Fight through the tough days to earn your best days
These are trying times, but in difficult times comes great opportunity. We now have a chance to develop new skills, skills that will serve us throughout our lifetime.
Consider Bianca Andreescu, Andy Murray and Juan Del Potro - all Grand Slam champions, who in the last two years have had to deal with debilitating injuries. The mental resilience emanated while winning prestigious titles, has now carried each of them throughout their rehabilitation journey. I love our sport, it is a vehicle that drives us to achieve excellence not only in tennis, but our lives in general as we learn to manage a great deal of stress consistently, on and off the court. The ability to manage stress is one of the greatest benefits gained from competitive sport.
The Covid situation has been very difficult for the tennis industry as a whole, from the ATP & WTA, to Tennis Canada, their partners, the provincial associations, the clubs, their staff and their coaches. Many of these private coaches have worked tirelessly to maintain an engaging training regime. From practicing on courts covered with snow, to running daily Zoom fitness and mental programs to motivate players, coaches have made sure to keep parents informed of player progress while clubs have been closed to spectators. A big thank you to all coaches, academies, and the OTA, for keeping us motivated and engaged in our beloved sport.
Now to the players, what a perfect time for you to focus on your life skills, the skills that give you resilience when faced with obstacles on and off the court. The restrictions and policies imposed while navigating Covid are a great opportunity to improve your mental strength, re-evaluate your life goals, appreciate loved ones, master your schoolwork, keep active through fitness, commit to a 30 day structured fitness program… overall keep pushing yourself. You cannot win a tight match if you are not strong mentally and physically. How you navigate this difficult climate paves the way for how you will handle the obstacles life throws at you. Together, let's embrace this opportunity to grow and become a true champion.
