Be Like Rafa Nadal: Use Sunscreen!

Where there’s sun, there’s fun. Tennis fun, that is!  Most players love to hit the outdoor courts on hot, sunny days. 

What about you? If you’re going to play 1+ sets in high heat conditions, don’t forget to keep the play-it-safe advice of tennis performance experts, such as ITPA Founding Member and sport scientist Dr. Marc Kovacs in mind. 

In a 2013 USTA coaching newsletter article, Dr. Kovacs shared seven practical tips for players to maintain safety and performance while playing in the heat.  One of the tips was the importance of wearing sunscreen when playing to prevent sunburn and to keep the body’s cooling ability efficient.  

When it comes to choosing a sunscreen lotion, you’ll definitely want to choose one with a high Sun Protection Factor (SPF).  I recently enjoyed reading SimplySunSafe.com’s “Best Sunscreen for Tennis in 2020” post, which helped me better understand all the factors, including SPF, that should be considered when selecting a sunscreen. 

In addition to traditional sunscreens, don’t forget that you’ve got a lot of other options for skin protection. Players today can choose from a variety of sun protective clothing items with integrated Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) to protect their skin from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays.  For example, check out these men’s UPF 50+ UV tennis t-shirts and shorts, and these tennis visors and skorts for ladies.

Besides lotions and clothing, there are also oral sun production product options.  In May 2019, tennis legend Rafa Nadal via his Academy began a partnership with Cantabria Labs to promote their Heliocare® oral and external product line.

Don’t discount expert advice.  When it comes to playing tennis successfully during the hotter months of the year, you’ve got to have and protect your skin in the game!