Why are tennis players so good at football?

The US Open recently concluded with victories for Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively. The competition not only solidified the former’s status and brought the latter closer to the top of the WTA rankings, currently held by Iga Świątek, but also highlighted their soccer skills: Sinner's acute ball control with volleys and Sabalenka's martial-arts-like move, which might have reminded some of Zlatan Ibrahimović due to her coordination. But this comes as no surprise, as we’ve always known about tennis players' proficiency in football: Roger Federer never hid it, just like the young Carlos Alcaraz. The same can be said for Rafael Nadal, who perhaps showcased his football skills more than anyone else. On YouTube, there’s a video compiling his skills, both on and off the tennis court. In short, even though none of these names have attempted a debut in football – not quite like Usain Bolt – it's fair to ask why tennis players are so interested in football, but also so good at it. The main reasons are twofold: one is psychological, and the other is decidedly more technical.

The Psychological Reason

In his famous work Tennis as a Religious Experience, American writer David Foster Wallace focuses on describing the plays of his sports idol, Roger Federer, highlighting all the impeccable grace and elegance of his refined moves. This demonstrates how class, combined with technique, is a crucial element for the world's best athletes, who are obsessed with perfecting a kind of poetry in motion. This is where tennis players' compulsive desire to showcase their football skills comes in, as they try to escape from the composure they are practically forced into. Hitting the ball with their feet instead of the usual racket, while still maintaining impressive elegance; imagining themselves, even for a moment, away from the solitude of a tennis player. football, too – particularly some athletes – pays specific attention to elegance, but by nature remains a freer sport, not confined by the perception fans have of it.

The Technical Reason

Let’s explore all the technical and movement similarities that bring tennis and football closer together. First of all, tennis players are known for their quick footwork, which is essential for effectively returning shots across the court. This agility naturally translates to football, improving a player's ability to navigate around opponents, make quick changes of direction, and maintain balance in challenging situations. Another obvious parallel between tennis and football is agility and reflexes. Tennis demands quick lateral movements and instant assessments in response to unpredictable or well-executed shots, which frequently occur in football as well.

The Training Approach

Another reason lies in training, once again bringing up the much-debated topic of the solitude of the tennis player. Tennis is unique in that it always involves individual training sessions focused on improving the athlete's basic skills and technique. This tendency to train solo can be a valuable asset in football, especially in positions with greater responsibility, such as goalkeeper or central defender. Introducing individual exercises inspired by those used in tennis could therefore enhance a football player's ability to perform under pressure, showcasing greater composure during critical moments of a match.

Brands like Nike – a major player in both tennis and football – have attempted over the years to create a parallel narrative between the two sports. We remember the famous ad featuring Rafael Nadal and Cristiano Ronaldo facing off on a tennis court using both racket and feet. All of this makes us hopeful that in the future, there will be room to experiment and see if these two sports really share enough similarities to lead to concrete results on the field.