 60 years old.
Still love tennis and study some of the subtleties and practice with a ball machine.
I now stick to doubles, partly because of my knee problem and partly because my aerobic fitness is nowhere as good as it used to be.
I'm 56 and I'm as quick as I was at 20 - possibly a bit quicker as I've got more muscles for explosive start. I just started playing again 10 months ago. I regularly get balls back that opponents thought I wouldn't get a racket on and my coach (whose mid 20s) said 'you don't realise how quick you are'. I've also got more power than I had at 20 and I can return very fast serves - not every time ofc but enough.
I think I'm a bit unusual in that I played loads of racket sports in my teens to early 20s but then stopped and had a 35 year break from sports. I've done loads of exercise but almost all just walking so although I've stayed fit I haven't hammered my body.
I can practice rally OK with the A-team power hitters but as soon as points start its 6-0 albeit with some decent rallies - its not all over in 2 shots every point.
This all sounds lovely huh but its in my mind all the time 'will this be the week I lose some vision/cognition' etc - will it happen suddenly that I start to always miss returning 90-100mph serves. I've got no idea how I'll hold up.
You must have been out of shape at 20 if you are quicker at 56.
@@jakstrike1 No I was a very fit tennis/squash player. We used to play tennis 4 hours a day 5 days a week and squash once a week 2 hours.
At running 100/200/400/mile etc I'd literally die but explosive/agility on a tennis court I'm at least as good as I was then and I know I'm not dreaming because I get so many comments about it some from players half my age.
I was good at gym and I've stayed fit through walking and not hammered my body through decades of impact.
I've highlighted a strength - there's loads of other tennis stuff with huge room for improvement - for instance I can't smash for toffee.
I m 63, and i still play tennis. Usual game cud last 1 to 1.5hrs. Need ice pack to ease the post game soreness though.
I’ve been playing tennis since I was 14. I was self taught, unfortunately never had a lesson but played 4 years in High School and 2 years in College. In High School the coach was the math teacher. The only coaching method he knew was to make us hit against the bricks of the school wall. I also was a runner 🏃♂️ as an early adult and played a lot of baseball, but tennis was and is by far my passion! Since High School I’ve probably played tennis almost everyday of my life. I can honestly say that my tennis game has evolved and improved technique wise the older I get thanks to the thousands of hours and myriad of different players, situations and matches I’ve played. As an early adult most of my vacations were tennis camp trips to Florida and South Carolina. I’ve done the Van DerMeer camps,the Gullicksons had a 1 week camp in Boca for awhile and several others.The older I became the more doubles I’ve played as I’ve always had knee issues from a motorcycle accident in my late 20’s. But I simply LOVE the game and will never give it up until I drop dead on the court! In December of 2014 I was actually teaching for the local park district and one day after work just for fun I started practicing my serve alone. Before I was done I had gone through our entire inventory of 5 180 ball teaching baskets in about 45 minutes. The next day my shoulder hurt so bad it resulted in my first rotator cuff surgery. From there and over the course of the following 5 years I’ve had both shoulders repaired, both hips replaced, both knees replaced and a back laminectomy. You’d think I was finished as a tennis player, but no! Through the course of rehab I was more determined than ever to train harder and return to tennis. I’m 67 now and I can honestly say I’m playing my best tennis ever (technique wise). Yes, I’m slower and play mostly doubles, but I can take the club pro out and hit with him at full,power for an hour straight!
