Chess boxing is a thing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_boxing

Anyway, every one-on-one sport makes a reference to "human chess."

Sounds like he thinks very highly of tennis. Most people like to think that the things they like are better than the things everyone else likes.

The truth is, any skill-based game can be extremely intense at the highest levels of play.

If we're going to start suggesting physical activities I'd say Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and rock climbing are both very chess like in their emphasis on strategic placement/puzzle solving. Your limb placement, your endurance, the way you shift your weight, the current momentum, they're all your pieces and you have to play them appropriately.

I'm a huge fan of both activities because of the combination of mental and physical demands.