Back in the 1800s when I still called myself a tennis player, wooden racquet firmly in hand (because it was too heavy to hold with a loose grip), I struggled to break through a glass wall.
Very well said. Regarding fragrances, don't bother trying to pin down a signature scent because your taste will change. Instead, find an array of scents that will make you happy in different moods and seasons.
Gaining competency at something builds self esteem. Self esteem means you don't need an outsider's comments to decide if you're on the right path or doing well. Gaining competency requires focusing on improvements and not on weaknesses or failures. "I am better every day, and I'm already fantastic" is the moment to moment attitude that underlays truly solid self esteem. I think that your term inner strength is just such a mindset. In contrast, Confidence is, in fact, fleeting, and can be struck down by a single failure, that failure proving that confidence is falsely present. Thanks for making me think about all this!
While that's a most unexpected reaction, and so kind of you to think so, I think I only did a Cliff's Notes paragraph on the gist of what you were sharing. But mine was totally devoid of the humor, cross-cultural connections, and genuine "Wow!" factor that your Finite Jest always brings. Reading your Jest is like getting to dance with you inside your head, a rare treat, and one I am grateful for every week, not just as tennis a nerd but as a fellow human soul on this bizarre and confusing journey on the third rock around the Sun. As other say on the comments, Love you!
Andrea wrote: “Confidence comes from hill sprints in the woods when nobody’s watching,…”
I think of inner strength a bit differently. Confidence may come from those sprints, but it’s inner drive that gets one into the woods, and belief that they will help make a difference that gets one repeating those sprints time after time when no one is looking. Belief is conditional, which is why it can vary situation to situation, such as the difference between you on a tennis court and with a pen (or keyboard) in hand. I think of Inner strength as more about how one sees and reacts to challenges in life. It brings together drive and belief and ability into how one persists in the face of obstacles (not to be confused with stubbornness). It is not variable. It is a personality characteristic that is there, or not, to be drawn upon when needed.
Afterthought. For some people, “drawn upon when needed” is a personality constant, as a battle to win no matter what the circumstances. I find it hard to think of that as inner strength, but it is on the continuum, part of what makes them who they are…or so they think.
Really good writing, one of your most lyrical. You may yet be Thomas Mann or Joseph Conrad and people will say, "Did you know she played professional tennis when she was young?"
For the most wonderful fragrance this side of paradise go to L'Isle sur la Sorgue, Provence (20 kilometers east of Avignon) and enter "Dongiers" at 30 Av. des Quatre Otages. In the back are three different sets of roses growing up small trellises, orange, red and white roses that will make you cry. Here is the poem.
This is simply wonderful - loving the honesty and fantastic word-smithery ... not to mention unearthing such an interesting angle that I know will stay with me long, long after today!
A couple of years ago, with too much time on my hands and a computer in front of me, I looked up the rankings of every ATP number one player when they were 18. I was kind of surprised that all of them, were already in the top 50 at that age. After I started following this, I then followed, over the years, players who were tabbed as "prospects" or, the "next one" and sure enough, the rule held. I just looked and it holds for Sinner and Alcaraz as well. I have time for this comment, but I would not be surprised if the same holds on the WTA tour. Why is this relevant? Well, I think its backs up your thought that the top players, and in your case, Andrea, you are talking about like ten people, just have that certain something other do not have, and, they are basically born with it. I suppose there is another list of those in the top 50 at 18 who never make it to number one, but that is a different analysis. For some reason it brings order to the chaos that the top 100 is not random, the top 50 is not random, the top 10 is not random, and number one is not random. It would not make me happy to think its all about hitting 10,000 more of a certain shot. Finally, although this is another column, there is of course some other player, whose top ranking ever was say 75, who looked up at you and spent sleepless nights trying to figure out what you had that she did not.
I am not so sure, that your theory holds. Rankings change all the time. There multiple reasons for it. Players get hurt, they skip some tournamets, depending how serious is the injury. I beleieve. S.Zverev was out 9 months after really scary fall at the French Open. Sometimes players are out even for couple of years and need basically start from scratch.
Sinner and Alcaraz right now are above every one else, that's why they are firmly number 1-2
Nadal, Federer and Djokovic were the top 3 players for many years for the same reason.
