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Are tennis players the fittest athletes? Sports scientist Dr. Mark Kovacs strongly believes so, echoing Venus Williams’ and Frances Tiafoe’s views that tennis is one of the hardest sports. Kovacs, who has worked across multiple professional sports, argues tennis demands a uniquely broad combination of physical, mental, and tactical skills.
Physiologically, tennis players’ aerobic fitness is on par with elite soccer players, with VO2 max levels in the low 60s. While they may not match cyclists or marathoners in pure endurance, their versatility sets them apart. Tennis requires repeated explosive sprints, rapid directional changes, agility, and strength to deliver 140 mph serves. Unlike specialists in powerlifting or football, tennis players must balance power with endurance to survive hours-long matches, especially in five-set grand slam encounters.
Kovacs highlights contrasting strengths of top players: Carlos Alcaraz thrives on explosiveness, while Jannik Sinner excels in balance and deceleration. Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka exemplify athleticism on the women’s side, with Gauff described as capable of excelling in multiple sports. Women, he adds, endure high training volumes and are “tough as nails.”
The demands extend beyond fitness. With an 11-month season and over 100,000 miles of annual travel, players battle jet lag, minimal recovery, and extreme conditions. Mental toughness is equally critical: Venus Williams preserved longevity by taking breaks, while Jack Draper and Alexandra Eala spoke of anxiety and resilience during matches.
Ultimately, Kovacs asserts that tennis players may not dominate any single fitness measure, but their blend of speed, power, endurance, and mental resilience makes them among the world’s fittest—and toughest—athletes.
Opinion:
Tennis is a tough sport. Especially the singles games when there is only 1 winner each tournament.
But same can be said for many 1 vs 1 sports.
In 1 vs 1, the mental game is really important.
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