The Copenhagen City Heart Study
In 2018, a landmark study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings made headlines around the world. Researchers analyzing data from the Copenhagen City Heart Study—which followed more than 8,500 people over 25 years—found something remarkable: tennis players lived significantly longer than participants in any other sport.
The Key Finding
+9.7 years
Tennis adds an average of 9.7 years to life expectancy compared to sedentary individuals. This exceeds all other sports studied by a significant margin.
To put this in perspective, here's how other activities compared:
| Sport/Activity | Years Added to Life |
|---|---|
| Tennis | +9.7 years |
| Badminton | +6.2 years |
| Soccer | +4.7 years |
| Cycling | +3.7 years |
| Swimming | +3.4 years |
| Jogging | +3.2 years |
| Calisthenics | +3.1 years |
| Health Club Activities | +1.5 years |
Why Tennis? The Social Hypothesis
The researchers were initially puzzled. Why would tennis—which provides moderate cardiovascular exercise—outperform activities like jogging or cycling that can provide more intense workouts?
The answer, they concluded, lies in the social component of tennis.
Dr. James O'Keefe, a cardiologist at Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute and one of the study's authors, explained: "We know from other research that social support provides stress-buffering. Mutual caring and support through social connections, like those you get from a tennis group, is one of the most important factors in improving healthspan and longevity."
The Social Factor
Notice that the top three activities—tennis, badminton, and soccer—are all social sports that require other people. The bottom of the list (health club activities) represents largely solitary exercise. The pattern suggests that who you exercise with may matter as much as how you exercise.
The Perfect Storm of Benefits
Tennis provides a unique combination of factors that contribute to longevity:
1. Social Interaction
Tennis requires partners and opponents. Doubles tennis, in particular, involves communication, teamwork, and regular interaction with a consistent group of people. These social bonds provide psychological benefits that extend far beyond the court.
2. Moderate Intensity
While tennis can be intense, it's generally more sustainable than high-impact activities. The interval nature of the sport—bursts of activity followed by rest— mirrors what many experts consider optimal exercise patterns.
3. Mental Engagement
Tennis requires constant mental engagement: strategy, reading opponents, adapting to conditions, and making split-second decisions. This cognitive stimulation may contribute to brain health and reduce dementia risk.
4. Lifelong Accessibility
Unlike high-impact sports, tennis can be played well into old age. Many players continue playing competitively into their 70s, 80s, and beyond. This longevity of participation is itself a factor in longevity of life.
5. Enjoyment Factor
People stick with activities they enjoy. Tennis's game-like nature makes it intrinsically motivating. The fun factor leads to consistent participation, which is ultimately what determines health outcomes.
Additional Research Support
The Copenhagen study isn't alone in finding tennis beneficial. Other research supports these findings:
British Journal of Sports Medicine (2016)
A study of 80,306 British adults found that racquet sports were associated with a 47% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 56% lower risk of cardiovascular death compared to non-participants.
European Society of Cardiology (2018)
Research presented at the ESC Congress found that tennis players had better cardiovascular health markers across all age groups, including lower blood pressure, better lipid profiles, and improved heart function.
Harvard Health (Ongoing)
Harvard researchers have consistently highlighted tennis as one of the best exercises for overall health, particularly praising its combination of aerobic exercise, muscle strengthening, and social engagement.
Doubles Tennis: Maximizing the Benefits
While any tennis is beneficial, doubles tennis may offer additional advantages:
- More social interaction: Four people instead of two means more relationships
- More accessible: Less court coverage makes it easier for older players
- Team dynamics: Partnership adds another layer of social connection
- Rotation opportunities: Playing with different partners expands your network
- Lower intensity: Shared court coverage reduces physical demands
The Monday Tennis Connection
This research is part of why we built Monday Tennis. We believe that what makes tennis special isn't just the exercise—it's the community.
By making it easy to track matches, maintain fair rotations, and keep your group engaged, Monday Tennis helps strengthen the social bonds that research shows are so vital. Every leaderboard update, every fair partnership, every season you track together— it all reinforces the community that makes tennis so good for you.
Making It Count: Consistency Matters
The research is clear: the benefits come from regular, sustained participation. Playing tennis once a month won't transform your health. But playing weekly with a consistent group? That's where the magic happens.
The Copenhagen study found that the longevity benefits were dose-dependent—more tennis meant more years added. But even 1-2 hours per week showed significant benefits.
This is why tracking matters. When you can see your progress, celebrate your wins, and feel part of a community, you're more likely to show up week after week, year after year. And that consistency is what translates research findings into real-life longevity benefits.
The Bottom Line
If you're looking for an activity that combines physical exercise, mental stimulation, social connection, and fun—all while potentially adding years to your life—tennis is hard to beat.
The science is compelling. The benefits are real. And with apps like Monday Tennis making it easier than ever to build and maintain a thriving tennis community, there's never been a better time to pick up a racquet.
Your future self will thank you.
Sources
- Schnohr P, et al. "Various Leisure-Time Physical Activities Associated With Widely Divergent Life Expectancies." Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 2018.
- Oja P, et al. "Associations of specific types of sports and exercise with all-cause and cardiovascular-disease mortality." British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2016.
- European Society of Cardiology. ESC Congress 2018 research presentations.