I end my comment with one final note (and I’m not just trying to blow smoke up Nic’s bum) but I’ve become an Intuitive tennis addict. Out of all the TH-cam tennis instructional channels Nic and Intuitive Tennis have become a daily routine and motivation of the game for me. The one thing I want to emphasize that Nic brought up here in this video is to drop the weight and be as fit as possible. Last summer Nic had a self challenge where he set a goal to lose, I think it was 30 pounds in 3 months. Well I did it along with him and from June 2022 to today April 2023 I have lost 60 lbs…went from a 5’9” 220 lb frame to 165 lbs and am in the best shape of my life at 67 years old. Yes, I have the restrictions of all the surgeries but I play harder than ever, smarter than ever and thanks to Nic with the best technique than ever. My dream is to one day come down to Florida and take a $300 lesson with Nic to show the world that even in your late 60’s with all the injuries you can still play a high level of recreational tennis for as long as you’re willing to fight and train. Training, isn’t just for the pros, training is also for the rec player who refuses to hang it up and play pickle 🏓🥒 ball. TENNIS ROCKS!!! 🎾
The fitness level is key. I'm 49 years old, between 6'1 and 6'2 and weigh 178lbs. For tennis, I should not get much heavier. As a pusher, I have to move well.
Remember watching Agassi - Paes in the olympics way back when. And was saddened by his retirement in 2021, as he was the only guy still in the ATP ranks (for dubs but still), that I had followed since I was a kid, the only one my age still around.
I am starting out of shape at 59. Just got a vcore 97 that everyone says is too heavy. I plan to play my way into shape.
I am 60, and I can still play single against younger players, but they have to be a little less skillful than I am. If I play someone just as good but much younger, there's no chance because they can move faster and last longer and I can't keep up.
I just lost a match -- and determined it was partly due to not controlling the glycemic index of my food: Too much sugar is making me shaky and overweight. I'm 57 and could not agree more with the message of this video. So the desire to WIN -- and move up in my club rankings -- is making me reduce my sugar intake. Up to now I have not thought much about age when competing with other guys. At the rec level technique usually trumps conditioning assuming you can move reasonably well.
The Thumbnail is awesome!!!! Haha
Two years of lockdowns made my game considerably harder. I'll recover but not by getting on the court and getting injured but by building a foundation with other activities such cycling, yoga and the like. Also, places like FL enjoy almost year round outdoor sports conducive weather something many of us dealing with long winters cannot. Can u play tennis into later years ⁉️ Absolutely‼️
Tommy Haas came back on tour for a few months during covid and beat some top 20 players. Great example of high level tennis into your 40s.
That's a very useful video!!!
Is it too late to make it pro if I only start at 17?
As long as you still have mobility, you can play. I am entering the 60's, so I am working on keeping mobility as long as I can. And one way to do that is playing tennis. But you have to play like a young man, chasing after balls, not waiting for balls. I can't chase balls as long as I used to, but if I step out there, I am playing hard, until the legs start to give, then I stop, until next round.
I’m 58 and just beat a top junior and I’m about to play 7 ITF Futures next month
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Like another person that commented, I must cast a vote for Ken Rosewall, who played the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open against Jimmy Connors at 40 years of age.
He fulfills your prerequisites of tennis longevity. He was small and slim, and lasted almost injury free.
Remember his nickname was "Muscles".
McEnroe continues to perform on the senior tour at 63, and remains very slim. As does Mats Wilander.
Also, Rosewall has another advantage, emotional stability. He's been married to the same lady for 66 years.
As a bonus, do you think as you train older players, that you would modify, maybe slimpify stroke techniques in order to not over excert an elderly player, or is the technique fundamentally the same? Especially involving the extreme torso rotation that younger players use on their groundstrokes.
I have a video coming soon on rec player limitations
As soon as my body can't take it I'm going to try to play like Tomic. Basic footwork, somewhat lazy flat shots focussing more on placement rather than crazy spin or power.
that is exactly what the best older player in my town does - this guy is 75 has been playing since he was a teen and he is so good - he uses depth instead of pace and can paint. the sidelines and makes ample use of slice, dropshot, and lob. He is a very smart player. Total respect for his game.
As I age I find it difficult to play the same game as when I was younger. Much less flexibility in the back for service, much less flexibility to be able to use an almost western grip needing to get low for every ball and whip it. Perhaps you can make a video on how people like me can age with the sport without having to change the game too much. It’s a little depressing frankly.
