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A healthy diet contributes to a player’s peak performance. Whether it is for a club championship or practice, what is good for the health is also generally good for the player.
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Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic, for example, credits his success to a strict diet of mostly warm foods. Mardy Fish, on the other hand, has ditched eating pizzas and burgers to become slimmer and sleeker, which he credits for his mobility.
Following this, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) promotes “Eating Right” as a way to improve performance, delay feelings of fatigue, and reduce a player’s vulnerability to injury and illness. The ITF lays out the following tips for tennis players:
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• For pro players or for those who actively play tennis, a person is predicted to need between 3500 to 5000 calories a day.
• Players are encouraged to consume four primary nutrient categories, including fluids, electrolytes, carbohydrates, and protein.
• Best liquids and beverages include water, seltzer, club soda, mineral water, flavored water. Players, however, should stay away from diuretics like caffeinated beverages and alcohol.
• Carbohydrates—found in cereal, bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, legumes, and fruits, vegetables, and sports products—should represent approximately 60 percent of the calories in one’s diet.
• Proteins, those that are easy to digest like fish and vegetables, help players recover between matches. Players are encouraged to consume protein within 30 minutes after tennis play.
Learn more about tennis by visiting this Tom Phanco YouTube channel.
