How to get your Tennis fix during the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) has ravaged the world, halting mass gatherings, shutting down schools and quarantining millions of people in their homes. From a sporting perspective, people are understandably worried as to how they will get their sporting fixes. We have developed a comprehensive guide for fans of all things tennis.

Before we kick-off though, for all the latest accurate, fact-based and critical updates on COVID-19, visit the website of the World Health Organization (WHO). You can also visit other fact-based websites such as The Conversation and John Hopkins University’s Coronavirus map to read and stay up-to-date on the latest regarding the pandemic.

In an attempt to make a positive situation out of the negative COVID-19 crisis, we bring you a list of things to fill your days, be it in self-isolation, quarantine or more time at home, without the live game. So, even though you may not be able to put grab your racket and head to the court, or turn on the TV and witness some phenomenal live games, the Sportageous Editorial team brings you a range of books, movies, documentaries, games, podcasts and YouTube and Social media channels to satisfy your tennis cravings.

Books

Here are our favourite books, which we recommend you give a read:

Tennis fitness for the love of it by Suzanna McGee

Tennis Fitness For the Love of it - Suzanna McGee - Book

A Mindful Approach to Fitness for Injury-Free Tennis

Inner Game of Tennis by W Timothy Gallwey

The Inner Game of Tennis - Timothy Gallwey, book for Covid-19

How to improve your game and discover your true potential by increasing your concentration, willpower and confidence.

Open: Andre Agassi

Open: Andre Agassi Tennis

An autobiography of one of the greatest players in the history of tennis: Andre Agassi.

A Handful Of Summers by Gordon Forbes
Tennis: A Handful of Summers: book for Covid-19

A cult classic, from an era populated by the most colourful tennis players of all time, it’s a delightful read and a favourite of old-school fans.

My life: Queen of the court by Serena Williams

Queen of the court: Tennis book

An autobiography of the most successful female tennis player Serena Williams, few can match her on the court if any, and her story is exactly the same!


Documentaries

Looking for something just as insightful but without the commitment? Well, we have the finest documentaries for you:

Venus And Serena

Venus and Serena - Documentary  for Covid-19

Ever since Venus and Serena Williams started playing tournaments, they’ve provoked strong reactions - from awe and admiration to suspicion and resentment. They’ve been winning.

Strokes Of Genius

Strokes of Genius, Nadal and Federer documentary for Covid-19

The film intertwines Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s lives with their famed 2008 Wimbledon championship - an epic match so close and so reflective of their competitive balance that, in the end, the true winner was the sport itself.

Unmatched

Unmatched Hannah Storm Documentary cover

The first time Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova stepped onto a court together, the world scarcely noticed. Only a few hundred spectators saw the pert 18-year-old beat the scrappy.

Love means Zero

Love Means Zero - Documentary on Tennis for Covid-19

Nick Bollettieri coached a generation of champions, but his relentless desire to win cost him the relationship he valued most.

READ  It's a sad day, Kobe Bryant is no more
In the Realm of Perfection

John McEnroe Documentary

The final of the 1984 French Open between John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl is shown in this documentary at a time when McEnroe was the world’s top-ranked player.

Andy Murray: Resurfacing

Andy Murray Resurfacing: Documentary

A documentary film that tracks the tennis star’s devastating injury journey between 2017-2019.


Movies

You might feel like watching something fictional on the sport you love. Here’s a set of movies that will surely keep you busy and entertained:

Borg Vs McEnroe

Tennis COVID-19 Borg vs McEnroe

The story of the 1980 rivalry between Björn Borg and John McEnroe

7 Days in Hell

7 Days In Hell Tennis

A mockumentary on the rivalry between two of the greatest players of all-time who battled it out in a 2001 match that lasted seven days.

Match Point

Match Point Tennis movie for COVID-19

Chris, a former tennis player, looks for work as an instructor. He meets Tom Hewett, a wealthy young man whose sister Chloe fall in love with Chris. But Chris has his eye on Tom’s fiancee Nola.

Wimbledon

Wimbledon Tennis movie with Kirsten Dunst and Paul Bettany for Covid-19

Wimbledon is a 2004 romantic comedy film directed by Richard Loncraine. The film centres on a washed-up tennis pro named Peter Colt and an up-and-coming tennis star named Lizzie Bradbury during the Wimbledon Championships. The story was inspired by Goran Ivanišević, a Croatian tennis player who won Wimbledon in 2001, becoming the only player to win men’ s singles at Wimbledon with a wild card entry.

Games

When it comes to games, tennis is one of those fortunate sports with a range of console/PC and phone games to help you feel like you’re in it to win it:

Virtua Tennis
Virtua Tennis game on Sega for Covid-19

Virtua Tennis revolutionised these games, in part, through thumbing its nose into realism. Sega did what Sega always does and transformed the sport into a breezy, arcade experience, with speedy games, intuitive controls, and a selection of bizarre mini-games to help you train. This is the latest version of that series.

Top Spin 4
Topspin 4 classic tennis game

Top Spin evolved as a series that took over the Virtua series’ success by adding an extensive career mode and player customisations.

Tennis (1984)

Tennis (1984) for COVID-19

One of the early ventures of Nintendo into Tennis, and a classic. It was on point. With different levels of difficulty, the game required skill and clever thinking for success. It was way ahead of its time, and definitely still worth another play!

Wii Sport
Wii Sports Tennis for Covid-19

A modern-day classic which includes some excellent play. Wii is known to make good family games, and the tennis in Wii Sports is fun. Find your old Wii and get your family to play along!

3D Tennis
3D Tennis game for phone

3D Tennis is the only tennis game based on 3D Physics. It offers fast and fluid control mode, all you have to do is swipe your finger to hit or slice the ball and of course, it is available on your phone!

READ  Anna Davey: Professional climber, lawyer and coach

YouTube Channels

Of course, watching highlights, short videos and compilations of some of the best content, from training to techniques and tactics can be found on our friendly neighbourhood video service, YouTube:

Tennis TV

The official Tennis TV YouTube channel, home of the best ATP videos and highlights. They bring you the match highlights and action from the ATP Tour all year round plus, unprecedented behind the scenes access to the biggest stars.

ATPWorldTour

Official Channel of the ATP Tour. Amazing hotshots, player interviews and fun features from 64 tournaments in 30 countries.

Essential Tennis - Lessons and Instruction for Passionate Players

At Essential Tennis, you will find countless video lessons covering every possible part of the great game. Browse the hundreds of full motion and super slow motion pro clips of players like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic. Whether you want a lesson on topspin or a detailed analysis of Federer’s forehand you’ll find it all here at Essential Tennis.

Feel Tennis Instruction

Tennis instruction videos helping you develop basic and more advanced technique through feel based drills and exercises.

Women’s tennis association

The official home of Women’s Professional Tennis. All the best clips and all the highlights available here!


Social Media Channels

They may not be providing you with live updates (for obvious reasons), but here are some awesome Social media channels to check out on tennis:

ATP Tour

View this post on Instagram

Listen to Roger. #washyourhands and stay safe.

A post shared by ATP Tour (@atptour) on

WTA

View this post on Instagram

?‍♀️

A post shared by WTA (@wta) on

Tennis TV

Tennis Channel

Tennis


You can also donate to support the response to COVID-19 through the WHO’s COVID-19 response fund. Additionally, you can download [email protected] which utilises your computer power to fund research into COVID-19.

For more, visit Sportageous

Click on the sport, to check out our similar, comprehensive guides; cricket, squashfootball, climbing

Hope you enjoyed this feature!
Click below to share with family & friends