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Why do tennis players get old faster than any other sport
Posted on 7/19/12 at 9:30 am
Posted on 7/19/12 at 9:30 am
Other sports players excell well into their 30's. Tennis players are pretty much done by the time they are 30. I know speed and quickness play a big part in tennis, but so do they in football, basketball, etc.
15
Posted on 7/19/12 at 9:32 am to GonePecan
5-8 hours of an intense tennis match without a break is probably worst on the body than 2-3 hours of football/basketball with Halftime, possesion changes/fouls, and timeouts.
Posted on 7/19/12 at 9:34 am to GonePecan
They have one of the longest seasons
Posted on 7/19/12 at 9:35 am to wildtigercat93
yeah....you gotta think of what they are putting their body through match after match...........
then think of how long they have been playing prior to pro games. i'm pretty sure they start playing young as shite in amateur tennis matches.
then think of how long they have been playing prior to pro games. i'm pretty sure they start playing young as shite in amateur tennis matches.
Posted on 7/19/12 at 9:36 am to GonePecan
quote:
Other sports players excell well into their 30's.
You'll be surprised at how few players in other sports excel well into their 30s.
Think about it. The average career in the NFL is what, 4 years? You get in the league at 22-23, you're done by 26-27.
How many NBA players do you see "excelling" in their 30s? it's really a handful. Most of their peak is in their 20s.
It's really no different in the other sports.
Posted on 7/19/12 at 9:40 am to GonePecan
The average set is roughly a mile. Considering how much wear they put on their bodies each day getting to that level and then playing at the highest level. I don't see it as a shock that they quicker and earlier then other sports.
Posted on 7/19/12 at 9:55 am to Sophandros
quote:
Think about it. The average career in the NFL is what, 4 years? You get in the league at 22-23, you're done by 26-27.
I think that has to do more with injuries than losing their game.
quote:
How many NBA players do you see "excelling" in their 30s? it's really a handful. Most of their peak is in their 20s.
I don't really follow the NBA anymore, but it seems like Barkley, Malone, Bird, Magic, Kareem, Jordan, Stockton, just off the top of my head, did pretty well.
This post was edited on 7/19/12 at 10:00 am
Posted on 7/19/12 at 9:58 am to GonePecan
quote:
Why do swimmers get old faster than any other sport
FIFY
Posted on 7/19/12 at 10:01 am to Tiger1242
female gymnasts 
Posted on 7/19/12 at 10:03 am to GonePecan
quote:
I don't really follow the NBA anymore, but it seems like Barkley, Malone, Bird, Magic, Kareem, Jordan, Stockton, just off the top of my head, did pretty well.
And those guys were the outliers. The overwhelming majority of basketball players, just like tennis players, peak in their 20s.
The only sport where guys don't peak in their 20s is golf.
Posted on 7/19/12 at 10:07 am to GonePecan
quote:
I don't really follow the NBA anymore, but it seems like Barkley, Malone, Bird, Magic, Kareem, Jordan, Stockton, just off the top of my head, did pretty well.
You at the list you gave, and then think about the thousands of other players who never even make it to 30. In football most players get out early due to injuries, mental or physical. Basketball is the same way, or the player really wasn't good enough to last the league.
Posted on 7/19/12 at 10:09 am to saintsfan92612
quote:
female gymnasts
They've pretty much shot their wad by 14.
Posted on 7/19/12 at 10:09 am to saintsfan92612
quote:
female gymnasts
this is actually what occurred to me
do they even make it into their twenties?
not that it's a sport
Posted on 7/19/12 at 10:12 am to Tiger1242
You're right. Swimming is another good one.
Posted on 7/19/12 at 10:13 am to Sophandros
And distance endurance sports. The best ironman triathlete in the world right now is 39
Posted on 7/19/12 at 10:13 am to GonePecan
They also start at a very young age professionally...like gymnasts...so a 30 year old tennis player has had a 16 or so year career.
Posted on 7/19/12 at 10:29 am to Sophandros
quote:
And those guys were the outliers. The overwhelming majority of basketball players, just like tennis players, peak in their 20s.
I think what most people are commenting on is the almost Titanic-esque collapse tennis players take when they get in their late 20s/30s. Many times they're no longer even on your whereas numerous players from other sports play well into their 30s and some early 40s.
Ask any sports medicine person and they'll tell you tennis is easily the worst sport to play for your knees and lower body. Nothing but stop and start running for 4+ hours (and in the US almost exclusively on unforgiving hard surfaces) is horrible for a person. This also doesn't taken into account that the season is basically 11 months long.
McEnroe has been clamoring for a shortened season for years to help with the longevity of players. It's a damn marathon of a season.
Posted on 7/19/12 at 11:07 am to GonePecan
They start playing earlier. By the time the top players bodies start to mature and build muscle, they've hit their peak. Plus, I think tennis is really hard on the joints. (knees and elbows)
Posted on 7/19/12 at 11:18 am to Sophandros
quote:
The average career in the NFL is what, 4 years? You get in the league at 22-23, you're done by 26-27.
I'll concede that NFL running backs have an equal or shorter shelf life than pro tennis players. But that's the only position.
How old is Peyton Manning? How old is Tom Brady? Ray Lewis? How old was Rod Woodson when he led the league in picks? How long did Jerry Rice play? Tim Brown? Owens?
quote:
How many NBA players do you see "excelling" in their 30s? it's really a handful. Most of their peak is in their 20s.
How much time do you have?
quote:
It's really no different in the other sports.
Top notch analysis.
Posted on 7/19/12 at 11:22 am to Suntiger
quote:
Plus, I think tennis is really hard on the joints. (knees and elbows)
Ehh. Ankles are more of an issue in Tennis. All the lateral movement and violent cuts to get back in position after every shot.
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