Persevere

Many times, the only difference between winning and losing is the willingness to endure.  This determination is a mindset of all champions.  Let’s look at some examples from the opening round of this year’s Australian Open.

Mardy Fish had been ill during the week leading up to the tournament.  He started the match doubting whether he could physically last for a long match. He was sluggish and unable to make much headway against his opponent.  He found himself down two sets to love and he has never come back from two sets to love down to win in his career.  Because he kept plugging away, he reached a point where his energy picked up and he got an early break and went on to win the third set.  Inspired he kept pushing and won the fourth set.  All even and with the momentum, he traded serves and finally broke to win the match.  Three and a half hours.  He doubted that it was in him, but he kept pushing himself and played very steady tennis, only going for shots he knew he could control.  He ultimately outlasted his opponent.

Thiemo De Bakker was playing aggressive shots, taking it to his opponent, and was rewarded with the first two sets.  In the third, he was up 5-2.  Needing only one game to close the match, he started playing safe and the more he played safe, the more he missed his shots.  As he lost points, he also lost confidence, energy, and games.  Nothing has changed, his opponent wasn’t playing better.  He had pulled back and wasn’t pushing himself any longer.  He lost the third set 7-5.  He lost the fourth 6-2.  In the fifth, he at least held serve once, but lost 6-1.  Match over, he lost.  His was a story of not continuing to play a winning game all the way to the finish line.  The more he missed, the lower his energy went and the more dejected he became.

Sam Querrey won the first set, lost the second, won the third, lost the fourth.  It was a seesaw match in which Sam hit inspired shots, then lazy sitters.  Even with his big serve, he was hitting 80 mph second serves to his opponent’s forehand.  I was if he didn’t has the mental stamina to push himself.  In the end, he lost the fifth set after having match points.  Out of 14 majors, Sam has lost in the first round 10 times.  We know he can play and win, but he doesn’t push himself that extra step in the majors.  It may be the anticipation of long matches, one after the other.  One thing for sure, he didn’t give himself a chance to find out.  He was physically strong, showed no lack of energy.  It was mental.

So, how does this help us?  The old moral of the story, “never give up”.  It’s a commitment to you.  You’re already out there, so give it all you have.  If today is not your best, find a way to play safer shots, but stay in the points.  Keep your head (attitude) up and use your mental strength if the physical isn’t there.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “That which we persist in doing becomes easier – not that the nature of the task has changed, but our ability to do has increased”.