As the sound of a tennis ball echoes across the court, something else happens beyond the baseline—players let go of their stress, sharpen their focus, and find a surprising sense of calm. In a world where stress can feel unrelenting, one swing of a racket can make all the difference.

At The Columbus School in Medellín, students and coaches are discovering how tennis strengthens both body and mind—on and off the court. Far more than a competitive sport, tennis has become a form of “therapy in motion.” With its ability to boost brain function, reduce anxiety, and build resilience, it’s a powerful tool for wellness. This article explores how the sport supports mental and physical strength through expert insight and real-life experience.

11th-grade student  Irene Hinestrosa has seen this transformation firsthand.

“Con el tiempo, me di cuenta de que mi verdadera vocación era entrenar porque disfruto ayudar a los jugadores a crecer tanto física como mentalmente,” she said. “Al principio, me enfocaba sobre todo en la técnica, pero con los años entendí que el tenis es una herramienta para el desarrollo personal, la disciplina y la fortaleza mental.”

She emphasizes that emotional resilience is one of tennis’s most important lessons.

“El tenis es único porque es un deporte individual,” she added. “No puedes depender de un equipo en un momento difícil, así que la resiliencia mental es clave.”

That kind of resilience is something Sergio Fortich, a competitive player, has had to build through experience.

“You have to prepare a lot, physically and mentally, to have the confidence to enter a local or international tournament,” he said.

Between matches, it’s the practice that keeps him grounded.

“When I practice, I think I’m in a good mental state for when I have to compete,” said Fortich. “The trainings are very important, physically and mentally, so I can apply what I have learned into a match.”

He also admires the mental strength of fellow players.

“Even when players are losing, they look like they are winning,” he said. “They don’t lose track of their movement. They’re still one piece, and I respect that a lot.”

Luciano Restrepo, who has played tennis since he was five, says the sport helps him manage intense emotions under pressure.

“Tennis helps with stress management and emotional well-being because during a tournament, you need to manage a lot of stress,” he explained. “Even if you’re a really good player, stress can mess up the game.”

Luciano also notices a mental sharpness in tennis athletes.

“Tennis players need to act very fast,” he said. “When they’re going to hit the ball, they respond to hits of 120 miles per hour. They need to think very fast.”

To stay focused during tough matches, Luciano uses mantras.

“I say my mantras before the games,” he said. “‘I am the best, I’m going to win, no one is better than me.’ I say these before playing to help me concentrate.”

Fortich also uses mental strategies to maintain confidence during competitions.

“I always try to stay mentally focused on the idea that I can win and have my autoconfidence,” he said. “That has helped me a lot in tournaments or amateur matches.”

For both students and coaches, the impact of tennis reaches far beyond match results.
As Coach Hinestrosa puts it:

“Es sobre convertirte en una versión más fuerte y enfocada de ti mismo.”