Herts &amp; Beds


<p>With Wimbledon well underway (30 Jun – 13 Jul), it&#8217;s all too easy to watch the action from the sidelines. But put down that punnet of strawberries and glass of Champagne and step onto the court instead. After all, tennis is the holy grail of fun workouts. Don&#8217;t just take our word for it. We spoke to former GB player and tennis coach Roisin Mullins from&nbsp;<a href="https://winchesterracquetsandfitness.net/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Winchester Racquets &amp; Fitness Club</a>&nbsp;to learn why tennis is so great for both mind and body.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/tenniscover1-1000x667.jpg" alt="tennis player" class="wp-image-91205" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/tenniscover1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/tenniscover1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/tenniscover1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-strengthening">STRENGTHENING</h2>



<p>Nadal’s quads. Enough said. Just flicking Wimbledon on for a microsecond should be enough to convince you that tennis certainly knows how to get you out of puff (hello cardio!) and work muscles into a frenzy. “Tennis is incredible for strengthening as it is so legs based” says Roisin. “Everything comes from the ground. It’s all about leg drive, hip rotation, core rotation, stabilising, accelerating, de accelerating.” </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fun">FUN</h2>



<p>It’s one of the world’s most popular sports for a reason. “Fun, dynamic, competitive, unpredictable, chaotic – it’s such a fun form of exercise,’ says Roisin. “And while, yes, it can be frustrating, it’s also really rewarding when you get it right. Who doesn’t like winning?” Additionally, the nature of the sport means it’s entirely ever changing, and no two games will ever be the same. Whether you’re riding solo or teaming up with a partner, there’s a lot of flexibility to play how you like. Time to pull on the competitive hat it seems.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/tennisballresize-1000x667.jpg" alt="Tennis ball and racquet" class="wp-image-91196" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/tennisballresize-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/tennisballresize-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/tennisballresize.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social">SOCIAL</h2>



<p>Local tennis clubs are&nbsp;<em>the</em>&nbsp;place to put yourself out there and meet new people. Roisin says, “tennis really is a sisterhood sport. At our club, we have so many women playing, like in our ladies’ mornings and mix-ins, and it creates quite a safe environment for women to play. My team are my oldest friends and I’ve seen first hand people at the club making friends for life.”</p>



<p>Want to bring the whole fam? You can do that too. “There’s also a lot of parents that put their kids on a court next to them and then mum and dad play while the kids are hitting balls at the same time, so it’s also a fantastic family sport,” she adds.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-low-impact">LOW IMPACT</h2>



<p>Joint-friendly and suitable for all. No matter your age or fitness level, you can pick up a racquet at any age. Roisin says, “I coach one lady who’s 78 and is an incredible tennis player, but she doesn’t move as much and it’s more tactical.” Surfaces like grass are a lot softer underfoot which help cushion joints and makes it a lot less harder on your body than running or other racket sports like squash too. “Obviously there’s a lot of change of direction, but it’s not that repetition like in running where you’re hitting the same part of your knee every time,” explains Roisin. “It also really depends how much you are playing.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/Tennisgear-1000x1000.jpg" alt="Tennis outfit" class="wp-image-91197" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/Tennisgear-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/Tennisgear-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/Tennisgear-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/Tennisgear-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/Tennisgear-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/07/Tennisgear.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-gear">THE GEAR</h2>



<p>Who can resist the flattering combo of a mini skirt and crop top? Tennis offers some of the hottest clothing in the sporting game, so every excuse to make like the court is your runway. We’re currently lusting over the fits from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.toryburch.com/en-gb/sport/clothing/view-all/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tory Burch</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://uk.varley.com/collections/club" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Varley</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mytheresa.com/gb/en/women/designers/the-upside?dplink=true&amp;chn=aff1&amp;src=linkshare&amp;cmp=aff_linksh_uk&amp;tarea=gb&amp;pub_id=2116208&amp;pub_name=Skimlinks.com&amp;pub_type=2116208&amp;ptyp=10&amp;ranMID=35663&amp;ranSiteID=TnL5HPStwNw-1IAfGDoYuHfiY7FRZbGM2g&amp;lpcr=pdptrecoaff&amp;utm_source=affiliate&amp;utm_medium=affiliate_linkshare_uk&amp;PID=2116208&amp;utm_content=2116208&amp;ranMID=35663&amp;ranEAID=TnL5HPStwNw&amp;ranSiteID=TnL5HPStwNw-1IAfGDoYuHfiY7FRZbGM2g&amp;slink_id=f5bd7964-5fc5-4ea0-ada2-7fbe6e1730ca&amp;slink=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Upside</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lululemon.co.uk/en-gb/search?q=tennis&amp;lang=en_GB&amp;searchType=manualSearch&amp;sz=48" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lululemon</a>. It’s courtside cool personified.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-to-play-near-you">Where to play near you</h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hertfordshire-non-members">Hertfordshire, non-members</h2>



<p><a href="https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/HoddesdonLawnTennisClub">Hoddesdon Lawn Tennis Club</a> &#8211; 6 floodlit all-weather courts</p>



<p><a href="https://wodsonpark.com/">Wodson Park, Ware</a> &#8211; 2 floodlit hard courts</p>



<p><a href="https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/welwyn/gosling-sports-park/tennis#GTCourtHire">Gosling Sports Park</a>, Welwyn Garden City &#8211; 10 indoor courts, 5 outdoor courts</p>



<p><a href="https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/welwyn-hatfield/king-george-v-playing-fields?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=google_my_business">King George V Playing Fields</a>, Welwyn &#8211; 2 floodlit outdoor courts</p>



<p><a href="https://www.shephalburyparktennis.org.uk/">Shephalbury Park Tennis</a>, Stevenage &#8211; 5 outdoor courts</p>



<p><a href="https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/HitchinTennisClub/AboutUs/PayandPlay">Hitchin Tennis Club</a> &#8211; 3 floodlit outdoor courts</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bedfordshire-non-members">Bedfordshire, non-members</h2>



<p>(Gain unlimited access to these tennis venues with an annual pass, £40)</p>



<p><a href="https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/AddisonHowardPark">Addidson Howard Park</a>, Bedford &#8211; 3 outdoor hard courts</p>



<p><a href="https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/AllenPark">Allen Park</a>, Bedford &#8211; 2 outdoor hard courts</p>



<p><a href="https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/BedfordPark">Bedford Park</a>, Bedford &#8211; 3 outdoor hard courts</p>



<p><a href="https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/linden-road-tennis-courts">Linden Road Tennis Courts</a>, Bedford &#8211; 3 outdoor hard courts</p>



<p><a href="https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/mowsbury-park">Mowsbury Park</a>, Bedford &#8211; 4 outdoor hard courts</p>



<p><a href="https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/RussellPark2">Russell Park</a>, Bedford &#8211; 2 outdoor hard courts</p>



<p><a href="https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/southfields-park-bedford">Southfields Park</a>, Bedford &#8211; 3 outdoor hard courts</p>



<p><a href="https://memorial.lutonparkstennis.org.uk/">Luton Parks Tennis</a>, Hoo Memorial Park &#8211; 3 outdoor hard courts</p>



<p><a href="https://lewsey.lutonparkstennis.org.uk/?venue=lewsey_lutonparkstennis_org_uk">Lewsey Park</a>, Luton &#8211; 1 outdoor hard court</p>



<p> </p>


Why tennis is the most fun all-rounder workout

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