My wife agrees!! The social aspect brought her a lot of friendship and the games difficulty brought her some purpose. Both were low after she quit working.

However, she is very fit (think triathlons) and tennis in no way taxes her cardio. “It doesn’t count” she says as she is on elliptical or peloton before a match. But it is also not a zero, so that’s maybe a big gain for most folks.

It is also not cheap the way she plays. Club vs municipal court, many outfits, shoes that wear out, and mostly the shoulder surgery, worn from overhead serving motion.

All that said, she loves it and it’s been great for the past 8 years of her “retirement” (she’s 47).

The key is finding something to stay active. Hiking, cycling, adult rec soccer are my choices. Each has its own advantages and risks. They all serve as an influence to eat and sleep well so you can perform the next day.