Growing up, I was never terribly creative when it came to selecting a costume for Halloween. Each year I would usually dress up like a player from one of my favorite sports such as football, baseball, golf, and, of course, tennis. Since I played all these games, it was a very lazy approach to the occasion but I was really only in it for the candy. My tennis outfit consisted of a wooden Davis racquet, lots of whites, a headband, and my dad's old Fred Perry sweater vest. Although it did the trick for filling my pillowcase full of treats, but if I were to hit the courts for real, I would have needed some much better gear. If you're going to play matches, you owe it to yourself to make sure you have all the equipment and supplies necessary to play at your best. Here are of a few simple things you should never be without.
Have plenty of extras: Whether it's racquets, grips, shirts, socks, hats, bandages, or sweatbands, you should have at least double of almost everything you bring to the court. Nothing feels worse than grinding hard in the 3rd set with a sweat-soaked cotton shirt hanging all over you (stick with Dri-Fit, Clima-Cool, or any of the other polyesters). You can never have too many things with you, but you can certainly have too few. Worst-case scenario: you bring too much gear with you to the courts, and you have to take all the stuff back home.
Bring nourishment: Most players know the importance of drinking liquids and keeping hydrated while playing, but very few bring food with them. If it's an exhausting match, or one that crosses over your regular mealtime, you may start to get weak. Having a banana, bagel, energy bars, or any kind of quick, easily digestible food (nothing fatty and not too much of it) can help you maintain your level of play. Once the match is over, continue to eat, it will aid in a speedier recovery.