Did Roger Federer lose to Andy Murray at the Australian Open because of his angry outburst at the end of the fourth set? Did such a little thing like reacting to Murray's complaint about a line call get the best of Roger?
Geoff MacDonald of the New York Times wrote an excellent article about how Roger's anger gave him the energy boost to win the fourth set versus Murray, but in the end may have cost him the match.
The incident as MacDonald recalls it:
Showing posts with label Emotional Toughness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Emotional Toughness. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Murray, Djokovic, Stephens, Li Na, Azarenka Breaking New Ground
The Australian Open again is the starting grounds for a new season. And, just maybe the ground breaking to new heights of performance for Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Sloane Stephens, Li Na, and Victoria Azarenka.
This Open was supposed to be the continuation of Serena Williams' charge for the Serena Slam. I guess Sloane Stephens got the memo and choose to rewrite history. Stephens bursted on to the scene this week and made a statement that she is going to be a top 10 player and a threat to win a Slam.
Stephens was supposed to be a road bump for Serena. Stephens instead flipped the script on her way to her first Grand Slam semi final. Serena was not 100%; her serve was significantly slower and less impactful in the quarters. Nonetheless, Stephens was able to bounce back down 3-4 in the third set. I love to see that moment where a player reveals their resiliency and confidence at a higher level.
This Open was supposed to be the continuation of Serena Williams' charge for the Serena Slam. I guess Sloane Stephens got the memo and choose to rewrite history. Stephens bursted on to the scene this week and made a statement that she is going to be a top 10 player and a threat to win a Slam.
Stephens was supposed to be a road bump for Serena. Stephens instead flipped the script on her way to her first Grand Slam semi final. Serena was not 100%; her serve was significantly slower and less impactful in the quarters. Nonetheless, Stephens was able to bounce back down 3-4 in the third set. I love to see that moment where a player reveals their resiliency and confidence at a higher level.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Confident Sam Stosur Guts Out Win over Robson
Defending US Open champion Sam Stosur of Australia gutted out a two-set victory today at the US Open. Stosur overcame giant-killer Laura Robson who had sent Kim Clijsters in to retirement and then defeated Li Na. Despite losing serve while serving out the match, Stosur hung tough and got the job done on Sunday. The post-match interview details the thought process that kept Stosur believing and staying composed despite losing a number of match points (from USOpen.org).
Q. Were you thinking on those match points that she really rose to the occasion?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, I mean, I think out of the, what, nine that I missed, I didn't do too much wrong on at least half of them. So that being the case, I think you got to just take it for what it is. Okay, it's another point. You're hopefully going to get another chance if you keep doing what you should be doing. Kind of what I said to myself on the change of ends. Doesn't matter. See where it gets you. Disappointing not to have gotten in one of those other two games, but I still felt I was in a good position.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Nalbandian Loses Emotional Control and AEGON Championship with Kick
David Nalbandian kicked his way in to infamy Sunday at the AEGON Championships. In the second set of the final match against Marin Cilic Nalbandian was up a set but down 3-4. Nalbandian was clearly upset about losing the point as he sprinted towards the sideline. Then he kicked the barrier in front of the linesman. What Nalbandian may not have realized is that the barrier in front of linesman Andrew McDougall was not made to block anything but maybe a slightly struck tennis ball. The kick bloodied McDougall and ended with Nalbandian being disqualified from the match.
See the Nalbandian kick on YouTube
"I never intended to hit him (the line judge), it was an unfortunate reaction in which I wanted to let off steam after losing a point," Nalbandian's statement read (ESPN UK site).
Indeed it did not seem that Nalbandian had an issue with the linesman and acted with intention to harm him. However, this is why your parents tell you to count to ten when you are angry. Acting without thinking can create real problems.
See the Nalbandian kick on YouTube
"I never intended to hit him (the line judge), it was an unfortunate reaction in which I wanted to let off steam after losing a point," Nalbandian's statement read (ESPN UK site).
