For many sports fans around the world, the spectator experience is an added perk to enjoy the players and teams they love. It may even be why one turns on Tennis Channel and re-watches the highlights like Federer vs Nadal in the 2008 Wimbledon final, or the angry meltdown of Serena Williams in her 2018 U.S. Open Final against Naomi Osaka. However, Katie Fullerton SC ’28 argues that for many tennis fans, watching the sport is more stressful than playing it.
“Even Williams, the greatest player of all time, stumbled under the immense pressure that defines tennis,” Fullerton writes. “No wonder my history teacher nearly tore her hair out watching Williams. She was not just reacting to forehands, but to a live demonstration of pressure and resilience.”
Others view tennis not as a sport of fine margins, but as practice for forgiving your own mistakes. Katia Kriakova SC ’28 picked up a racket in January after reading Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid over winter break. She decided that if a fictional retired champion could rebuild herself, she could at least try a Thursday beginner clinic. She went in expecting chaos and a steep learning curve, but since then, she has been pleasantly surprised.
“I always leave feeling refreshed and energized,” Kriakova said. “I made a new very close friend, and we love to play just for the fun of it.”
Words by Katharine Fullerton | Graphic by Shixiao Yu
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4 days ago
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