Hoorah – it’s Wimbledon again!
We love; huge servings of strawberries and cream, chilled bubbly, Murray-Mania and wondering if Nadal’s constant pant tugging is nerves or a bad fit…
So, you’re looking for a game, set and love match? Might be time to court a tennis date. But before we hear you cry ‘You cannot be serious!’ hear us out. Getting a bit hot and sweaty on a date, while also injecting a bit of friendly competition can be a damn fine way to get to know someone better. Are they competitive? Good with their hands? A gracious loser? Looking good in shorts? Here are Lovestruck’s top five tips to acing yourself a tennis date (we hope you’ll ‘love all’)
Dress for the occasion
You don’t have to go out and buy a new tennis skirt complete with those strange ball-holding pockets or neon white tennis shoes, just make sure you’re wearing something suitably sporty that allows you to move. Heading out in your PE kit from back in your school days is likely to end in disaster (or a ripped crotch seam). If you haven’t played tennis since your were at school, it might be advisable to book a lesson or rope in one of your mates for a knock around before the date. Erm, and take note, not everyone looks their best in tight white.
Come prepared
Make sure you bring some water and an extra bottle for your date (thoughtful, huh?) You can even pack one of those cool mini-towels that all the Wimbledon gang seem to love for brow-mopping mid-set. Maybe even throw caution to the wind and pack some strawberries and bubbles for afterwards.
Save the overhead smash
Yes you might think you are the next Andy Murray or Serena Williams but start slowly with a rally to determine the playing level of your date. If you’re a lot better than them the decent thing to do is to tone it down a bit, miss the odd shot and allow them to odd third (or fourth) serve. A badly overhead smash to your date’s face is a definite no-no.
You cannot be serious!
Whatever you do, don’t go all John McEnroe when things aren’t quite going your way. Spoilt ‘brat’ is a bad look on a date. Smile, complement your date’s killer backhand, and return the ball as effectively as you can. Use your poor serve as an excuse to ask them to guide you and your racket in the right way.
Have fun
This is the aim of dating, right? Fool around, laugh a lot and enjoy. We say battle it out until the bitter end! You can’t lose!
Ps. If you’re a bit scared of the real thing, head to a Ping Pong bar, like Holborn’s Bounce, which describes itself as a gin palace come ping pong hall, or Earl’s Court’s Ping, dubbed “the next big ping”.
Can you name some famous tennis couples?
Remind us @lovestruck