Coming soon…
beach volleyball will keep anyone in great shape... and you don't hurt yourself if you fall
I like this take, thank you. I am 68, with a rare neuromuscular disease, multiple injuries including from a recent car accident, deterioration, diabetic issues, extremely low testosterone and hypothyroidism which causes weight gain. I'm about 5'11 and average around 215 lbs. The neuromuscular disease causes narcolepsy, dizziness and rhabdomyolysis. I play a lot of doubles but I still play singles with players my age, some older and with people 20, 40, 45 years younger than me. I still beat a few of dem youngins, the ones I can't beat anymore I take pride in making them sweat. The secret is diet, I'm a vegan. I use whole grains, do not smoke anything, drink alcohol or drop anything including legal. I use herbs instead. To tell the truth doubles bore me. I play with dudes who follow a similar dietary system I use. A couple of them, one my age, and another in his early seventies, are as fast as any 15 year old. We have a really small lightweight 80 year old with congestive heart failure that still competes highly. One of our other buddies played competitively until he died at 85 a few years ago. They are Seventh-Day Adventist practitioners in a town full of them. Coach is spot on, you can't be old and fat, they don't work well together. Again, good take coach..👍👍
Big tennis fan but it is not the physically most demanding sport, lol. It's a lifelong sport for a reason. 70 year olds play it every weekend. ,You don't see 70 year old rugby and wrestling for the fun.
Rubbish. It's as hard as you make it.
@@philiphargreaves8988 No. Rugby is objectively tougher.
Im 28 now, i good shape, doing rowing since one and half year want to switch to tennis, am i too old for that?
Professionally can i be good?
As my friend says, "I've never seen a fat tennis player". You really have to stay trim. My dad who's in his mid 70's teaches tennis to kids. He just had knee surgery but he's still out there. Not to the level he once was but he's still active.
Thanks for this video,addressing issues of old People.I am 66 ,and now I have restricted myself to doubles at club level. Find it difficult to retrieve balls when lobbed behind me or my partner. Please guide.
Coordinate with your partner to retrieve those pesky lobs, one around the net and the other one on the baseline switching sides.
Is it late to be pro at 18 I think I have potential
You didn't address: Elite level doubles. Can they play into their 50's?
No... Elite doubles requires ultra high footwork intensity and you must be very mobile... but most of us are not elite. so....
Guess it’s time to loose some weight…
early 40's is an anomaly...Its extremely rare. Id say till 38 max.
Both of his examples were essentially late 30s (39 and exactly 40). Oldest people who still win big events are in their late 30s. Oldest slam winner was 37.
@@jamesbyrd5175 yes, :Leander Paes won the French Mixes at age 43 with Hingis...but that was dubs.
The thumbnail 😅
Sir iam beginner my age 42 join will i join world compitition
this analysis assumes you still want to compete! I enjoy just going out and stroking the ball to someone on the other side. not trying to run each other, just enjoy hitting the ball, improving strokes and if it bounces twice once in a while, not a care in the world. Love tennis!! Hate competing!!
Two words: Martina Navratilova.
I don't mean to brag but I am 64 years old and I am currently the number four ranked player in my cul-de-sac. The guy next door will soon be moving into a nursing home so that will move me up to number three.
Tennis friends -- do yourself a favor and find the "Knees over toes" guy on youtube --- and you will learn how to strengthen not just your knees but also ankles, shoulders, core, etc for playing tennis at all ages. Also helpful to drop any excess weight you're carrying. And that is so simple -- adopt a mostly carnivore diet plus some fruits and veggies as desired.
Never met an 90 year old who was overweight LOL.
Why you are saying tennis is the most tough game ?! Football .. boxing …
Tennis is the toughest sport in the world ? lolololololololololol
coach, I know tennis is demanding physically and mentally, but to call it the toughest sport is a little bit unrealistic. MMA, boxing, american football to name a few that I think is tougher than tennis. overall, nice video with many useful information. thanks, coach.
Nikola, can you please post some matches of you playing????? I want to see you play competitive matches not teach newbies. It's nice to see how you play under pressure and against different styles of players.