The vicarious joy derived from watching tennis and other sports

If you ever ask people what the biggest contribution of sports in our life is, I bet you will come across a plethora of different answers and perspectives. This can certainly be a huge topic of debate, but from my perspective, it is the sense of vicarious happiness that you get when you watch your heroes triumph.

The fact that the victories all take place in real life and are not fictional, captivates the imagination of sports lovers and enthusiasts like nothing else can.

I will take the example of tennis to explain my point, even though this is applicable to any other sport in general as well. We are currently living through the golden generation of tennis; fans of all ages have been mesmerized by the sheer dominance and passion of the Big 3 - Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

As an ardent fan of Nadal, I have always been inspired by his performances and victories on the court - and also saddened and dejected by his losses and injuries. The sense of happiness and adrenaline rush that I and millions of other Nadal fans experience when he wins a tough match, like say the one he won against Dominic Thiem at last year’s US Open, is simply too pure to describe.

Such is the power of vicarious feelings and emotions that it can totally lift up your spirits on a rough day. The way you start experiencing positive feelings by putting yourself in a sportsperson’s shoes, is incredibly fascinating and satisfying.

The way people who normally have a calm and composed demeanor, start jumping around just to celebrate a point from the sportsperson they follow, is a testament to how sports can influence our everyday lives.

If Nadal and his performances empower the rebels in the society who wish to stand up for themselves while combating all the odds, Federer keeps standing tall for the people who go through mid-life crises. His unfazed nature on and off the court serves as an example to those who feel stuck and crippled in their current circumstances; he acts as a guiding light for them, asking them to restore patience and faith in their abilities.

Djokovic on the other hand is like a gladiator, representing those who have had to fight against the system and rise above the pain and agony of rejections and disappointments. His success at the highest level is evidence that you don’t always need the support of others as long as your own efforts can support your dreams.

This feeling of vicarious happiness is, of course, in addition to the seesaw of emotions experienced by all those who wished to become sportspersons when they were little kids.

Sportspersons never fail to inspire us with their exploits on the field. And the vicarious joy we get from their victories is what makes their efforts truly worthy of celebration.