Life on the Road

I hadn’t travelled to play a tennis tournament for awhile and it was interesting to experience the rhythms of life on the road . Here are three things I learnt, or rather, re-learnt.

1.    Lack of sleep. No matter how much tennis you play during the day sleep doesn’t come easily at night. Replaying the day’s matches and anticipating tomorrow’s keeps you tossing and turning. Being in a new place, having new experiences, seems to double your energy level. I remember one player on the circuit who used to go to bed at 9 pm but invariably rise in the early hours and pace the streets until light. At the ripe old age of 20, Boris Becker became addicted to sleeping pills. (Which was why he had that annoying cough on the court.) I can see why. Next time I’ll bring a relaxation CD.

2.    Waiting. Most of the day is spent waiting and doing menial tasks: Re-gripping rackets, filling up water bottles and adding electrolyte tablets, icing sore body parts, looking through your racket bag for the hundredth time for a lost sweatband, making small talk with other players, snacking, watching matches, trying not to think about your match. For some reason I can’t read a book before a match – takes too much concentration – so the days are long and are spent making sure everything is ready for those few hours you’re actually on court. And if it rains – the waiting only gets worse.

3.    Worry. Problems seem to get amplified on the road. A sore knee, a slippery court, a lost sweatband – any number of things can get into your head. Dealing with distractions is one of the big challenges, and quickly summing up what you can and can’t change is the key to keeping stress levels under control.

Also, sleeping in a lumpy pub bed makes you appreciate home.