Indeed it did not seem that Nalbandian had an issue with the linesman and acted with intention to harm him. However, this is why your parents tell you to count to ten when you are angry. Acting without thinking can create real problems.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Baghdatis is Outshined when it comes to Breaking Rackets
Marcos Baghdatis became a household name and a youtube favorite, with his destruction of tennis rackets at the Australian Open. Don't remember, here it is
Baghdatis breaking rackets on australianopen.tv
I am sure Baghdatis would rather be remembered for his brilliant play that got him to an Aussie Open Final, but there is no doubt in this social media bonanza world we live in that his racket breaking brought him more attention.
While Marcos sets the record to my knowledge for the number of rackets broken in one match, all at one time, sometimes the type of break is even more impressive. This is a real man's racket breaking:
I will leave the perpetrator unnamed, but let's just say he "went all in"! Racket breaking can happen even to the best, most calm players. Remember Roger Federer's breaker at Miami in 2009?
Roger breaks a racket, for real
Baghdatis breaking rackets on australianopen.tv
I am sure Baghdatis would rather be remembered for his brilliant play that got him to an Aussie Open Final, but there is no doubt in this social media bonanza world we live in that his racket breaking brought him more attention.
While Marcos sets the record to my knowledge for the number of rackets broken in one match, all at one time, sometimes the type of break is even more impressive. This is a real man's racket breaking:
I will leave the perpetrator unnamed, but let's just say he "went all in"! Racket breaking can happen even to the best, most calm players. Remember Roger Federer's breaker at Miami in 2009?
Roger breaks a racket, for real
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Harrison's Loss Due to Control not Skill
Ryan Harrison lost in a tough first round matchup with #27 seed Marin Cilic. Harrison lost this match in straight sets, however, he served for two of the three sets. Harrison proved, as he has all summer, that he has the game to compete with the big guns on the ATP tour.
Game is not the reason Harrison lost in the first round of the 2011 US Open. Not even close. It was Harrison's inability to manage situations and his emotions effectively at crucial times. I cannot know for sure what Ryan was thinking on the court, but it seemed he got a little tight when serving it out. Then, when Cilic broke him he became frustrated, did not let go of these mistakes, and began expressing his displeasure. This is when the racket throwing and ball kicking barrage began.
These kinds of outbursts were more common in the days of Nastase, McEnroe, and Connors. The tennis community no longer is as supportive of the emotional player that exhibits his anger. Today players are trained from the time they are kids to contain their emotions and avoid these outbursts. I believe that children should not throw rackets, but as a byproduct of this socialization young adults are not very effective at using their anger and frustration to help them perform like McEnroe did so well.
On Monday Harrison has been unable to contain the outbursts. The fans at Louis Armstrong Stadium booed Harrison at the end of the match which has to be like putting salt on the wound. I think the booing was just as unsportsmanlike as Harrison's racket throwing by the way. It is not like Harrison's dogging it. In fact it is the complete opposite, he wants to win so badly that he has a hard time dealing with mistakes and losing sets when he is serving for it. I would imagine many of the tennis players in the crowd have had negative responses at times as well on the court. I agree with Justin Gimelstob, Harrison's young give him a break. And, he does need to learn from this match so it does not happen again.
Managing emotions is absolutely critical to winning at any level of tennis. However, for Harrison, who is seen as the next great American male player, the spotlight is shining brightly and the expectations can be a burden. This makes it all the more difficult. When a player is unable to positively and productively respond to the situation and how he or she is feeling the result is an emotional rollercoaster. Up after a winner and down in the doldrums after a break. And, as a result the player is likely to be inconsistent in their focus, decision-making, reactions, and ultimately performance. Further, when the pressure is on emotional players tend to play defensive and tentative because they do not want to lose the point.
In my opinion, this is how Harrison played against Cilic, up and down, making a lot of unforced errors, leaving opportunities on the table, being too negative, and playing too defensively in key moments (because he so badly did not want to lose). Unfortuantely, he was not able to get over his errors which certainly played a role in decisions like going for a drop shot in the tiebreak, losing the point, and from there it was a downhill slide until Cilic finished it off.
