How Tennis Teaches You Invaluable Attributes and Life Lessons

Some people play tennis for enjoyment, while others dedicate their whole lives to playing the sport in hopes of making their tennis goals into reality. While many say tennis is just a sport, I disagree with that statement wholeheartedly. For those who aspire to become the best of the best, tennis becomes a lifestyle where they learn invaluable life lessons, values, and work ethics they can take with them for the rest of their lives. Dedicating yourself to playing a sport isn't easy, especially at a young age. As a junior player, I was envious of normal kids who weren't athletes because they could have fun and play while I was out practicing. I always wondered how much more freedom I would have if I didn't play tennis competitively. Looking back at it now, I wouldn't change a thing. I am grateful to my Uncle Hoan for getting me into tennis; I am proud of who I became and what I've achieved. Tennis has shaped me into the person I am today and continues to change the lives of aspiring tennis players. Being an athlete is a privilege.

So what are some lessons and values tennis can teach a person?

Determination and Ambition

A tennis player will have personal goals they would like to achieve. To achieve those goals, athletes must be determined to do everything they need to improve themselves. Once a player wants to achieve success, whether it be winning a tournament or improving the serve, this ambitious drive will ensure they stay dedicated to training, as they are eager to become better. Eventually, once goals are reached, this creates a positive feedback loop where athletes become more ambitious and dedicated to achieving future goals. This ambitious drive is a trait that will prove to ensure achievements not only in tennis but in everyday life. Striving to become better every single day and continually pushing yourself to achieve greater feats is a recipe for success.

Mental Toughness

Tennis players are always faced with adversity. Mental toughness comprises coping under pressure during big points, dealing with anxiety and fear, and also winning the internal battle of both physical and mental barriers. Tennis players are always faced with tough situations and by overcoming them, they develop their mental fortitude bit by bit. In the real world, mental toughness allows you to move towards an objective you set out for yourself and perform at the highest level by staying calm and believing you can come out of any situation.

Healthy Habits

To play tennis at a high level, a player needs proper eating habits and fitness training. When the body is fueled properly and trained to be in top shape for tennis, athletes ensure they are in the best condition possible to perform. These healthy habits are beneficial to keeping the body healthy and promote an active lifestyle.

Problem-Solving Skills

During matches, players continually face situations where they problem-solve to win. Faced with adversity, they need to quickly find solutions to change the course of the game if they want to win. Good players are calm and think clearly, while quickly coming up with solutions to turn the match around. Stressful situations are always present in everyday life, but learning how to problem-solve and overcome them is a valuable asset.

Hard Work and Perseverance

The only way to get better is through hard work and tennis players understand this notion. There is only improvement when hard work is involved. And because tennis is a saturated sport with so many tennis players, a player needs to work twice as hard if they want to be part of the elite, thus building a mindset of working hard and persevering to get what they want. Nothing in life comes easily, you need to work for results to come.

Dealing with Failure

In a tennis player's career, failure is the norm. Losing is a normal part of the game and tennis players accept that. Instead of giving up, a loss motivates athletes to improve and get better. A loss is a wake-up call, an opportunity to improve, and if one can come out of failure stronger than before, that is a win in itself. Life is filled with ups and downs. Sometimes many people give up on things because they failed or found it too difficult. But what good is failing if you don't learn from your past mistakes and try again? Many are too quick to give up and don't give themselves another chance. Life is never a straight line. Success can only be achieved through trial and error. Failure is always an opportunity for improvement.

These are only a few of the many other qualities tennis can teach. Tennis is an amazing sport that instills invaluable life lessons.

"I really think a champion is defined not by their wins, but by how they can recover when they fall"

-Serena Williams