“I lost Wimbledon I lost my number one ranking and suddenly people said: “he had
a great run is this The Changing of the Guard”. But I knew what I had to do keep
working and keep competing in tennis. Perfection is impossible. In the
1,526 singles matches I played in my career I won almost 80% of those matches.
Now I have a question for you: what percentage of points do you think I
won those matches? Only 54%, in other words even top ranked
tennis players win barely more than half of the points they play. When you lose
every second point on average, you learn not to dwell on every shot. You teach
yourself to think: “Okay I double faulted, it’s only a point. Okay I came to the net
and I got past again. It’s only a point.”
Even a great shot an overhead backhand smash that ends up on ESPN’s top 10
playlist that too is just a point. And here’s why I’m telling you this: when
you’re playing a point it has to be the most important thing in the world and it
is but when it’s behind you it’s behind you. This mindset is really crucial
because it frees you to fully commit to the next point at the next point after
that with intensity Clarity and focus the truth is whatever game you play in
life. Sometimes you’re going to lose a point, a match, a season, a job.
It’s a roller coaster with many ups and downs and it’s natural when you’re down to
doubt yourself and to feel sorry for yourself and by the way your opponents
have self-doubt too don’t ever forget that but negative energy is wasted energy.
You want to become a master at overcoming hard moments that is to me
the sign of a champion. Yhe best in the world are not the best because they win
every point. It’s because they know they lose again and again and have learned
how to deal with it you accept it cry it out if you need to and then force a smile.
You move on be relentless, adapt and grow. Work harder, work smarter.
Remember, work smarter.”