Over the years I have learned to redefine winning to include the way I play, the effort that I give, the attitude I maintain, the responsibility I take, the appreciation for my opponent, how I react after the match, the way I am with the one who has defeated me and the resilience with which I bounce back.
I love the challenges of managing my stories.
I felt that my mental and emotional training was really strong. Since the move to Boulder I have been excited about every moment of every day. And I am feeling so happy. I can’t imagine a better mindset for going into a competition.
I have always believed that if my life is good, my tennis will be good.
So I arrived excited, happy and eager to observe the state of my tennis. Winning is always important to me but it is far from the only thing. I want to play well.
Nearly two years since the last National. Now, I am two days away from the National Clay Championships. New Orleans Tennis Club founded in 1876, the oldest tennis club in the country. It will be great to be back in the mix. The first day buzz of seeing players who I have been competing with for over 30 years. First practice on the clay in the humid south tomorrow. Pumped for feeling the dirt under my tennis shoes.
When we go somewhere we usually have an idea of why we are going and what we expect to find.
Then, when we least expect it, we find something so different that it is disorienting.
That is what happened in Tucson last week.
Three days of teaching from some of the best minds in the industry.
Three days of learning by some of the most passionate recreational athletes in the country.
How about that for some serious synergy?
So how do you get the most out of it?
What I took away from this match was all about Novak’s ability to prepare to bounce back from lost points and to bring his very best to the most important moments.
Who has ever been as resilient as him. He gets up for the mat after being knocked down like no others before him. He is a real life version of Rocky.
As many of you know, I am all about stories. Stories that players tell themselves that don’t work to get them what they want. And stories they tell themselves that create the possibility of being who they need to be to bring the very best out of themselves in the biggest moments of performance.
Like the aging boxer that keeps getting up off the mat because that is just what they do. Until one day they say, “enough. No mas.”
Is winning enough to keep her playing?
As Nadal says, “do I need to win 10 French Opens?”
Serena, do you need to win more titles? Do you need to win the Grand Slam? Do you need the records? Or are you doing it for others?
The press and the fans have stories about every player. It is important that the player has a story going that will give them the best chance to ignite the highest end of their talent and skills. So that, win or lose the score, they can look in the mirror and say, “I have no regrets. I brought my best.”
