March 5: World Tennis Day

Manuel Van den Broucke, sports, society and politics correspondent, March 5, 2025

Origin of World Tennis Day

World Tennis Day was established in 2013 by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in partnership with the ATP and WTA to encourage the practice of this sport worldwide. The first edition began with a match at Madison Square Garden in New York, where Rafael Nadal faced Juan Martín del Potro, followed by a match between Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka.

Benefits of tennis on physical and mental health

Physically, tennis improves cardiovascular endurance and reduces the risk of heart disease by 56%. A study conducted by the Copenhagen City Heart Study found that regular tennis players live on average 9.7 years longer than non-athletes, making it one of the most beneficial sports for longevity. In 2019, the WHO included tennis in its list of recommended sports to prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes. Mentally, it helps fight stress and anxiety, as shown by an initiative led by the French Tennis Federation in 2021, where therapeutic tennis sessions were offered to people in remission from depression. Similar programs have been set up in the United States by the USTA under the name 'Tennis for Mental Health,' with results showing a 35% reduction in anxiety levels among participants after three months of regular practice.

How do federations take part in this day?

In France, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) opens the courts of Roland-Garros for free for beginner sessions and organizes a meeting with Davis Cup and Fed Cup players. In the United States, the USTA offers free lessons on the courts of Flushing Meadows in New York, where young people can hit a few balls with former champions like Andy Roddick. In Spain, the RFET invites WTA players like Garbiñe Muguruza to take part in training sessions open to the public at the Ciudad de la Raqueta in Madrid. In Australia, Melbourne Park offers a free-access day on the courts used for the Australian Open, with former winners like Lleyton Hewitt in attendance. In Italy, the Foro Italico in Rome hosts express mixed doubles tournaments bringing together amateurs and professional players. Prestigious clubs, such as Queen's Club in London or the Monte-Carlo Country Club, organize hitting sessions with their coaches and intergenerational tournaments where young players face former champions. In Dubai, the Jumeirah Tennis Academy invites elite coaches for free masterclasses, while in Japan, the Japan Tennis Association (JTA) sets up a charity tournament at Ariake Coliseum to support local young talent.