The discussion between you and Guy Helminger in Luxembourg was really inspiring and offered exciting insights. It was a pity that there was no time for questions from the audience, as this would (perhaps) have enriched the discussion further.
By the way, Charles Munchen, the founder of Brasserie Guillaume, achieved something remarkable that few had managed at the time (in Luxembourg): he brought together people from vastly different social backgrounds. It was revolutionary for the era – bankers, artists, homosexuals, and heterosexuals all mingled and celebrated together in a way that was unprecedented. His venues became melting pots of diversity, breaking down social barriers and creating a vibrant, inclusive atmosphere that was ahead of its time.
Another great insight into, not just tennis, but elite sport. Thank you Andrea. Totally agree about music in restaurants; in fact music everywhere. Why do we need to shop with background music, talk, eat, drink, travel. I can play it when I want it - which isn't all the time.
This post brought back a long ago memory. 45 or so years ago, when I was in my early 20s, I won the Syracuse New York 4 wall city handball championship. The moment of elation I felt when I hit the final shot has never been duplicated. But I also remember the feeling of showering alone in an empty locker room after the match. Every one else had gone home. At the beginning of tournaments, locker rooms are crowded and full of energy. By the end, the only players left are the finalists. (I don’t know where my finals’ competitor went after the match.). It was such a let down. I had all this excitement bubbling inside of me and no one to share it with. Of course, that’s not the case with elite athletes, who have coaches and trainers and physios to celebrate with. But for a lowly “athlete” like me, it was a singularly private, and lonely, moment.
You are such a fine writer. I followed you when you were playing professional tennis and now I look forward to reading what you have to say. So thank you!
You've ventured into the realm of superstitions held by athletes, although marvelously couched it in technical "planning" for the next success terms. Humans are notoriously bad at seeing and understanding sequences that are likely random but which the brain seeks to attribute cause and effect explanations for. You win three matches in a row after eating Dukie's chicken wings, so you eat Dukie's wings before the fourth match, your brain being convinced that after just three sequences, far too few for validity, it has determined the cause of your success. This is an entire field of systems thinking, breaking through the false paradigms of cause and effect based on just a couple of events. You might like Donnella Meadows classic on this: "Thinking in Systems: A Primer", or the more dense but interesting Senge's :"Fifth Discipline Handbook". I'm always amazed at how you take graduate school insights of socio-technical nature and apply them to your own life, and to tennis. So cool!
thanks for a really excellent explanation of what it means to be at the top and how hard it is to stay there. Nick Kyrgios (who never got there and never will) described today how in his case it has always been a matter of 'imposter syndrome' - a certainty that he does not belong there and therefore can't and won't get there, even at the times when he is nearly at the top or occasionally has been in the top fifteen. total lack of belief in his own abilities. You have to know that you belong there or you can't stay. It's not about arrogance (which he is accused of) but self belief (which he is never accused of!) Where do Carlos and Sinner stand on this one? They don't have to compare themselves with the big three every day. Only with each other.
You are set up perfectly for your next post. :) Guess who has two ATP records extremely unlikely to fall in the next decades? The records are (1) most wins at Roland Garros, and (2) most weeks ranked number 2 in the ATP rankings? (not “in” the top 2, but “ranked 2”). A hint which no one needs —- full initials are RNP. :) :) I remember the years when that player was setting the second of those two records, really special. Just like the ten years after that.
The discussion between you and Guy Helminger in Luxembourg was really inspiring and offered exciting insights. It was a pity that there was no time for questions from the audience, as this would (perhaps) have enriched the discussion further.
By the way, Charles Munchen, the founder of Brasserie Guillaume, achieved something remarkable that few had managed at the time (in Luxembourg): he brought together people from vastly different social backgrounds. It was revolutionary for the era – bankers, artists, homosexuals, and heterosexuals all mingled and celebrated together in a way that was unprecedented. His venues became melting pots of diversity, breaking down social barriers and creating a vibrant, inclusive atmosphere that was ahead of its time.
Ok if you brought up the subject, skincare routine article when? 💆🏻♀️
LOL! soon 🙏🏻
Another great insight into, not just tennis, but elite sport. Thank you Andrea. Totally agree about music in restaurants; in fact music everywhere. Why do we need to shop with background music, talk, eat, drink, travel. I can play it when I want it - which isn't all the time.
Love your writing, so funny and smart! Will your book come out in the USA? 🙏
Volvo EX30! Cutie!
This post brought back a long ago memory. 45 or so years ago, when I was in my early 20s, I won the Syracuse New York 4 wall city handball championship. The moment of elation I felt when I hit the final shot has never been duplicated. But I also remember the feeling of showering alone in an empty locker room after the match. Every one else had gone home. At the beginning of tournaments, locker rooms are crowded and full of energy. By the end, the only players left are the finalists. (I don’t know where my finals’ competitor went after the match.). It was such a let down. I had all this excitement bubbling inside of me and no one to share it with. Of course, that’s not the case with elite athletes, who have coaches and trainers and physios to celebrate with. But for a lowly “athlete” like me, it was a singularly private, and lonely, moment.
You are such a fine writer. I followed you when you were playing professional tennis and now I look forward to reading what you have to say. So thank you!
Such a sick whip!! 🎾
Andrea, you may like this Ed Sheeran song. Wes
https://westonpparker.substack.com/p/a-dance-song
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
Two can be as bad as one
It's the loneliest number since the number one
- the one and only Harry Nilsson
You've ventured into the realm of superstitions held by athletes, although marvelously couched it in technical "planning" for the next success terms. Humans are notoriously bad at seeing and understanding sequences that are likely random but which the brain seeks to attribute cause and effect explanations for. You win three matches in a row after eating Dukie's chicken wings, so you eat Dukie's wings before the fourth match, your brain being convinced that after just three sequences, far too few for validity, it has determined the cause of your success. This is an entire field of systems thinking, breaking through the false paradigms of cause and effect based on just a couple of events. You might like Donnella Meadows classic on this: "Thinking in Systems: A Primer", or the more dense but interesting Senge's :"Fifth Discipline Handbook". I'm always amazed at how you take graduate school insights of socio-technical nature and apply them to your own life, and to tennis. So cool!
Wie immer- ganz toll geschrieben! Danke.
thanks for a really excellent explanation of what it means to be at the top and how hard it is to stay there. Nick Kyrgios (who never got there and never will) described today how in his case it has always been a matter of 'imposter syndrome' - a certainty that he does not belong there and therefore can't and won't get there, even at the times when he is nearly at the top or occasionally has been in the top fifteen. total lack of belief in his own abilities. You have to know that you belong there or you can't stay. It's not about arrogance (which he is accused of) but self belief (which he is never accused of!) Where do Carlos and Sinner stand on this one? They don't have to compare themselves with the big three every day. Only with each other.
You are set up perfectly for your next post. :) Guess who has two ATP records extremely unlikely to fall in the next decades? The records are (1) most wins at Roland Garros, and (2) most weeks ranked number 2 in the ATP rankings? (not “in” the top 2, but “ranked 2”). A hint which no one needs —- full initials are RNP. :) :) I remember the years when that player was setting the second of those two records, really special. Just like the ten years after that.
Thank you Andrea for another great piece decribing the intersections (with no traffic lights) between tennis and life!
Any plans for selling English versions of your books? Apologies if I missed that somewhere. The yellow car is rad, BTW!
haha - thank you 🚕 unfortunately no :(