Peninsula Freshman Tennis Player Stays Positive Amid New Training Conditions

Freshman and varsity boys’ tennis player Takehiro Shuda is one of the many athletes at Peninsula whose sport has been affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As a three-star recruit and one of the few freshmen who made Peninsula’s boys’ tennis varsity team, Shuda is dedicated to his sport. However, the quarantine has resulted in many changes to athletes’ schedules and routines, including Shuda’s typical training schedule. Despite these obstacles, he has been making efforts to remain in shape and prepare for future athletic endeavors. 

Tennis is a sport that becomes difficult to take part in without at least one other person, as tennis players like Shuda normally practice by playing against other players. However, social distancing is preventing him from practicing the way he usually practices. Shuda’s lack of contact with other players due to the pandemic has also made him feel more disconnected from teammates at school and club tennis. 

“To be frank, this quarantine has disrupted tennis for me in a negative way, as I was looking forward to improving during my first year of high school tennis,” Shuda said. “What is worse is that various tennis tournaments and my first high school season were unfortunately canceled due to COVID-19.” 

Despite his lack of practice and the cancelations of various events, Shuda has taken the time during quarantine to excel in other areas of his game. For instance, Shuda described his new regiment to stay healthy to make up for his loss of time on the court. 

“Because of COVID-19, I have not been able to get on tennis courts the way I would like, but I have been working on training in many other ways,” Shuda said. “I have been focusing on a lot of running as well as upper and lower body training to keep my body in shape for the future, which is something I would not have been able to do without the added time [I have in quarantine].”