TENNIS – A SPORT THAT PROVES TALENT IS NOT ENOUGH

After watching pro tennis for several decades, it has become very clear to me that in order for a singles player to become elite and maintain that success, raw natural talent can only go so far.

In fact, I’ve seen plenty of players over the years come and go.  But, the best all seem to have one thing in common: mental toughness.

Beyond solid technique, a singles tennis player must have the willingness to train hard, motivation to keep going when fatigue and injury set in, and the ability to handle all the pressures that come with standing on the court alone to face the competition.

This is why it’s so hard to sustain top form in the world of professional singles tennis (ATP & WTA).

It’s also why we revere Serena Williams and Roger Federer so much.

She is 36 years old, has 72 Singles Titles, 23 Grand Slam Singles Titles and a 787-132 (85.64%) record since 1995.  Plus, Serena has been ranked world No. 1 for 309 weeks (186 consecutive).

He is also 36, has 97 Singles Titles, 20 Grand Slam Singles Titles, a record of 1149-252 (82.01%) and has held the world No. 1 spot for a record total of 309 weeks, including a record 237 consecutive weeks, all since 1998.

Those kinds of players who continue to thrive… it’s a phenomenal accomplishment.  And, it all stems from both of their strengths of mind.

Sure, Williams and Federer are special and each have a unique body type that helps them stand above the rest of their competition.  Unfortunately, it has not been a bed of roses all the way for either. They’ve each had their ups and downs and faced adversity during their careers.  Yet, they never gave up and persevered.

In contrast, we witness supremely talented players like Nick Kyrgios, Gael Monfils, and Richard Gasquet lack 100% commitment of themselves to tennis.  That’s why they will never become elite and stay there.

And, then there’s Serbian Novak Djokovic who has recently lost his desire to train hard and maintain top form leading to a total collapse of his game.

A brilliant player throughout his 15-year career, the 31-year old became one of the “big four” in the modern era (amongst Federer, Nadal, and Murray).  From 2006-2016, he won 12 Grand Slam Singles Titles, 68 Career Titles, and held the No. 1 spot for a total of 223 weeks.

In 2016, he also became the first man to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time and held a huge lead of 8,035 points over Andy Murray at the top of the world rankings.

Yet, after winning the French Open that season, a slow and painful breakdown set in.  Within a matter of months, Djokovic lost his No. 1 ranking and struggled to contend at tournaments.  Today, his ranking has slipped to #22 in the world and he hasn’t won a title since mid-2017.

The culprit?  Mental and emotional exhaustion.

Djokovic has revealed that he lacked a desire to put in the tremendous effort mentally required to “re-find [fulfillment] that is the key to everything”.  He’s also admitted to a shortfall in confidence after an elbow injury further exacerbated his failure to find motivation.

At least he’s trying to understand what the problem is and continues to work hard at finding the answer, which I think he will.  Ironically, if this champion does find his way, he’ll have to muster the most mental toughness he’s ever had to find in his life before…

On the WTA side, Simona Halep comes to mind as a player who puts in the physical work, but has struggled to stay positive largely due to her inability to handle the pressure.  It has cost her three Grand Slam Finals.

Some experts have accused her of “mentally [quitting]” at times and her coach once dumped her for not putting in enough effort when it got tough on the court.

Will she ever overcome her nerves and believe in herself enough to win a major?  I think Halep will, eventually.  At only 26-years old, she can absolutely get it done.  Perhaps, though, it would be good for her to do it soon and keep that monkey on her back from beginning to get too big…

Look, it is tough to be a professional singles tennis player, there is no doubt about it.

It’s one of the hardest sports on the planet to win at and keep oneself motivated to continue playing year after year.

I admire anyone and everyone who even attempts to bring themselves to the absolute edge and keep it there.  And, that’s what success as a pro singles tennis player demands.

 

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