As I sit hear agog in excitement waiting for the 2012 Wimby
to get under way, I am truly astounded and in awe of what Rafa and Djoko have
been able to do. Nine straight
slam victories between the two (Rafa leading 5-4), trying to make their fifth
straight slam final versus one another (on three different surfaces), and
taking the game to new levels of physical and mental toughness.
After their 2011 US Open final I thought they could never
bring their great sport to even more physically grinding and grueling heights,
but they far exceeded themselves in the 2012 Aussie Open final, the most
physical tennis match ever played (I still think the Rafa Fed 2008 Wimby finals
was the pure GREATEST ever). These
two gladiators have grabbed the torch from Fed and brought tennis to a place I
never dreamed it could go.
Not only am I amazed, impressed and in awe of their physical
greatness and talent as well as their unbelievable spirit and competitiveness,
I am also inspired by their class and sportsmanship. Fed set the standard of class and grace, Rafa continued it,
and now Djoko has followed (it took him a few years to mature). Djoko has grown and evolved so incredibly
much these past three years, and I think it is in large part to the standard
that Fed and Rafa set for their sport.
They simply left no room for the next great one NOT to be classy.
The fact that these young men, so competitive, with so much
at stake out there can maintain their composure enough to hit unreal shots at
moments I am so nervous I am shaking while simply watching on my couch is
sick. The fact that they can do it
with class, grace, and humility is even sicker. Anyone who does not see what an awesome sport men’s tennis
is does not get and or appreciate how hard it is to do what these guys do. They are MEN out there, and they are
role models whom I want my children to watch. We forget sometimes that most are in their early to mid 20s
because they conduct themselves with such composure and respect for their sport
and all that is surrounding it.
When I look at the difference between men’s and women’s
tennis right now, it tells me all I need to know about how amazing these men
are. Whereas in the women’s game,
half of them are having meltdowns and choking their guts out, many are
constantly injured, many others seem to go from great one month to forgetting
how to make a serve the next, and no one seems to have the consistency of
greatness or guts and competitiveness (except maybe Sharapova), the top 3 men
are a solid as a beautifully pristine mountain. They are unshakable, indefatigable, and unwavering in their
dominance.
Look at what these guys have done the last 7 years. The top 3 have taken 27 out of 28
slams! Wow, wow, wow! Only Delpo
has stolen the 2009 US Open from Fed.
And if you really know the sport, you know that the physical margin of
difference between the top 3 and the rest is not THAT great. Sure, Djoko has the best backhand in
the world. Sure Fed has more
variety than anyone. Sure Rafa’s
topspin forehand has the greatest RPMs ever, but they are winning close, close
matches day in and day out against the greatest in the world. That is mental toughness. That is head and heart. That is
consistent greatness.
Whereas most any mere mortal becomes timid under the
tremendous pressure of the huge moments in the huge slams, these three become
even MORE aggressive and MORE gutsy.
They go for it even more, even when every ounce of their body probably
wants to become conservative. Look
at how Djoko played the four match points in the French against Tsonga. Look at how he played the two against
Fed in the 2011 US Open. Look at
how Rafa plays EVERY big point and EVERY break point against him on his
serve. You think you win 16 slams
like Fed has without going for it when it matters most? You don’t push your way to major
championships. You don’t wait for
the other guy to miss. You have to
go out and grab it with bravery and conviction and belief.
I see several lessons from these champions that I can apply
to my own life. First, dominance
and greatness are special and should never be taken for granted. They should be appreciated and marveled
at. Second, to achieve greatness
takes unbelievable hard work and patience. Look at the work these top 3 put in day in day out, week in
week out all over the world. They
make it look easy, but it sure ain’t.
They have earned every ounce of their greatness with blood, sweat and
tears. Third, so much of sports
and life is mental. The difference
is slight and your belief and state of mind makes all of the difference. If you walk into that job interview
thinking you have earned it and deserve it and will be good at it, you have a
lot better chance than walking in timid and unsure. If you walk up to that girl believing she is yours and you
deserve her, she is a lot more likely to go on that date than if you question your
every move. Even when your body
wants to get timid, even when your mind wants to shed doubt, you simply can’t
allow it to happen.
Part of this
rare ability is most likely an innate, inborn talent that is a rare gift and
you can’t teach, but I bet part comes with practice and hard work.
You have to put in the work, believe in yourself, and then
GO for it with conviction. Easier
said than done.
But these three top men show us that it can be done…
AD OUT.
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