The Lifelong Sport

Tennis is referred to as the healthiest sport, evident in a long term study showing that it can add nearly 10 years to a person’s life. Similarly, tennis has been shown to cultivate social skills, reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and promote confidence.

Ken Haruta is living proof of those statistics every day – sometimes even twice a day. And while tennis two-a-days sound impressive in their own right, for 93 year-old Haruta they are even more so. 

“He just loves life and lives it to the fullest,” said Andraea Drabenstott, Haruta’s coach for the past 10 years. “He does more than most people half his age and is so inspiring in all aspects of life, especially his tennis. He's up to playing five days a week with no end in sight.”

Haruta was born in Japan and came to the United States to attend Colby College in Waterville, Maine. There, Haruta would casually play tennis with friends. It wasn’t until he was at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) working on his PhD that he started taking tennis more seriously. 

“He is more than just one of my students, he has become a very good friend,” Drabenstott said. “It's all about being in the company of people you enjoy and Ken is definitely a fun and interesting person to be around.”

The relationship this coach and player duo share speaks to all of the physical, social and mental health benefits of playing tennis. And for Haruta, it keeps him motivated. 

“I love to just hit the ball and try to get better,” Haruta said. “I couldn’t do this without Andraea. She is a wonderful instructor and a wonderful person – I owe a lot to her.”

And when it comes to his life’s longevity, he says he owes that to good genes, luck, eating healthy, and tennis of course. 

“My main exercise is tennis,” he said. “If I stop playing tennis I’ll fall apart.”