Depending on where your tennis court is located and the weather condition it poses,  your game can be made more or less enjoyable! If you are playing in a condition that complements your playing style greatly, then it would be to your advantage, and you may find your game a gratifying one. Otherwise, you may struggle to cope with the weather conditions and get trashed by your opponent! The bottom line is that the enjoyment of your tennis game very much depends on the weather conditions!

Source: (Paul Doyle, QuoraLinks to an external site., Captured on 28 Nov 2018)

1) Playing Under Wet Conditions

Playing tennis in the rain is not the best experience. The tennis balls can soak up the rain water and get very heavy. Moving around the court also requires a greater degree of caution. You may also find that your strings can get damaged more easily, particularly if they are natural gut when playing under wet conditions.

2) Playing at High Altitude

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As shared earlier, playing on altitude is very demanding for the human body as it may take several weeks for an athlete to be fully adapted to the new conditions (known as acclimatization). Adding to the physiological changes, players also have to adjust to vastly different game conditions. Let us explore this a bit further.

Air density at a high altitude is lower than on sea level, resulting in a decrease of drag force.Therefore, the ball will travel at a higher speed in the air due to the lower level of air resistance. Tennis games at a higher altitude  are extremely fast, which makes big servers more effective and dangerous.

3) Temperature 

Source: (Andrew Beaton, The Wall Street JournalLinks to an external site., 28 Nov 2018)

Temperature is another factor that influences the air density level. Air density decreases as temperature increases. Putting this into perspective, if the temperature rises from 15ºC to 35ºC, air density will drop by 6.5%. As the air is less dense, the speed of the tennis ball will hence, increase in the air. In essence, a higher temperature can cause the tennis balls to fly faster.  

Tennis balls also have a hollow rubber-like core filled with gas. As temperature increases, the gas molecules inside the tennis balls will expand, resulting in a higher bounce.

Heavy topspin players like Rafael Nadal benefit greatly from higher temperature conditions, with their ball bouncing higher and also travelling at faster speed.

Known for his tremendous topspin forehand, Nadal averages 3200 r.p.m. from a normal baseline shot, and holds a record reading of 5000 r.p.m. The higher temperature conditions are a great fit for his game style and makes him even harder to defeat.

4) Humidity

Source: Screenshot, Tennisballcourt.comLinks to an external site., Captured on 28 Nov 2018

Finally, we will explore the effect of humidity on tennis games

• One of the biggest effect humidity has on tennis games can be observed in the tennis balls. When playing in high humidity, the tennis balls will absorb a higher amount of water from the air, thereby increasing the mass of the ball which will result in a higher drag force. Topspin and slice shots are most affected by humidity due to its ability to alter the rotation of the ball while flat shots typically does not see significant changes even in high humidity. Using Nadal as an example again, his topspin shots will land shorter in humid conditions than in drier conditions. The effects are even more pronounced on clay courts, where game play is possible even in light rain, where humidity is higher than if the skies are clear.

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• When tennis players talk about “heavy” playing conditions, humidity is the atmospheric variable they mention most often. Humid air feels heavy to our senses because there is more water present in the air, causing less sweat to be able to evaporate from our skin. This forces our bodies to work harder and sweat even more so that our bodies can be kept cool, leaving less energy available for athletic performance. If we are not careful about this, it can result in dehydration or even a high body temperature, which can cause the body’s mechanisms to malfunction altogether. Humidity can cause more major repercussions on the player’s health than just affecting his performance and this is a serious cause for concern.

Summary

In sum, high altitudes, high temperatures, and low pressures can increase the speed and intensity of the game. Heavy tennis balls, weighed down by wet weather conditions, can make the game “heavier” in a very real sense. Looking at it from a simple point of view the weather conditions can sap the energy and strength of the players. Looking at it from a more professional stance, the weather can even change the flight of the tennis balls.

So what is the ideal weather condition to enjoy a game of tennis for me?

Source: (Peter Stanford, The TelegraphLinks to an external site., 28 Nov 2018)

Personally, I feel that the best condition is one that has a controlled environment such as an indoor tennis court. If you choose to play outdoors, you are basically at the mercy of the changing weather conditions. In fact, if you are just starting out or if you prefer to play in a more comfortable environment, I’d strongly recommend for you to take your game indoors so that you can get your basics right without so much weather interference. You can always advance outdoors once you are comfortable enough and capable of dealing with the weather conditions!

Some examples of my ideal game condition

• An environment with low humidity so that both our body and the ball doesn’t get too  “heavy” and wet.
• Room temperature of about 25°C so you can gear up in comfortable and lightweight tennis clothing.
• Calm weather or no wind
• Game plays at a lower altitude so that the tennis ball will travel slower because some players like myself don't have a big serve.
• Preferably Not be facing the sun directly as it is difficult to look into the sun’s rays as you serve.