In his novel Anna Karenina the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy writes: „All happy families are alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”
I’m glad you finally realized you had done all you could do with your tennis. I am 83 years old and still remember my losses in team tennis 30 years ago! So I will re-read your column and hopefully give myself a break!
"Two years later, I can say I was wrong. I had done everything and in this, finally, I found peace. It wasn’t the all deafening, extinguishing quality of a triumph I felt. The thing that makes everything else feel forgotten. No, it was the certainty that I had given it my all and therein I found satisfaction."
I wonder if you will also, now, or later, agree with something else I think follows: wherever we are at the moment, we have, by definition, done our best. Perhaps it should read "done our best so far" or something like that. I think its wise to not conflate future effort (which we can control) with past effort (which cannot be changed no matter how much we analyze it). Tennis, in particular, leads one to over analyze past efforts, so much so that you almost think that if you focus hard enough you can change them. Which of course is absurd. :)
Whoa, you really outdid yourself this time! Hot swimmer photo, Mick Jagger, Tolstoy, Serena, nuts and a whole lot of wisdom in one post. This is both looking back and looking forward...the best kind of writing. Thank you for the lovely Valentine! (Agree on L.A...driving to walk IS senseless!)
I know it was a toss off, a bit of writer's wrap up, but, geez, I hate to hear you talk down to yourself with the cold, black heart thing. Someone who uses contemplative self-examination to sum up her professional athletic career with just one word, humility, has a very different heart.
C'mon Andrea, throw us a specific example or two...it will help us plebes understand how a top 10 player (or top anyone) can come to terms with a rival who is just plain better.
Niland’s book, “The Racquet” shared a thought on his career. He noted that after he retired he didn’t feel he reached his full potential but simultaneously felt he did everything he possibly could to reach it. Certainly, the latter in this dichotomy can help with a sense of satisfaction. The tough lesson is that maximal effort doesn’t always equal desired progress. So many unseen or unrecognized factors that cannot be controlled come into play…
Trenchant and bittersweet as always. Would love to have you write something about the players we don’t see / all the players who don’t make the news in the same ways as the ones who frame our screens. I don’t mean yet another story of journey players, but more about players who are just hitting hundred (still elite/ but not quite) and making their way through the circuit. There is such a paucity of such stories in terms of the WTA tour. Especially as the world breaks up along geopolitical lines, and we hear less and less of cross- regional friendships that are part of the workings of the tour. Ahem. We do have Daria‘s blog which is an entertaining sideshow!
Two famous song references: Shakira sang about her hips not lying when it comes to desire and attraction, and Jagger sang about not getting any satisfaction (but Andrea is saying he just looked in the wrong places)
Germans don't always bring rain, but when we do we know how to handle it. And that's not really a cause for being humble but rather a cause to be happy.
I can’t say this is the best thing you’ve written: maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. Definitely on the short list though. Great work and much appreciated.
In our house, your retirement was felt way more deeply than Serena's. No offense to Serena.
I’m glad you finally realized you had done all you could do with your tennis. I am 83 years old and still remember my losses in team tennis 30 years ago! So I will re-read your column and hopefully give myself a break!
Nice to see this, as I completeley agree:
"Two years later, I can say I was wrong. I had done everything and in this, finally, I found peace. It wasn’t the all deafening, extinguishing quality of a triumph I felt. The thing that makes everything else feel forgotten. No, it was the certainty that I had given it my all and therein I found satisfaction."
I wonder if you will also, now, or later, agree with something else I think follows: wherever we are at the moment, we have, by definition, done our best. Perhaps it should read "done our best so far" or something like that. I think its wise to not conflate future effort (which we can control) with past effort (which cannot be changed no matter how much we analyze it). Tennis, in particular, leads one to over analyze past efforts, so much so that you almost think that if you focus hard enough you can change them. Which of course is absurd. :)
Thanks for another great post.
Whoa, you really outdid yourself this time! Hot swimmer photo, Mick Jagger, Tolstoy, Serena, nuts and a whole lot of wisdom in one post. This is both looking back and looking forward...the best kind of writing. Thank you for the lovely Valentine! (Agree on L.A...driving to walk IS senseless!)
I know it was a toss off, a bit of writer's wrap up, but, geez, I hate to hear you talk down to yourself with the cold, black heart thing. Someone who uses contemplative self-examination to sum up her professional athletic career with just one word, humility, has a very different heart.
The only respite from ego is humility, or something like that. Thanks Andrea.
Excellent writing. Witty and insightful.
Nobody walks in LA. It’s a song that rings true. But the weather will be nice soon enough, I hope.
C'mon Andrea, throw us a specific example or two...it will help us plebes understand how a top 10 player (or top anyone) can come to terms with a rival who is just plain better.
Niland’s book, “The Racquet” shared a thought on his career. He noted that after he retired he didn’t feel he reached his full potential but simultaneously felt he did everything he possibly could to reach it. Certainly, the latter in this dichotomy can help with a sense of satisfaction. The tough lesson is that maximal effort doesn’t always equal desired progress. So many unseen or unrecognized factors that cannot be controlled come into play…
Trenchant and bittersweet as always. Would love to have you write something about the players we don’t see / all the players who don’t make the news in the same ways as the ones who frame our screens. I don’t mean yet another story of journey players, but more about players who are just hitting hundred (still elite/ but not quite) and making their way through the circuit. There is such a paucity of such stories in terms of the WTA tour. Especially as the world breaks up along geopolitical lines, and we hear less and less of cross- regional friendships that are part of the workings of the tour. Ahem. We do have Daria‘s blog which is an entertaining sideshow!
And once more à fantastic writing. Not à fan of Stephen King but note thé book this time. thanks Andrea and wish you a nice St valentines
Help? Shakira’s hips don’t lie. Jagger looking in wrong places. I’m an old man. What do you mean?
Two famous song references: Shakira sang about her hips not lying when it comes to desire and attraction, and Jagger sang about not getting any satisfaction (but Andrea is saying he just looked in the wrong places)
Germans don't always bring rain, but when we do we know how to handle it. And that's not really a cause for being humble but rather a cause to be happy.
It's clear today (in LA) so you can go on that walk. Bring your racquets.😃