Playing tennis could increase life expectancy by a decade, according to an ongoing cardiovascular study.

The Copenhagen City Heart Study has examined people over a 25-year period and evaluated improvements in life expectancy through participation in various sports and leisure-time activities.

In total, 8577 participants were examined for all-cause mortality between 10 October 1991 and 16 September 1994 until 22 March 2017, with various sports found to improve and increase life expectancy.

Of the sports included in the observational study, tennis topped the charts for potential life expectancy gains by some considerable distance, with results suggesting as many as 9.7 years could be added to an individual’s existence.

This is 3.5 years more than its nearest competitor badminton, the playing of which has been found to increase life expectancy by 6.2 years, with football having the potential to add 4.7 years and cycling 3.7 years.

Swimming was found to boost life expectancy rates by 3.4 years, jogging by 3.2 years, calisthenics by 3.1 years and health club activities by 1.5 years.

A further conclusion of the study suggests that leisure-time sports which involve greater levels of social interaction are associated with the higher levels of longevity. The study intends to investigate this finding further.

Tennis being a vehicle for improving the physical and mental prosperity of participants feeds into one of the cornerstone principles of the ITF Seniors Circuit, which is aimed at players aged 35 and above.

Age groups within the Seniors Circuit are divided into five-year increments ranging from 35+ to 85+, with health and fitness viewed as a key priority and much-valued benefit for the thousands of Seniors players.

“The sport of tennis is truly global and can be enjoyed for life,” said Matt Byford, Manager, ITF Seniors Team.

“Over 27,000 players – including the 85+ age group – enjoy the challenge of practising, improving and testing their skills against peers of a similar age with ITF Seniors tournaments.

“We are delighted to see a considerable amount of research that evidences the vast physical and mental health benefits that tennis provides people of all age groups.

“With more than 450 tournaments taking place in 70 nations, the ITF Seniors Circuit provides an opportunity to travel to many great tournament locations, while also developing special friendships and camaraderie within the ITF Seniors Community.”

Peter Pokorny, who played 14 Davis Cup ties for Austria between 1963 and 1974, echoes such sentiments. Now aged 78, Pokorny is an 11-time singles World Champion across the various age categories and is due to move to the 80+ bracket of super-seniors in 2020.

“I play almost every day – tennis is my life,” said Pokorny. “I play every day and practise each day for an hour and a half. I run on court as much as I can and that helps my physical condition. There are so many benefits to continuing to play tennis.”

Further information on Seniors tennis and the ITF’s three-year Strategic Plan for ITF Seniors Tennis, which came into operation earlier this year, can be found here.