Hugh Englehart – Contributor

Tennis club at Bishop’s is one of the most fun clubs at Bishop’s University. One of the reasons you should join tennis is because studies have shown that this sport increases your lifespan by almost a decade. This year, we have also added pickleball. This sport is new, but very exciting, so come and play to have a chance at being known as the best pickler at Bishop’s.

As a sport, tennis is a great stress reducer as it is a physical activity that gets all of your muscles involved. If you struggle with hand-eye coordination, tennis might help improve this, while also working on your timing, and patience. Now let’s address the stereotypes or fears you may associate with tennis. For example, over the top grunting – although this is very common in professional tennis players – we do not have a ‘no grunting’ rule. You might also associate tennis as being a very expensive sport; however, the tennis club has no fees. In fact, students who are interested in tennis can come to our open practices and borrow the rackets and return them. For pickleball, students can go to the sports complex and give their identification, they are then given a racket to return at the end of the night. 

Another fantastic aspect of tennis is its ability to build mental toughness and resilience. When you’re out on the court, you’re constantly adapting to your opponent’s strategy, dealing with pressure, and overcoming challenges—whether it’s a tough rally, a bad serve, or losing a game. These moments teach you how to stay focused and determined, skills that are valuable not just in tennis but in life as well. Playing tennis regularly also helps improve concentration and self-discipline, making it a perfect sport for students looking to balance academics with physical activity. Plus, tennis encourages personal growth as you learn from each match and improve your skills over time.

A new feature we are adding this year is a league system that will allow players to be independent and play matches once a week, which will show who is the best Bishop’s University tennis player. Tennis is a sport most people end up playing later in their lives and they always ask, “why didn’t I start earlier?” Don’t be one of these people who wished they started earlier. Another great benefit of tennis is that here at Bishop’s, we will accept any tennis level of player, even if you’ve never heard of tennis!

The tennis club will play in any temperature, but not in any weather: rain and snow stop us unfortunately. If you are looking to find the tennis courts, you can walk or drive to the Maxi, and then go up the hill where you will find the courts right above Lennoxville Elementary School. If anyone is interested in tennis lessons from a professional coach, you can reach out to the tennis club’s Instagram (@bishopstennisclub).