I loved this quote from Jannik about this idea: “The reason why I chose tennis was, in tennis you can make mistakes. You can lose points but you can still win the match. In skiing, if you make one mistake, one big mistake, you cannot win.”
This is a great…point. Tennis while brutal is actually potentially quite forgiving. A player can make dozens of errors and additional bad choices and somehow still win the match.
I absolutely love the way you talk about tennis. And I absolutely agree about Iga. I think that one of the biggest things she's missing is how she wants to take full responsibility for how the match turned out. I read about how Brad Gilbert helped Andre Agassi when he was struggling; it was mostly about being mindful of what was happening on the other side of the net.
I admire Iga, and I always root for her. Not because she's Polish as I am, though (I don't support sportspeople based on the nation they represent). I also believe it's mature and just right to focus on yourself and do your best.
But you have to accept that there will be things you can't control. Your opponent is just better, or you're having a bad day. I think she will be closer to accepting it as she gets older.
Sometimes, wanting something too hard makes it only more distant. I think Coco's struggles are also rooted in wanting it too much.
I loved what Madi Keys said after she won AO last year. For years, she wanted to win a slam but couldn't. And then, she did. I think she said something about how she still wanted it but didn't need it, and that was the change. That's maturity.
Another perfectly imperfect column. So love it when these pop into my inbox. Out of curiosity why are you back in Germany instead of Brooklyn? Not that anyone could be blamed for avoiding NY minus 10 temps atm!
One question: I get that tennis is mainly an individual sport, but how does Doubles & BJK Cup / Davis Cup fit? Is it hard to adapt to a team mentality? Are there players (Stan Wawrinka, maybe?) who are quite "teamy" ?
Andrea, you wrote: “…goals not accomplished have always brought forth wisdom.”
This is a popular myth. If it were true, most psychologists would be out of business. Therein is why Iga carries a psychologist around with her.
Billie Jean King talks about how she asks players she’s coaching, after a match they’ve won, what they did to succeed. She reports players are often stymied by this question. But in the answer is a lot of wisdom.
Surprised to hear you calling a spot in Germany home. I thought you had a cozy nook in NYC with your boyfriend, and semi-close to Rennae Stubbs, no? Oh, well, enjoy house decorating; just don't expect that when it's done, it will look perfect.
I loved this quote from Jannik about this idea: “The reason why I chose tennis was, in tennis you can make mistakes. You can lose points but you can still win the match. In skiing, if you make one mistake, one big mistake, you cannot win.”
Lindsey Vonn might disagree with Jannik, but that is an interesting perspective.
This is a great…point. Tennis while brutal is actually potentially quite forgiving. A player can make dozens of errors and additional bad choices and somehow still win the match.
I’m sorry. Which Roy?
Pretty sure this is a reference to "Siegfried and Roy".
I absolutely love the way you talk about tennis. And I absolutely agree about Iga. I think that one of the biggest things she's missing is how she wants to take full responsibility for how the match turned out. I read about how Brad Gilbert helped Andre Agassi when he was struggling; it was mostly about being mindful of what was happening on the other side of the net.
I admire Iga, and I always root for her. Not because she's Polish as I am, though (I don't support sportspeople based on the nation they represent). I also believe it's mature and just right to focus on yourself and do your best.
But you have to accept that there will be things you can't control. Your opponent is just better, or you're having a bad day. I think she will be closer to accepting it as she gets older.
Sometimes, wanting something too hard makes it only more distant. I think Coco's struggles are also rooted in wanting it too much.
I loved what Madi Keys said after she won AO last year. For years, she wanted to win a slam but couldn't. And then, she did. I think she said something about how she still wanted it but didn't need it, and that was the change. That's maturity.
slipped in that “perfect profile of a man” like we won’t notice smh I know what you are
😂
Andrea, you are perfectly imperfect. Thanks for lifting my mood as I suffer from the post-AO blues.
A Siegfried and Roy reference. Just when you think you’ve read it all. :)
Great piece. You are fantastic. If I were 40 years younger I’d “court” you.( Pun intended. )
As always, your writing is so entertaining - even when you’re not writing about tennis. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with all of us!
living in Canada, I get cold feet if contemplating buying an issue of Architectural Digest
Another perfectly imperfect column. So love it when these pop into my inbox. Out of curiosity why are you back in Germany instead of Brooklyn? Not that anyone could be blamed for avoiding NY minus 10 temps atm!
The tiger thought it was too many takes. Wonderful, thanks.
Also:
„Hitting a tennis ball dead perfect. The only peace.“
I’m not sure I nailed that but: every tennis player (even less than mediocre recreational players like myself) can relate to that.
Side note: I picked that up in Perth 15 years ago.
Es war ein Mängelexemplar. Und irgendwie schließt das doch einen Kreis, oder?
Hi Andrea, Very thought-provoking as always.
One question: I get that tennis is mainly an individual sport, but how does Doubles & BJK Cup / Davis Cup fit? Is it hard to adapt to a team mentality? Are there players (Stan Wawrinka, maybe?) who are quite "teamy" ?
Just curious.
Thanks and best wishes,
Julie.
Paul here, I resemble that remark 😉
Andrea, you wrote: “…goals not accomplished have always brought forth wisdom.”
This is a popular myth. If it were true, most psychologists would be out of business. Therein is why Iga carries a psychologist around with her.
Billie Jean King talks about how she asks players she’s coaching, after a match they’ve won, what they did to succeed. She reports players are often stymied by this question. But in the answer is a lot of wisdom.
Surprised to hear you calling a spot in Germany home. I thought you had a cozy nook in NYC with your boyfriend, and semi-close to Rennae Stubbs, no? Oh, well, enjoy house decorating; just don't expect that when it's done, it will look perfect.
Always makes me laugh!🫶🏼