Tennis is respected for its difficulty at a high level, requiring speed, agility, mental strategy, and physical endurance. The solitary nature of the sport contrasts with team sports, leading players to push themselves to their physical limits. The various court surfaces like clay present unique challenges, with the speaker expressing amusement at the peculiarities of playing on clay. Anecdotes highlight the intense competitiveness in the sport, including a story of a young player being challenged for money by a famous football player's father at the age of nine.