Tennis Stars Share Clever Tricks to Beat Brutal Jetlag

Imagine stepping off a 24-hour flight and having to compete in one of the world's most physically demanding sports just hours later. That's the reality for tennis players arriving at the Australian Open, and they're finding surprisingly simple ways to make it work.

Tennis athletes are some of the most traveled people on the planet. ATP players collectively logged 2.3 million kilometers across 29 countries in 2024 alone, constantly battling the brutal effects of crossing multiple time zones.

Unlike most travelers who can recover in peace, these players have no choice but to perform at peak levels almost immediately. "If you're on the tour, you're going to have jetlag," says Filipino player Alexandra Eala. "You just have to deal with it."

The solutions players have discovered are as varied as they are creative. Novak Djokovic walks barefoot on natural ground as soon as he arrives, then takes hot Epsom salt baths and watches the sunrise to reset his internal clock. He also supercharges his water with lemon, mint, and salt during flights to stay hydrated.

British player Francesca Jones takes a completely different approach. She forces herself to stay awake for the entire 24-hour journey, using sleep deprivation to jumpstart her adjustment to the new time zone.

Spain's Paula Badosa shocks her system awake with ice-cold water each morning. Australian Tristan Schoolkate, who grew up in one of the world's most isolated cities, relies on Melbourne's famous coffee scene to power through.

Cameron Norrie learned his lesson the hard way when he found himself wide awake at 3am checking Premier League scores. His new strategy is simple: mute all notifications and avoid looking at his phone during nighttime hours.

Why This Inspires

These athletes face the same struggles we all do when traveling, just amplified by impossible schedules and performance pressure. Yet instead of complaining, they've turned jetlag into a problem to solve creatively.

Their innovations reveal an important truth: even world-class competitors deal with ordinary challenges. The difference is they refuse to let those challenges stop them from showing up and doing their best work.

What makes their approach particularly inspiring is how accessible many of these strategies are. Watching a sunrise, drinking extra water, or putting your phone away at night won't cost you anything, but they might transform your next trip.

As tennis players descend on Melbourne once again, they're proving that human resilience paired with smart thinking can overcome even the most exhausting obstacles.