Make no mistake: professional tennis players are in good shape. Among other things, the best tennis players must have explosive speed and agility, full-body strength, excellent hand-eye coordination, and excellent shot placement. And aerobic endurance: many matches, such as those at Wimbledon, last for several hours in hot conditions. Many of them are also fantastic runners – just look at Britain’s Cam Norrie, who clocks impressive 10k times.
But will all this disappear when players retire? In Tim Henman’s case, no. The 51-year-old hasn’t aged much since he hung up his racket and retired from professional tennis 19 years ago – and that’s largely thanks to his approach to fitness.
Although he now spends most of his time covering tennis, as a commentator and pundit, and as a board member at Wimbledon, Henman still finds a place for his sporting pursuits and believes that “being active will always be part of my personality.” This helps him maintain a consistent and effective training regime, which is especially valuable as he prepares for his next big role at the Laver Cup. Come on Tim!
How Henman stays in shape at 50
“I have a gym at home and I try to exercise regularly because it makes me feel a lot better,” Henman said. Men’s health. “But one of my passions is wine. So if I have a few glasses of wine (need to treat myself) it definitely motivates me to go to the gym. I’ve always played sports and I think it’s good for me both physically and mentally.”
But that doesn’t mean Henman does brutal workouts or has specific goals in mind. Instead, he prefers a simple daily routine that supports his lifestyle and helps him cope with the wear and tear accumulated during his tennis career.
“I don’t run as much anymore,” he said. “We have dogs at home, so I walk them a lot, and if I’m at tournaments or working, I walk on the incline treadmill. Then it’s just a good combination of weights and core work. I’m not trying to run marathons – I’m just trying to stay in relatively good shape.” (But never say never, Tim: the marathon bug can strike anyone.)
“I understand my body and know what I can and can’t do, especially because I’ve had three elbow surgeries and shoulder surgery. So I’m a little careful with these joints.
“Posture is very important for shoulder health. I focus on resistance band exercises to make sure my back is strong and I maintain good posture. Then the core is so important that I try to stay strong in planks and side planks as much as possible.”
Henman’s next chapter at the Laver Cup
Henman’s approach to fitness has changed dramatically over the past two decades. Where he once played tennis every day, he now admits he’ll be lucky to hit the court twice a year. Golf is now his sporting obsession.
However, Henman’s passion for tennis remains, especially as he prepares to return as Team Europe vice-captain for the Laver Cup this September at the O2 Stadium.
“I’m so excited,” he said. “I first experienced the Laver Cup at the O2 when Roger Federer was retiring. I had never seen this event live and was probably a bit skeptical at that stage. But I worked there on television and during those three days I was completely blown away by the presentation of the event, the intensity of the players and the quality of the matches.
“Tennis is an individual sport and players spend much of the year competing on their own,” he added. “But I can’t think of a player, male or female, who doesn’t enjoy being in a team environment from time to time.
“The way the Laver Cup has developed and grown is special and Federer deserves a lot of credit for that vision.
“With an arena like The O2, it is one of the biggest venues in tennis. There will be 17,000 or 18,000 people there and the atmosphere under the roof will be incredible.”
This year’s Laver Cup will take place at The O2 in London from 25 to 27 September and will attract many of the world’s biggest tennis stars. Tickets are on sale now through AXS, The O2’s official ticketing partner. For more information, visit lavercup.com.