Question directed toward players in their 30s and 40s who play a lot of amateur 4.5+/5.0/Open level tournaments and matches...
A few guys I know in their late 30s that are playing ITF tournaments are hitting 1-2 hours 5-6 days a week, out of which a couple days are practice matches.
They are also going to the gym a couple hours a week.
How does your weekly hitting practice, fitness/cardio and match frequency look like?
I am playing tennis 2-3 times a week. 2-3 times is a mix of a USTA match, some drilling at the club, or hitting with someone. I think I would do better playing more but its all I have time for. I play on a 5.0 and 4.5 40+ team locally, plus some other local teams, and usually play one competitive team match a weekend. Occasionally I will get in another hit or playing session when I can and there are open courts, such as during the summer.
I workout 4-5 times a week, 2-3 of those with a trainer. Fortunately I have access to this. This consists of individual and group fitness, as well as some workouts on my own.
I also practice MMA, so do some alternative exercising on top of this....And gives me something else to work at. Helps with the pounding on my feet.
As far as the guys I play against and lose too, all are former college or semi-pro players, and almost all work at clubs and teach, or hit with high level jr's all the time. They play almost every day, hit with tons of Jr players, and stay in relatively good shape. The ones not teaching pros typically play 3-4 times a week, and are on the local USTA teams in their areas, and may do some sort of exercise program similar to what I do.