They were better than the rest of the top 10 - 20 players. Del Potro was also great, but wrist inury ruined his chances to stay at the top 10.
Inner strength is a great quality. It is possible that a person is born with it. I have an Olympic Weight Lifting bakground. Some of the best athletes in seventies were
G.Ivanchenko, J.Talts, D. Rigert W.Bazsanowski. They all had this quality.
After a quick search on Wikipedia and referring to the WTA year-end rankings, which provides a conservative result since players may have had higher rankings during the season, I obtained the following information:
Only Lindsay Davenport, Angelique Kerber, Garbiñe Muguruza, Simona Halep, Karolína Plíšková, Ashleigh Barty, and Aryna Sabalenka (that's 6 of the last 7 world No. 1s, plus Davenport!) were not definitively in the top 50 before turning 19. This seems to indicate a shift, likely justified by the more widespread athleticism in recent women's tennis, which has made the path to the top slightly longer.
On perfumes: have you heard of Imaginary Authors? I’m confident you’d appreciate the concept and putting together a "short story collection" is a great way to sample the fragrances. Of course, you’ll have to include The Soft Lawn in your set. https://imaginaryauthors.com/collections/fragrances/products/the-soft-lawn
I can say, as someone who‘s reading Deborah Levys novel about Gertrude Stein at the moment, you mentioning her made my Friday a bit better :)) Loved your writing as always 💙
The players who come immediately to mind for having inner strength are Rafa Nadal and Steffi Graf. I admire your candor, Andrea, and your writing. Never expected to read about Gertrude Stein in a tennis article. 🙂
Another outstanding piece. In a very crowded inbox, your work is always a must-read, prioritized for when life is not frenetic with work or daily demands. When I can savor every word over a cup of strong coffee, not skimming. And sometimes re-reading. Thank you, Andrea.
If you're ever in Portland, OR, there is a magical perfume shop called Fumerie you must check out. A great and now back to being underrated city to visit too!
Very well said. Regarding fragrances, don't bother trying to pin down a signature scent because your taste will change. Instead, find an array of scents that will make you happy in different moods and seasons.
i like that approach!
Gaining competency at something builds self esteem. Self esteem means you don't need an outsider's comments to decide if you're on the right path or doing well. Gaining competency requires focusing on improvements and not on weaknesses or failures. "I am better every day, and I'm already fantastic" is the moment to moment attitude that underlays truly solid self esteem. I think that your term inner strength is just such a mindset. In contrast, Confidence is, in fact, fleeting, and can be struck down by a single failure, that failure proving that confidence is falsely present. Thanks for making me think about all this!
you just wrote in one paragraph what i needed 3000+ words for!
While that's a most unexpected reaction, and so kind of you to think so, I think I only did a Cliff's Notes paragraph on the gist of what you were sharing. But mine was totally devoid of the humor, cross-cultural connections, and genuine "Wow!" factor that your Finite Jest always brings. Reading your Jest is like getting to dance with you inside your head, a rare treat, and one I am grateful for every week, not just as tennis a nerd but as a fellow human soul on this bizarre and confusing journey on the third rock around the Sun. As other say on the comments, Love you!
love this, love you
❤️
Andrea wrote: “Confidence comes from hill sprints in the woods when nobody’s watching,…”
I think of inner strength a bit differently. Confidence may come from those sprints, but it’s inner drive that gets one into the woods, and belief that they will help make a difference that gets one repeating those sprints time after time when no one is looking. Belief is conditional, which is why it can vary situation to situation, such as the difference between you on a tennis court and with a pen (or keyboard) in hand. I think of Inner strength as more about how one sees and reacts to challenges in life. It brings together drive and belief and ability into how one persists in the face of obstacles (not to be confused with stubbornness). It is not variable. It is a personality characteristic that is there, or not, to be drawn upon when needed.
Afterthought. For some people, “drawn upon when needed” is a personality constant, as a battle to win no matter what the circumstances. I find it hard to think of that as inner strength, but it is on the continuum, part of what makes them who they are…or so they think.
Again--insight and clarity--something I get after reading you. And the blueberry send off really made me smile. I will do that! Thanks again.
Really good writing, one of your most lyrical. You may yet be Thomas Mann or Joseph Conrad and people will say, "Did you know she played professional tennis when she was young?"
