I've been playing tennis since my freshman year in high school and I can honestly say that I love it. Tennis is always there for me to go to whether I’m bored, stressed, angry, or just feel like exercising. Here are a few reasons why you this sport is one of the best:

1. It's good for your health

Like any sport, tennis has a lot of different health benefits, including increased bone mass and lowered body fat. One of the most important significant benefits in tennis are the cardiovascular advantages. When you’re playing tennis you’re running short but fast sprints with small breaks in between. This can make your heart rate change at rapid rates, and doing so for just 30 minutes can greatly lower your risk of getting any type of heart disease.

2. It makes you smarter

Tennis has a lot to do with strategy. You can’t just focus on how you hit the ball, you also have to focus on where you want it to land. When I first started playing tennis, my “technique” was to hit the ball as hard as I could and hope it went in. It wasn’t until the middle of my freshman year that my coach pulled me aside and told me that I need to "stop playing strong and start playing smart."

You have to learn to think very quickly and develop fast reflexes because the ball is coming at you at a fast pace. You have to figure out how to strategically hit the ball to make it go in a specific direction and hit a certain spot in a short amount of time.

You can’t just think about the ball either, you’re playing against another person who’s thinking the same things you are. You have to be able to figure out their strengths and weaknesses towards the beginning of the match so that you have an advantage.

3. You learn important life lessons

Cofidence is the first lesson that tennis teaches you. Tennis is a very fast-paced game so if you hesitate, the ball will pass you before you even get a chance to blink. You have to just go for it with no hesitation and have confidence in yourself and your playing ability.

The second lesson that tennis teaches you is that it’s okay to make mistakes as long, as you don’t dwell on them. If you sit there and think about every little mistake you’ve made, you’re going to end up not focusing. You have to be able to accept that you made a mistake; but also focus on the good shots you’ve made, and continue playing the game to the best of your ability.

The third lesson that tennis teaches you is about good sportsmanship and respect. Nobody likes a sore loser. Everybody has off days, but if you lose, you still have to show your opponent respect by walking up to the net, shaking their hand, and congratulating them on their win.

So the next time you’re stressed out, angry, or just want to exercise, go pick up a racket and head over to the tennis courts.