Meet Charlotte: Exploring a new passion through tennis

 Charlotte didn't grow up with ball sports. Running, dance, and '90s aerobics were more her lane. The spark came from her son, Nils, who began playing tennis at the age of five. Family trips to the court made Charlotte curious, then humble. 'I couldn't hit the ball over the net or keep it inside the lines,' she laughs. Determined to understand the game (and share it with her son), she enrolled in an adult beginners' class, honestly rating her experience '0/10.'

Learning from zero
Those first sessions were nerve-wracking, but the coaches were patient and precise. 'They ask you to change just one thing at a time,' Charlotte says. That focus helped her build timing and coordination—no small feat for someone new to ball sports. Two and a half years on, she plays about two hours a week. 'I don't play for exercise. I play because it's so much fun.'

Why tennis works
For Charlotte, tennis is a total presence.

When I play, everything else steps aside.

The court becomes a mental reset twice a week. Time flies, and so do the small wins: a clean forehand, a first successful smash, daring a step closer to the net. She mostly plays from the baseline today, but loves stretching herself with new shots and positions.

Role models and inspiration
Charlotte doesn't follow pro sports closely, but one story stuck: Billie Jean King. After watching Battle of the Sexes, she was inspired by Billie Jean King's fight for equality in tennis. 'She transformed the sport for women worldwide,' Charlotte says. That spirit—change something fundamental—resonates.

On challenge and progress
The hardest part? Timing. 'It's me, the racket, the ball; everything moving at once.' Her approach is simple: accept what you don't know, keep practising, and improve one thing at a time. She enjoys group drills most—targets, rotations, forehands only, because they're social, varied, and push different skills.

From the court to the office
Starting something completely new after 40 took courage, and it's influenced Charlotte's leadership.

Test things properly before you decide. It might be better than you expect.

Tennis has also given her a reliable mental break; she returns to work clearer and calmer. At home, a new connection has been created with Nils. She understands his training enough to ask better questions and share the joy.

If she could team up…
Playing doubles with Billie Jean King would be surreal. More realistically, Charlotte would choose an open-minded partner who shares knowledge on court—'think about this next time'—so the learning never stops.

Charlotte's tips for beginners

• Test it properly. Try 10 sessions before deciding whether to proceed.

• Get a coach. You can't learn good habits alone. Start at 'zero' and ask basic questions.

• Be patient. Progress is incremental.

• Don't compare. Measure yourself against your last session, not someone else’s talent or background.

• Make it yours. Block the time, be fully present, and let the court be your reset.

Charlotte's story is a reminder that it's never too late to start from scratch and that the best wins aren't always on a scoreboard. Sometimes they're the moments when you try something new, focus on one change, and feel life get a little clearer.