This is not a harsh criticism of Harrison. Most players struggle with their emotions and like all of us we are human and make mistakes. If like Federer Harrison can learn to manage his emotions effectively and hit out on his shots under pressure he can reach his potential. It is much easier to keep your racket firmly in your grip when you are executing under pressure! I am excited to see what Harrison will do as he learns to cope with the pressures of professional tennis.
Game is not the reason Harrison lost in the first round of the 2011 US Open. Not even close. It was Harrison's inability to manage situations and his emotions effectively at crucial times. I cannot know for sure what Ryan was thinking on the court, but it seemed he got a little tight when serving it out. Then, when Cilic broke him he became frustrated, did not let go of these mistakes, and began expressing his displeasure. This is when the racket throwing and ball kicking barrage began.
These kinds of outbursts were more common in the days of Nastase, McEnroe, and Connors. The tennis community no longer is as supportive of the emotional player that exhibits his anger. Today players are trained from the time they are kids to contain their emotions and avoid these outbursts. I believe that children should not throw rackets, but as a byproduct of this socialization young adults are not very effective at using their anger and frustration to help them perform like McEnroe did so well.
On Monday Harrison has been unable to contain the outbursts. The fans at Louis Armstrong Stadium booed Harrison at the end of the match which has to be like putting salt on the wound. I think the booing was just as unsportsmanlike as Harrison's racket throwing by the way. It is not like Harrison's dogging it. In fact it is the complete opposite, he wants to win so badly that he has a hard time dealing with mistakes and losing sets when he is serving for it. I would imagine many of the tennis players in the crowd have had negative responses at times as well on the court. I agree with Justin Gimelstob, Harrison's young give him a break. And, he does need to learn from this match so it does not happen again.
Managing emotions is absolutely critical to winning at any level of tennis. However, for Harrison, who is seen as the next great American male player, the spotlight is shining brightly and the expectations can be a burden. This makes it all the more difficult. When a player is unable to positively and productively respond to the situation and how he or she is feeling the result is an emotional rollercoaster. Up after a winner and down in the doldrums after a break. And, as a result the player is likely to be inconsistent in their focus, decision-making, reactions, and ultimately performance. Further, when the pressure is on emotional players tend to play defensive and tentative because they do not want to lose the point.
In my opinion, this is how Harrison played against Cilic, up and down, making a lot of unforced errors, leaving opportunities on the table, being too negative, and playing too defensively in key moments (because he so badly did not want to lose). Unfortuantely, he was not able to get over his errors which certainly played a role in decisions like going for a drop shot in the tiebreak, losing the point, and from there it was a downhill slide until Cilic finished it off.
This is not a harsh criticism of Harrison. Most players struggle with their emotions and like all of us we are human and make mistakes. If like Federer Harrison can learn to manage his emotions effectively and hit out on his shots under pressure he can reach his potential. It is much easier to keep your racket firmly in your grip when you are executing under pressure! I am excited to see what Harrison will do as he learns to cope with the pressures of professional tennis.
Friday, August 19, 2011
The Learning Mindset of Djokovic and Nadal: Focus on Solutions not Frustrations
In the summer of 2010 David Nalbandian (and I paraphrase) said that the reason Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are always playing in the final weekend and are ranked 1 and 2 without challenge is because of the mental game. Their mental toughness and confidence set them apart.
Fast forward 12 months... The biggest story of 2012 is Novak Djokovic. Novak is playing out of this world tennis and dominating top 10 players. The only tourney he entered that he didn't win was the French Open. And, Novak's effort at Wimbledon was historic. Winning his first Wimbledon and dethroning Nadal from the #1 ranking. What a fortnight!
(Want to read more about the Wimbledon Final and my take on what happened, download the free article on the Resources "PTR Exhibition of Conviction Djokovic Nadal")
But, how did Djokovic crack the stranglehold on the Top 2 rankings in tennis? Nadal and Federer have locked down the Top 2 for most of the last 6 years.
Novak was able to become the #1 player in the world and win Wimbledon because of two very important thought processes.
1. He believed in himself. He always believed he could be #1 in the World.
2. He was willing to work hard to make the necessary changes to pass Nadal and Federer.
Novak describes his mindset on how he finally reached his lifetime goals...
