Endurance Exercise may slow aging
So make tennis your endurance sport. That's easy enough. Hit against the wall, or play singles if your legs, hips, and back can take it. If not, make doubles your version of a round of 8 in Golf, though I'd guess that the tennis is much more of a physical challenge than golf. That said, I tried golf again recently and found that though I have learned to accommodate tennis my back does not like golf at all so except for putt putt golf I'll stick to the doubles court.
Another thing to remember is that the surface can make it easier on your body in terms of impact while allowing you to increase your endurance demands by playing longer. Additionally, new research tells us that just being in the heat is a form of conditioning and a few hours in a clay court playing doubles might be a good endurance challenge.
Disclaimer: As always, consult your physician if you have health issues that might put you at risk in the sun or just performing strenuous activity. One great thing about a doubles game is that you can calibrate your play level by choosing your opponents and partners and ratcheting down your activity level accordingly. Just focus on skills and strategy and leave the acrobatics to the ones still willing and able to do so.
