My inspirations for tennis have done wonders in helping me become who I am, on and off the court. I remember back in the summer of 2000. I was sitting on the sofa at my Grandma's house and watching Wimbledon. I didn't know much about the different tennis styles or tactics, but I remember this Wimbledon. Pete Sampras was playing against Jan-Michael Gambill and was serving and volleying. I didn't know you could consistently serve and volley. It was amazing watching Sampras. It's as if he was able to float towards the net and just win the point on one or two volleys! He ended up winning Wimbledon that year, beating Patrick Rafter, which I thought was a really incredible match.
Over the next two years that followed, I was always learning from Sampras, from his wins and his tough losses. I "borrowed" a VHS tape at the Barnes Tennis Center and must have watched it literally hundreds of times. It was the 1993 men's final with Sampras vs. Courier. I watched the video so many times I new what John McEnroe and Dick Enberg would say next! I even memorized the tennis patterns and learned that Sampras had a weapon besides a powerful serve: his running forehand crosscourt. This is the shot that helped me in my try-outs as I learned to lean a little more on my backhand side, provoking my opponent to try to hit to my forehand. Those were great times and in 2002, I was one of the few people that believed Sampras would make a comeback and win the U.S. Open, especially after losing to Barry Cowen, a wildcard player, in Wimbledon of 2002. It was more than just tennis technique that I learned from Sampras. The guy actually believed in himself!! He didn't take "no" or "limits" for part of his reality. He was an "I'm going to prove you wrong" tennis machine, on a mission to win by "playing sweetly"; not ugly, or with this conservative mentally that one should play high-percentage tennis all the time and never go for a second serve ace.
Fortunately, because Sampras was my role model, I was fortunate enough to be a fearless tennis player in high school. My opponents were always on their toes prior to my second serve because they knew I had the guts to hit it flat. Why not? I knew I could because I practiced my serve an hour a day.
Fast-forward a few years and things changed. A lot. It was 2004 and I didn't want Federer to be my tennis role model. He was winning everything and it was so hackneyed to say, "Federer is my favorite player". I chose Marat Safin. He was truly different than the other ATP players on the tour. The way he walked, even in-between points, was kind of cool. You see, after emulating Sampras all these years, I became so attached to my tennis rituals. Rituals are imperative and great, but Safin performed his tennis rituals by combining effortlessness and style.
I learned from them how important it was to be true to my tennis vision, of who I wanted to become as a tennis player. Their tennis careers and characters in a way helped give me tremendous attributes and the audacity to become who I want to truly become, without feeling that I had to apologize to the world about it, or that I had to "fit in". It's thanks to these two tennis professionals. They have helped shape my character by fighting for every point, solving their off-court problems, and despite the pressure during a match, they have always fought fearlessly to overcome their obstacles.
Today, I look forward to being open to my students about who their favorite tennis players are and what playing personality fits them best. You never know: they may prove you wrong by winning matches their own way. :)
Become an Unstoppable Tennis Player!
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