Not sure if of you followed this year’s US Open Tennis championship. I happened to catch a bad cold and spent a long weekend glued to the set. Anyone who pays attention to such things knows that Roger Federer has dominated men’s tennis for the past few years.
So, last year, after several years of shock and awe as the most dominant tennis player of all time, Roger actually lost his number one status. Was he losing his edge? Getting too old? Burning out? Apparently not!
This year, once again, he won both the French Open and Wimbledon. He recaptured the number one ranking from the much younger Rafael Nadal. Suddenly Roger had another chance to trounce Sampras’ Grand Slam title record and be the first player in history to win the US Open six times in a row. The result: He lost the US Open final match to a 19 year old that many had never even heard of.
The point? Tennis is a metaphor for life. Talent is helpful. Dedication and persistence are key. And, in the end, those qualities may indeed get you ranked in the top 100, maybe even the top 10. But, the ability to be Numero Uno seems to be amazingly mental. Mental strength, mental fortitude, the mental belief that you are worth it, the deep mental faith that you will win. Even a super athlete like Roger Federer, whom many deem to be the best tennis player of all time, can lose to an unknown 19 year old if he stops believing, loses interest and loses focus in even one set of a five set match. It never really felt like Roger’s opponent won the match; it seemed much more like Roger beat himself on the mental court.
Can the Fed Express rise again? You bet. Because he is a champion; and true champions (like Roger, Tiger, Jordan) are able to change their game plan, and critically, they always find a way to believe in themselves again, even after a devastating defeat. How? A continuous loop seems to play in their minds: they see themselves hitting winners, they see themselves shattering records, they see themselves as champions again and again and again…Roger feels like a winner, he looks like a winner, he acts like a winner, he expects to win, and he will be ready when the next opportunity presents itself.
By the way, Roger hasn’t had an official coach in years. He coaches himself. And it doesn’t hurt that everyone agrees Roger is a winner in life, not just on the court. He truly appreciates art and design. He has excellent taste. He conducts himself with integrity. Even Anna Wintour idolizes him—and she is not easily impressed! ~ Karen Dacus
