Tennis Stars Share Tricks to Beat Brutal Jetlag

Imagine stepping onto a tennis court to compete at the highest level just hours after a 24-hour flight, your body screaming for sleep while thousands watch your every move.

This is the reality for professional tennis players who converge on Melbourne each year for the Australian Open. While fans see superhuman athletes, these competitors struggle with the same brutal jetlag effects as everyone else, except they don't get the luxury of recovering in bed.

Male players alone traveled a combined 2.3 million kilometers across 29 countries in 2024. That's more global movement than any other sport, and it takes a serious toll on performance and health.

Tennis legend Novak Djokovic has turned jetlag management into an art form. He over-hydrates on flights with water mixed with lemon, mint and salt, then immediately walks barefoot on natural ground at his destination. His secret weapon? Watching the sunrise the first morning to reset his brain.

Other players have found their own creative solutions. Poland's Iga Swiatek relies on Australia's abundant sunshine after arriving from grey European winters. Britain's Francesca Jones forces herself to stay awake for the entire 24-hour journey, using extreme sleep deprivation to jump-start her new rhythm.

Spain's Paula Badosa shocks her system awake with ice-cold water each morning, while Cameron Norrie learned the hard way to mute his fantasy football notifications after 3am doom-scrolling ruined his sleep patterns.

The stakes extend beyond just feeling groggy. Sports scientist Stephen Smith explains that fatigue from poor sleep and long travel directly increases injury risk through reduced range of movement and mobility. For lower-ranked players traveling in economy class, the cramped seats make physical recovery even harder.

Australian player Tristan Schoolkate, ranked 97th globally, still flies economy due to financial constraints. He's competed while yawning on court, struggling through matches just a day and a half after landing from India, desperately chasing the ranking points needed to sustain his career.

Why This Inspires

These athletes demonstrate remarkable resilience in pursuing their dreams despite constant physical challenges most of us never consider. They've transformed an unavoidable obstacle into an opportunity for creativity and problem-solving, sharing their hard-won wisdom to help each other succeed.

Every sunrise watched, every cold shower endured, and every carefully timed cup of coffee represents their dedication to performing at their best no matter what their bodies are telling them.