For the most wonderful fragrance this side of paradise go to L'Isle sur la Sorgue, Provence (20 kilometers east of Avignon) and enter "Dongiers" at 30 Av. des Quatre Otages. In the back are three different sets of roses growing up small trellises, orange, red and white roses that will make you cry. Here is the poem.
https://westonpparker.substack.com/p/rose-of-all-roses
Sniffing fragrances is a wonderful way to while away airport time.
This is simply wonderful - loving the honesty and fantastic word-smithery ... not to mention unearthing such an interesting angle that I know will stay with me long, long after today!
A couple of years ago, with too much time on my hands and a computer in front of me, I looked up the rankings of every ATP number one player when they were 18. I was kind of surprised that all of them, were already in the top 50 at that age. After I started following this, I then followed, over the years, players who were tabbed as "prospects" or, the "next one" and sure enough, the rule held. I just looked and it holds for Sinner and Alcaraz as well. I have time for this comment, but I would not be surprised if the same holds on the WTA tour. Why is this relevant? Well, I think its backs up your thought that the top players, and in your case, Andrea, you are talking about like ten people, just have that certain something other do not have, and, they are basically born with it. I suppose there is another list of those in the top 50 at 18 who never make it to number one, but that is a different analysis. For some reason it brings order to the chaos that the top 100 is not random, the top 50 is not random, the top 10 is not random, and number one is not random. It would not make me happy to think its all about hitting 10,000 more of a certain shot. Finally, although this is another column, there is of course some other player, whose top ranking ever was say 75, who looked up at you and spent sleepless nights trying to figure out what you had that she did not.
Hank,
I am not so sure, that your theory holds. Rankings change all the time. There multiple reasons for it. Players get hurt, they skip some tournamets, depending how serious is the injury. I beleieve. S.Zverev was out 9 months after really scary fall at the French Open. Sometimes players are out even for couple of years and need basically start from scratch.
Sinner and Alcaraz right now are above every one else, that's why they are firmly number 1-2
Nadal, Federer and Djokovic were the top 3 players for many years for the same reason.
They were better than the rest of the top 10 - 20 players. Del Potro was also great, but wrist inury ruined his chances to stay at the top 10.
Inner strength is a great quality. It is possible that a person is born with it. I have an Olympic Weight Lifting bakground. Some of the best athletes in seventies were
G.Ivanchenko, J.Talts, D. Rigert W.Bazsanowski. They all had this quality.
After a quick search on Wikipedia and referring to the WTA year-end rankings, which provides a conservative result since players may have had higher rankings during the season, I obtained the following information:
Only Lindsay Davenport, Angelique Kerber, Garbiñe Muguruza, Simona Halep, Karolína Plíšková, Ashleigh Barty, and Aryna Sabalenka (that's 6 of the last 7 world No. 1s, plus Davenport!) were not definitively in the top 50 before turning 19. This seems to indicate a shift, likely justified by the more widespread athleticism in recent women's tennis, which has made the path to the top slightly longer.
You were born too early, Andrea :o(
Get a discovery set from Nonfiction!
On perfumes: have you heard of Imaginary Authors? I’m confident you’d appreciate the concept and putting together a "short story collection" is a great way to sample the fragrances. Of course, you’ll have to include The Soft Lawn in your set. https://imaginaryauthors.com/collections/fragrances/products/the-soft-lawn
Beautiful and perceptive Andrea well done 👏
I can say, as someone who‘s reading Deborah Levys novel about Gertrude Stein at the moment, you mentioning her made my Friday a bit better :)) Loved your writing as always 💙
i’m reading it, too! twinsies LOL
stop you’re kidding haha
The players who come immediately to mind for having inner strength are Rafa Nadal and Steffi Graf. I admire your candor, Andrea, and your writing. Never expected to read about Gertrude Stein in a tennis article. 🙂
Another outstanding piece. In a very crowded inbox, your work is always a must-read, prioritized for when life is not frenetic with work or daily demands. When I can savor every word over a cup of strong coffee, not skimming. And sometimes re-reading. Thank you, Andrea.
If you're ever in Portland, OR, there is a magical perfume shop called Fumerie you must check out. A great and now back to being underrated city to visit too!