Above all else, hydration is key to keeping your focus and energy up while playing tennis. Water is the number one choice, but if you want more of a boost, dump the sports drinks and opt for coconut water.It has fewer calories, less sodium and more potassium than most sports drinks and is an amazing low-fat, low-sugar source of nourishment especially for long matches. Not to mention that many sports drinks have tons of chemicals they use to keep the ingredients from separating…and that stuff could give you major thyroid issues down the road.

Coconut water has become one of the latest health crazes because it has the right balance of electrolytes to replenish your energy, help lower your blood pressure, and help rebuild lean muscle. There is more potassium in one 8 oz container of coconut water than in two bananas. John Isner credits coconut water with keeping him on his feet for his epic 11-hour marathon Wimbledon tennis win. “It is super hydrating and has kept me going in long matches and prevented me from cramping even in the hottest and most humid conditions,” Isner says.

He drinks a mixture of coconut water and water the night before a match in difficult heat conditions and routinely mixes a cocktail of coconut water and sea salt for on-court hydration.

That’s all great, but how does it taste? For me, it took a few sips to get used to it. It’s a bit thicker than water, sweet and reminds me a little of passion fruit (which I really don’t care for). That said the benefits far outweigh the taste, which YOU WILL get used to pretty quickly. Its like eating sushi, or drinking wine for the first time…you hate it at first, then love it forever.

When choosing coconut water make sure there’s no added sugar and no other flavors. I like ZICO and ONE the best…but there are a lot out there to try. You might like the organic 100% Raw Coconut Water. Next time you have a heavy match in the heat grab one and bring one for your partner!

xo,
cg