Q. When you started to play really well, Federer and Nadal had the world divided and they owned the world basically. How difficult was it to break this, both personally, psychologically in your own mind, to be able to beat both these guys, and also just in general?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, we all know the careers of Nadal and Federer. We don't need to spend words again. They have been the two most dominant players in the world the last five years. They have won most of the majors we are playing on.
So sometimes it did feel a little bit frustrating when you kind of get to the later stages of a Grand Slam, meaning last four, last eight, and then you have to meet them. They always come up with their best tennis when it matters the most.
But, look, you know, it's a process of learning, a process of developing and improving as a tennis player, as a person, and just finding the way to mentally overcome those pressures and expectations and issues that you have.
I always believed that I have quality to beat those two guys. I always believed I have quality to win majors, Grand Slams, and that was the only way I could be here in this position, you know.
I mean, I have full respect for those two guys, what they have done. Anytime I play them, I mean, it's a great match. But the mental approach has to be positive. You know, I have to win this match. There's no other way.
(Djokovic Wimbledon Press Conference from ASAPsports.com, July 3, 2011)
If we can teach this mindset to junior players imagine how many would reach their potential? The belief to achieve great things even in the face of serious and realistic barriers, and the work ethic to not only work hard but to work on the things that were difficult. Djokovic was serving more double faults than aces at this time last year, but now his serve is a weapon as evidenced by his Wimbledon title.
Djokovic can't get complacent and he knows this, because the hardest working player that has defined the ability to learn and adapt is ranked #2 - Rafael Nadal. And, with this awesome, open-to-learning mindset Nadal will for sure be a factor at the Open and challenging for the #1 spot.
RAFAEL NADAL: The game is easy. The game is not that difficult. So think about a lot of things will be a mistake, in my opinion. Don't think is how you playing well, how you not playing that well.
Is true we can analyze that my game is not bothering him. We have to find how I can bother him another time. I did in the past.
He's in the best moment of his career. That's true, too. I am in one of the best moments of my career. Still not enough for him. I have to play longer. I have to play more aggressive. I have to have less mistakes. Yes, that's what I have to do.
But start to think if his backhand or he takes the ball earlier, yeah, he's very complete player. He has good backhand, very good forehand, good serve. His movements probably are one of the best in of the world in this moment.
Seriously, I lose because I am playing against the best player of the moment, the best player of the world tomorrow, and I am the second. And when you play against these players and they are playing unbelievable, the normal thing is lose. That's what happened last few times.
My experience says this level is not forever. Even for me when I was last year winning three Grand Slams, my level of last year is not forever. Probably the level of Novak of today is not forever. I gonna be here fighting all the time, waiting my moment. I don't have to wait a lot, because I already won three tournaments this year and one Grand Slam. But waiting my moment to beat him another time.
I understand the sport like this. When one player is better than you, at this moment the only thing you can do is work, try to find solutions, and try to wait a little bit for your time.
Last five times wasn't my time. I gonna wait and I gonna try to a sixth. And if the sixth doesn't happen, to the seventh. It's going to be like this. That's the spirit of the sport.
(Nadal Wimbledon Press Conference ASAPsports, July 3, 2011)
Again, if you could bottle-up this mentality, the solution-focus, and give it to juniors imagine how it would affect the development of our young juniors in the US.
For coaches and parents... Did you notice how often Nadal said "this moment"? It shows his mindset. Rafa definitely gives credit to Djokovic and believes he was the better player in this moment. However, with hard work and more opportunities Nadal has total belief that he can find a way "to bother" Novak and begin beating him again.
I cannot wait to see what Rafa tries to do to overcome Novak's dominance of 2011 and Novak's response. This will be great tennis!
Fast forward 12 months... The biggest story of 2012 is Novak Djokovic. Novak is playing out of this world tennis and dominating top 10 players. The only tourney he entered that he didn't win was the French Open. And, Novak's effort at Wimbledon was historic. Winning his first Wimbledon and dethroning Nadal from the #1 ranking. What a fortnight!
(Want to read more about the Wimbledon Final and my take on what happened, download the free article on the Resources "PTR Exhibition of Conviction Djokovic Nadal")
But, how did Djokovic crack the stranglehold on the Top 2 rankings in tennis? Nadal and Federer have locked down the Top 2 for most of the last 6 years.
