Off the Court: Lessons from Tennis

As the 2021 tennis season kicks off, the eager fan in me has to steele her nerves for the excitement, joy and occasional disappointment that come with the territory. Tennis, especially the single player format, is like a masterclass in the habits of success, the law of averages as well as mental and physical endurance. Many of these takeaways from the game are relevant for professional and personal success off the court.

Musings About the Mindset of a Champion

I imagine the pep talks in front of a mirror include something like this....

In matters of style

Set your game plan according to your unique strengths, and still be versatile enough to adapt it when needed. Be bold and take chances.
As you execute your strategy, be calm, consistent, clinical and 100% unrelenting.
Take every early advantage.
Chase down every opportunity. You might win more than you think, and those marginal points can give you the slight edge.
Channel your nervous energy into focused energy. That way you can stay present, and do your best to win each point without getting distracted about what you could have done better on the last point.
Take calculated risks. Pointless risk can lead to distraction, setback or injury.
Don’t ever give up - it really is never over until it’s over.

In matters of principle

Success is not achieved the same way every time nor is it guaranteed to you. It’s a moving target and you have to stay hungry every time you compete. For every champion regarded as a Goliath, there is an opponent hoping to prove themselves as a David on match day.
Aim to win often when it matters most and if you lose, try to limit it to when it matters least. Learn from the losses, without letting them overshadow the very many things you do right.
Don’t be afraid to invest your heart and soul in pursuit of a cherished goal. Holding back your best will cause you regret.
People will have a lot to say about you. What matters most is what you have to say about yourself. Radiate positivity and be your own biggest cheerleader.
There is always something you can improve on tactically, physically and mentally. Keep searching for even a 1% change that you can compound through consistent practice.
Dream yourself into reality. Visualisation is your stepping stone to success, and when you wake up, follow up your ideas with the right actions in the real world.

When each match ends, these are the lessons that stay with me, and that we can all aim to incorporate as we champion our own personal success. Sport has an important boundary that ordinary life doesn't: it forces us to have a specific starting point and ending point. For many people, the hard part is in getting started and then staying motivated enough to finish. When I find myself struggling, I lean into my discipline to keep practising even when I don’t feel like it, I rely on my accountability partner, I remind myself why I committed and where my goal will take me. Let's get started, and we'll probably find that our momentum will help to demystify the process.