“Never say never. Because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.”
These were the words of Michael Jordan in his Hall of Fame induction speech in 2009. Jordan’s words are relatively simple to understand; but this quote could mean different things to different people, depending on their situation. Based on my experience, these words accurately represent the battles that I face when I compete on the tennis court.
As we continue to unpack the most critical mental aspects of the game of tennis, we will now examine a universal psychological concept: fear.
Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. People often point to his scoring titles, his dominance, his clutch moments, and his championship rings. However, many sports fans, particularly those who did not grow up watching Jordan play, think of him as this perfect player who always made the shot when his team needed it. But what many people do not realize is how imperfect of a player Michael Jordan really was.
Even though Jordan possessed unreal talent and scoring ability, these attributes were not necessarily what made him different from everyone else. So then, what made Jordan unique? Was it his 6-0 record in the NBA Finals with 6 Finals MVPs? In my opinion, not necessarily. Rather, I believe that his fearlessness set him apart from the competition. Jordan was so fearless that it made others fear him. There was no challenge that made him hesitant or worried about the consequences. If the game was on the line, and there was one man who needed to step up to take the shot, Michael Jordan would be the first in line.
Notice how I said “take” the shot, not “make” the shot. The idea that Michael Jordan made nearly every one of those difficult clutch shots is simply not true. Let’s take a look at his stats.
In the last 24 seconds of the game, Jordan was 9-18 from the field. In the last 10 seconds of the game, he was 5-11. Even though these are pretty great stats for such crucial shots, these numbers show that Jordan was nowhere near perfect. However, he had no fear when he took these shots. He did not let apprehension or fear of missing prevent him from taking the shot. We have all heard of Wayne Gretzky’s iconic quote: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” This perfectly sums up Jordan’s mentality.
Certain themes apply to all sports, and fear is one of the most common among them. You cannot avoid fear, just like you cannot avoid having basic thoughts and emotions. Fear is natural, and when used properly, it can actually be a good thing. Gregg Popovich, one of the greatest coaches in NBA history, put it perfectly:
“Having an appropriate fear allows you to respect your opponent and know nothing is going to be easy.”
Popovich’s quote connects to what I have said previously in my blog. As an athlete, you must have a certain amount of nerves and fear, as they are necessary to motive you to play at peak performance. You cannot be overly confident or carefree, or you will risk having a poor performance. On the other hand, these nerves must be controlled: they cannot prevent you from playing freely. If nerves get out of control, they can handicap you from reaching your full potential.
All players want to win. But let’s take a closer look at what this desire to win can lead to. Ideally, a player’s desire to win causes them to play with tenacity, an intense hunger to compete, and a motivating force that pushes them past the finish line. But once again, too much of something good is not good. If a player has such an intense desire to win, they may obtain an unhealthy fear of losing. Rather than being excited to compete and to beat his opponent, all he cares about is to avoid losing at all costs.
This may sound confusing, so let me clarify. Winning and not losing are technically the same thing. But someone playing to win has a completely different approach from someone playing not to lose.
Someone playing to win has a mindset of passion and intensity, taking every opportunity to win points on his own terms. He plays with bravery and determination, not letting a fear of losing hinder his ability to play freely. On the other hand, someone playing not to lose does just the opposite. His fears prevent him from playing freely and courageously, hoping that he can win from his opponent’s mistakes.
From my own experience, the difference is crystal clear. It can be difficult to put into words, but playing to win rather than not to lose is truly a liberating feeling. Fear of losing is one of the most constraining feelings on the tennis court, which is why it can be detrimental if this fear is not properly managed.
Taking control of this fear has become a central part of my tennis journey. Every athlete has experienced certain points in their career where fear sometimes wins. Fear of failure can be a powerful force, but it can be overcome with disciplined training and a resolute mindset. Based on my experience, I believe that the best way to overcome a fear of failure is to gain confidence through repetition. If you do something enough times, as long as you do it the right way, you will gain enough confidence to overcome your fears.
I have made connections between the several mental aspects covered in the tennis articles of my blog. The conflict between confidence and self-doubt, between courage and fear, is the internal battle that the player must face. This is what makes the game of tennis mental warfare more than anything else. As long as the player is in control of his fears, rather than the other way around, fear can be the most powerful weapon wielded on the tennis court.
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