Novak was able to become the #1 player in the world and win Wimbledon because of two very important thought processes.
1. He believed in himself. He always believed he could be #1 in the World.
2. He was willing to work hard to make the necessary changes to pass Nadal and Federer.
Novak describes his mindset on how he finally reached his lifetime goals...
Q. When you started to play really well, Federer and Nadal had the world divided and they owned the world basically. How difficult was it to break this, both personally, psychologically in your own mind, to be able to beat both these guys, and also just in general?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, we all know the careers of Nadal and Federer. We don't need to spend words again. They have been the two most dominant players in the world the last five years. They have won most of the majors we are playing on.
So sometimes it did feel a little bit frustrating when you kind of get to the later stages of a Grand Slam, meaning last four, last eight, and then you have to meet them. They always come up with their best tennis when it matters the most.
But, look, you know, it's a process of learning, a process of developing and improving as a tennis player, as a person, and just finding the way to mentally overcome those pressures and expectations and issues that you have.
I always believed that I have quality to beat those two guys. I always believed I have quality to win majors, Grand Slams, and that was the only way I could be here in this position, you know.
I mean, I have full respect for those two guys, what they have done. Anytime I play them, I mean, it's a great match. But the mental approach has to be positive. You know, I have to win this match. There's no other way.
(Djokovic Wimbledon Press Conference from ASAPsports.com, July 3, 2011)
If we can teach this mindset to junior players imagine how many would reach their potential? The belief to achieve great things even in the face of serious and realistic barriers, and the work ethic to not only work hard but to work on the things that were difficult. Djokovic was serving more double faults than aces at this time last year, but now his serve is a weapon as evidenced by his Wimbledon title.
Djokovic can't get complacent and he knows this, because the hardest working player that has defined the ability to learn and adapt is ranked #2 - Rafael Nadal. And, with this awesome, open-to-learning mindset Nadal will for sure be a factor at the Open and challenging for the #1 spot.
RAFAEL NADAL: The game is easy. The game is not that difficult. So think about a lot of things will be a mistake, in my opinion. Don't think is how you playing well, how you not playing that well.
Is true we can analyze that my game is not bothering him. We have to find how I can bother him another time. I did in the past.
He's in the best moment of his career. That's true, too. I am in one of the best moments of my career. Still not enough for him. I have to play longer. I have to play more aggressive. I have to have less mistakes. Yes, that's what I have to do.
But start to think if his backhand or he takes the ball earlier, yeah, he's very complete player. He has good backhand, very good forehand, good serve. His movements probably are one of the best in of the world in this moment.
Seriously, I lose because I am playing against the best player of the moment, the best player of the world tomorrow, and I am the second. And when you play against these players and they are playing unbelievable, the normal thing is lose. That's what happened last few times.
My experience says this level is not forever. Even for me when I was last year winning three Grand Slams, my level of last year is not forever. Probably the level of Novak of today is not forever. I gonna be here fighting all the time, waiting my moment. I don't have to wait a lot, because I already won three tournaments this year and one Grand Slam. But waiting my moment to beat him another time.
I understand the sport like this. When one player is better than you, at this moment the only thing you can do is work, try to find solutions, and try to wait a little bit for your time.
Last five times wasn't my time. I gonna wait and I gonna try to a sixth. And if the sixth doesn't happen, to the seventh. It's going to be like this. That's the spirit of the sport.
(Nadal Wimbledon Press Conference ASAPsports, July 3, 2011)
Again, if you could bottle-up this mentality, the solution-focus, and give it to juniors imagine how it would affect the development of our young juniors in the US.
For coaches and parents... Did you notice how often Nadal said "this moment"? It shows his mindset. Rafa definitely gives credit to Djokovic and believes he was the better player in this moment. However, with hard work and more opportunities Nadal has total belief that he can find a way "to bother" Novak and begin beating him again.
I cannot wait to see what Rafa tries to do to overcome Novak's dominance of 2011 and Novak's response. This will be great tennis!
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