Michael Jones--Tennis from Coast to Coast

Michael Jones has earned 'Veteran' status after playing 25 matches as a member of Tennis Los Angeles. Michael grew up in the northwestern part of England, and in 2012 moved to North Carolina. He lived on the beach for a few years and traded in the Atlantic for the Pacific, and now resides in sunny Southern California.

He works as a server in lovely Santa Monica and in addition to playing tennis enjoys hiking in the area.

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Thanks Michael for joining us. We want to share your experience with TennisLosAngeles.com, a division of the Tennis League Network franchise, as well as a few additional questions about yourself. To get started, when did you first begin playing tennis and what has kept you going?

I started playing tennis approximately 8 years ago. I actually started at a later age, but it has really grown on me. I love everything about tennis. Singles and doubles. To me it doesn't matter who I play as long as I'm playing and staying competitive.

Which league are you a member of and how long have you been participating in it? Also, how did you end up finding out about us?

I haven't been in Los Angeles for long so decided to do some research about tennis leagues and LA. I luckily came across this one on the Internet.

Currently, I am a member of the elite division in Tennis Los Angeles.
I am currently rated 4.5 in the elite league although I originally thought I was a 3.5 but my game has improved so much in 2016.

I'm definitely glad I discovered this league. It is diverse and gives everyone the chance to play people at their level. I believe tennis is for everyone, whether you are beginner or advanced. The more you play the more you improve.

Glad to hear that! And how often are you playing, in general and with the league? 

I try to play 4-5 times a week. The more I play the more I improve. I like the fact that the league is flexible. I am able to find players at my level and can contact them directly to set up matches convenient for both me and the opponent.

After getting a number of matches under your belt, would you consider any of your opponents rivals?

One of my biggest rivals is Tim Griffin from the elite league. The first time I played him I lost in three sets in February. That pushed me to work harder on my game. Since then I've beat him three times. I'm definitely doing something right.

When it comes to pro tennis, who are your favorite pro players? Why?

My favorite pro is Andy Murray. I admire his playing style. He reminds me of myself, I like to think I get a lot of balls back in play. Tennis is not only physical. It is mental. I've had bad days and good days. I remember last year I lost a match and didn't play for two months. I have definitely matured over the last six months in terms of tennis. I motivate myself everyday to play. Some days I play three matches, if I had a choice I would play everyday several times. It's my passion!

Great stuff Michael, and thank you again for taking the time to do this interview. Have fun out there this Spring!

You’re Never Too Old to Play Tennis by Bryan Rosethal

Too often people give up physical activity as they age. Whether it’s achy joints or a lack of time, there are too many reasons people feel like they don’t have time to stay in shape. Tennis is no exception.

People see pro tennis players gliding back and forth across the court and think that they’re too old for that. This is not true!

In fact, tennis is a fantastic sport to play at any age especially as you get older. One of the reasons many people get started playing tennis is because they know it’s a game they can play the rest of their life.

Whether you’re looking to get started at an older age, or want to learn how to stay healthy while playing tennis, read these tips:

Preventing Injuries

A lot of older people are worried about getting injured or aggravating a preexisting injury when starting a new sport or physical activity. Tennis is one of the safest sports out there, and a perfect fit for all fitness levels.

That said, tennis injuries can happen. These may include a twisted ankle, tennis elbow, or wrist pain. Whether it’s an acute injury, or long-term pain do not wait to treat it!

Hopefully you won’t get injured playing tennis, but you should always be prepared. In general, you can help prevent injuries by staying in great shape. This may include doing regular agility drills, yoga, weight lifting, or even just walking. You’ll have to tailor your workout routine to any preexisting health conditions and your current fitness level. Injuries occur often because the body is not equipped to take on new physical stress, so you must adequately prepare your body beforehand.

Additionally, you should warm-up before any match. When your muscles are cold, you put yourself at greater risk of injury during a match. A warm-up routine should include head to toe exercises including stretching, jumping jacks, arm circles to name a few examples. Rallying back and forth with a partner is important to not just for your technique, but to acclimate to running back and forth on the court.

Proper Nutrition

Diet is so important for so many reasons. It determines our weight, our energy levels and even things like joint and bone health that many of us don’t think about. If you’re going to be an active tennis player, you must make sure to have a healthy, balanced diet to provide enough energy, but not cause fat gain.

Additionally, you always want to stay hydrated—both on and off the court.

Finding Partners

A lot of 40+ players may be scratching their head at where to find players. Definitely keep an eye on your local league as we hope to running 40+ leagues in most cities by 2017. Instead of looking to join an expensive tennis club, check out the Tennis League Network’s …to check out the competition in your area.