“Tennis is our life” — a Lithuanian couple’s love story from court to marriage

Earlier, we explored Lithuania’s top tennis clubs. Now, we bring you the story of a couple for whom tennis became more than just a sport — it changed their lives. Vitalij and Gerda Volkov started playing around the age of thirty, and that decision not only led to new challenges on the court but also to the start of their life together.

Meeting on the tennis court

Vitalij had previously been interested in various sports, but one day his friends invited him to participate in summer group tennis courses.

“After the first training session, one person dropped out among my friends. So, they invited me, and I joined. Then, another person dropped out in our group. And a girl named Gerda took that spot,” says Vitalij.

After that, the couple started dating, and eventually, they got married.

Tennis takes precedence

“We have been playing for about 5-6 years now. Initially, we attended training sessions together, and later, we started participating in tournaments,” says Gerda.

Now, Vitalij and Gerda live for tennis. Even when planning trips, they check if there are any tennis events nearby:

“If we go on vacation, we make sure the hotel has tennis courts. Our weekends are spent on the court – everything revolves around tennis. Tennis comes first, then everything else.”

Emotions stay on the court

Tennis captivated Vitalij with the thrill and the feeling of having to overcome not only the opponent but also oneself.

“It’s psychologically challenging, but when you succeed, it brings immense pleasure,” he says.

Sometimes, this can add emotions and affect the relationship in the couple. Especially when starting to play tournaments, some difficulties may arise. Particularly when playing mixed doubles and losing, the tendency is to look for the problem not in oneself but in the partner.

“It’s nerves and stress. At first, it was very difficult, but then we learned to control our emotions. Outside the court, we almost never argue. We leave it on the court.”

How tennis changed their lives

Now, Vitalij and Gerda not only play tennis but also organize their own tournaments for friends.

“We get a lot of pleasure from it,” say the couple.

They also participate in Lithuanian amateur tournaments: in mixed doubles, doubles, and singles.

“We are amateurs and play for our enjoyment. But tournaments are essential because you train for something. We mainly play in Lithuania and participate in longer tournaments like Teniso Namai, where there are large groups of players, and you play more often,” says Vitalij.

Another shared hobby of the couple is watching professional tennis matches.

“We have several favorites. Of course, we follow Lithuanian tennis players. I also like Alexander Zverev, and I try to keep up with his games. For example, as a doctor, I was interested to learn that he has diabetes, and during one of the tournaments, he checked his glucose levels. So, sometimes you find additional interests in tennis matches,” Gerda laughs.