10 Success Tips from Wimbledon 2006 - Stick The Racquet Out And Some Good Things Can Happen

The importance of a confident mindset,crowd.McEnroe commented:"Massu looks like he is on
determination, focus, skill, practice, effort and aan ice skating rink with sneakers on. Part of his brain
refusal to be intimidated emerged once again atis saying: 'I am the higher rank. I should win this
Wimbledon as deciding factors in nearly every match.match.' Another part is saying: 'It's not my day.
It is worth taking a close look at the power of thesePeople are against me.' The second part is winning.
factors in some of these matches.JustineBut he is not out of this yet. He should keep telling
Henine-Hardenne had won the championship athimself: 'This isn't over'.McEnroe continued: "It's not as
Eastbourne in the week before Wimbledon. She wasbad as it appears to him. It's just that he is looking at
asked what would be her most important match atthe glass half empty."Massu went down swinging but
Wimbledon. She answered 'whichever match comeslost the match. His glass was now empty.McEnroe
next'. Her success plan is to focus on the next matchobserved after Andy's win:"The best players maintain
without worrying about who she would be playinga high level of effort and focus. A good lesson when
later in the competition.Most self-help experts teachyou are up is that you keep pushing and get as far
us that we need to concentrate on the first or nextahead as possible."Consistent effort pays off in
step and not allow thoughts of future steps toeverything including dieting. Those who eat a fairly
interfere with our current efforts. If we concentraterelaxed diet consistently lose more weight than those
on one step at a time and complete it to the best ofwho eat a stricter diet sporadically. It also pays not
our ability, later steps will often take care ofto celebrate too soon when your diet seems to be
themselves. Alcoholics Anonymous have learned thisworking - success can be doubled by pushing on
with their emphasis on one day of sobriety at ainstead of by taking it easy too soon.However, the
time.In the end, Justine lost to Amelie Mauresmo ofmain lesson from McEnroe's commentary in this game
France in the Wimbledon final but her focus on oneand his own behaviour as a player is that we need to
step at a time helped her to, at least, reach theget over our disappointments about our own
final.On the second day of Wimbledon, Federer wasmistakes or life's injustices as soon as possible and
asked how he coped with being the favourite. Histhen rejoin the fight with energy and determination.
success plan was the same as Justine's. He replied:"ICry babies don't usually win anything!Sharapova did
have to focus match by match. I cannot afford tonot win Wimbledon this year but she did progress
look ahead."People who look ahead at all thewell into the second week. Her secret is that she
obstacles they may have to confront tend to givetrains the same way she plays. Her practice matches
up before they start. Worry about the futureinvolve the same intensity and desire to win as her
dissipates energy. Focus on the present concentratesactual competition matches.This kind of attitude is
it. Federer's plan worked and he became aalso demanded in the martial arts. Instructors insist
Wimbledon champion once more.Incidentally, somethat students train as if they were fighting for their
spectators at Wimbledon cannot look ahead becauselives. They will behave on the street in the same
people in front to them are wearing huge hats. Howway as they behave in the training hall.Martina Hingis
can they do that?Is it possible that they think thatis now playing well after injury problems. She was
the frustrated people behind them want to focus oninterviewed after a practice match in which she had
their hats rather than the match itself? Theyjust beaten James Cracknell, the tall Olympic rowing
probably don't bother to think at all. Pardon the rant,gold medallist.Martina was asked what advice she
but my negative thoughts about the mad hatters arewould give to Cracknell. She replied "Lots of practice
now gone!Throughout Wimbledon, commentators likelike anything else!".Agassi was 36 and this was his last
former champion, John McEnroe, stressed theWimbledon but deep down he probably believed he
importance of thinking positively and not allowingshould get into the second week of Wimbledon. He is
your own mistakes or unfair line calls to make youa stickler for preparation. He lifted weights to add
negative.John, the world expert on apparentlypunch to his serve so that he could win easy points.
negative behaviour on court, expelled his ownHe always has a game plan.His second round match
negativity by throwing his racquet down on the courtwas against Seppi of Italy . Agassi is Seppi's idol.
and yelling complaints at the line judges and umpires.McEnroe observed that this created an intimidation
His most famous comments are:"You cannot befactor. How can you play better than your idol?We
serious! The ball was out! The chalk flew up!are all faced with this type of intimidation factor in
etc.McEnroe often mentions the importance ofevery field of life. There is always some one who
banishing negative ideas in favour of positiveappears to be better or tougher than us. If we allow
thoughts.One example occurred when he wassuch people to dominate us and make us feel inferior,
commenting on the Nicholas Massu v Andy Murraywe will fail to discover the extent of our own
match. Murray started well and was soon 4 gamespotential.Instead, we need to learn from our idols
up. One commentator said:"The start's almost tooinstead of over estimating themAgassi, for example,
good."McEnroe wasn't having this:"Don't get negativetaught many players to return serve with power.
now; don't think something bad is going toHewitt, as a boy, watched Agassi and said "Hey! I
happen!"Too many of us worry when things startcan do that too!" Hewitt has the typical Australian
going well for us. We have been programmed to beattitude: "No worries - if he can do it, so can I."Agassi
wary when things seem too good to be true. Ourplays his tennis in a business like way. He never
programming tends to bring about the decline inwastes a second on the practice court. He makes
fortune that we anticipate.However, McEnroe warnedevery ball count and practices with intensity. In his
that Murray needed to be careful in case Massucompetition matches, he bustles around the court
started to believe that he could get something fromwithout appearing to let emotion interfere with his
this match. McEnroe, constantly stresses theperformance.Eventually, Agassi won the match but
importance of belief in winning matches.However,was beaten later in the competition. At some point in
everything was clicking for Murray and Massu wasthe broadcast of this match, one of the
beginning to look worried. Murray won the 1st set 6-1commentators came up with this wise remark:"Stick
but Massu put up more of a fight in thethe racquet out and some good things can happen."In
secondMcEnroe had practical advice for the losingother words have a go; try something and you might
player: "Massu has to gradually get back into theget some good results. If you don't stick your
game. He must cut down on his errors. He mustracquet out; if you don't take some kind of action,
make Murray work harder for his points." McEnroeyou will never know what you might have
never writes a player off. With effort, belief and aachieved.Wimbledon 2006 teaches us to focus on
thoughtful strategy, he can come back anddoing our best one step at a time. It tells us to get
win.However, Massu was looking like road runner andover any cry baby thoughts as soon as possible. We
had to chase every point."Aye, aye, aye" lamentedneed to believe in ourselves and never write
Massu. He drew the crowd in with that cry of pain.Heourselves off.Consistency is more powerful than
had to get belief from somewhere. He could thinkoccasional flashes of brilliance. We all need lots of
about the pressure on the 19 year old that he waspractice. It helps to be well prepared and to have a
playing.But the 19 year old, Andy Murray fromgame plan. We should spend more time learning from
Scotland, was playing well and was apparentlyothers rather than just admiring them. It helps to
unaffected by the pressure from the homestick out your racquet and see what happens!