Won today 6-1, 6-0. The games were closer than the sets. My opponent had a good game. Experienced, good hands, strokes, serve and a deceptive drop shot. He had game point five times but I was able to find some strong focus to win four of them.
I played a few tournaments as a junior player. I can’t recall it being enjoyable. I would play badly. I would get frustrated. Embarrassed. I would misbehave. I would lose. Winning felt like the only reason to play and the only way I could find something about the experience that made it worth doing.
In the Monte Carlo semifinals on Saturday we got to witness another step in the evolution of Novak Djokovic, the competitor.
A few years ago, Novak used to retire in matches if he did not feel well. Hey, no judgment. That is what normal people do.
Please join me Friday as I will be talking about my coaching model for business, sports and life. Ron Comacho is a fully engaged interviewer and I expect an hour of dynamic interaction.
My match was scheduled for today at 9AM. I love playing early. Years of giving early morning tennis lessons trained me in being alert on the court right after getting up so, for me, the earlier the better
My first competition of the year is two weeks away and I have been in the toughest period of my tennis life.
Why now?
I have been competing as a senior tennis player for 30 years. I have been fortunate to have had an incredible run during these years. I had results beyond my dreams and, more importantly, I have become a different person as a result of being in the heat of competition
For two weeks, as a spectator and player, I was wowed by the special moments of play that were demonstrated by Dimitrov, Wawrinka, Ivanovic, Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Cibulkova, Li Na and so many others. The shots they can hit, the level of consistency of their play, and the coverage around the court so complete that it is hard to relate for the rest of us who play.
Many people write resolutions for the New Year. When I am with my family, I will spend less time on my cell. I will get to work earlier, make this amount of money, go to the gym 3 times a week and get more fit. It’s a story you hear a lot: people write goals and then don’t think about them again for another year. In the world of storytelling we call that a bad story, a story that doesn’t work. It’s 2014, and it’s time for something different. Something simpler. Something that actually works.
Recently I had the honor of meeting Phil Wharton, one of the geniuses in the field of stretching and mobility.
I have been fortunate to study or meet many teachers who are absolute masters in their fields including Steven Covey, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Tony Robbins, Tony Schwartz, Jim Loehr, Eckhart Tolle, Jerry Lynch, Nick Saviano, Ron Rebhuhn, Sean Achor, John Sarno, John Wooden and many others…
Add Phil Wharton to that list.
