NATCHEZ — Life doesn’t slow down after 40 for Karen Partridge, Darla Vincent, Karen Blain and Emily Eidt.

These career women and homemakers spend every Tuesday afternoon hitting balls at each other on the tennis courts at Duncan Park under the tutorage of Duncan Park Tennis Pro Frankie Spence.

“They play into November,” Spence said. “They play in the USTA (United States Tennis Association) in the spring, the cancer tournament we have here and mix-doubles in the summer.”

But this isn’t just a past-time for them, they are getting ready for the State Tournament in September.

“I’ve always like playing tennis,” Partridge said while taking a break from working on her volley. “We have a fun group.”

Spence instructs the ladies on how to approach a serve and works on their overhands.

“I’ve always done something physical,” Eidt said. “After my kids got old enough to drive themselves around, I started do this.”

Vincent used tennis as way of meeting new friends when she moved to Natchez in 1995.

“I used to play a little when I was in law school,” Vincent said. “The first thing I did when I moved here was look for the tennis courts.”

These ladies are no slackers, they move around the court chasing down balls and returning them across the net with authority.

Blain said she was looking for a sport when she started playing 11 years ago.

“It’s good exercise,” Blain said.

This advanced group likes to play tennis and will be ready to take anyone one come September.