Inside The Pros’ Mind- Welcome

“The whole thing is never to get negative about yourself. Sure, it’s possible that the other guy you’re playing is tough, and that he may have beaten you the last time you played, and okay, maybe you haven’t been playing all that well yourself. But the minute you start thinking about these things you’re dead. I go out to every match convinced that I’m going to win. That is all there is to it.”
 
-Jimmy Connors
 
Welcome to the “Inside the Pros’ Mind” blog. Right above, you had the opportunity to read a Jimmy Connors’ quote, providing an insight into the confidence level of elite athletes. Jimmy Connors was a champion.
 
Growing up in the tennis world, I was fortunate to have been surrounded by great champions. I had the great fortune and honor to train alongside elite tennis ATP World Tour players like Novak Djokovic or David Ferrer among others and the privelege of socializing, practicing, and become friends with pros of all levels, different cultures, and backgrounds who had a common goal:
 
Become the best they can be and reach their full potential. Become champions.
 
Now, I was always inspired by William Osler’s quote:
 
“Observe, record, tabulate, communicate. Use your five senses. Learn to see, learn to hear, learn to feel, learn to smell, and know that by practice alone you can become expert.”
 
And that is exactly what I did my entire career and now I want to share these fascinating experiences and knowledge with you!
 
I would not change my life as a tennis player or any of the experiences along the way for anything, as they made me understand what tennis is all about. It is about a journey. Regardless of your tennis level, whether you are an amateur or a professional, you will be a part of a journey. You will be a part of your own journey. Now, the final destination is entirely up to you. You maychoose to set the bar high and expect to become the best in the world or simply choose to reach the maximum of your ability, wherever that guides you. Regardless of your choice your journey will have several stops, many adjustments periods, many happy and sad moments.
 
And, here is where I jump in. During my 12 years as a professional ATP World Tour player, I learned that everybody and I mean everybody needs some sort of guidance. No matter how dedicated or talented you are, unless you learn the right way and are guided in the right direction, you won’t reach the maximum of your potential.
 
The Inside the Pros’ Mind blog was created for this purpose. For the first time ever you will have the opportunity to see the game of tennis through the eyes of the pros! It will guide you in an entirely different way than you are used to. It won’t bore you with common basic information you have heard thousands of times before, but will provide you with insider tipsthat will make you understand how the pros approach the game of tennis, train, and most importantly think! Why should you follow this blog? Because always remember:
 
“To become the best you have to learn from the best.”
 
What makes the pros so successful? How do they practice? What are their beliefs? How do they behave? How do they think? Those are all questions that we will analyze in the “Inside the Pro’s Mind” column. I will share with you the pros’ and my experiences, and together we will enter a journey that will allow you to develop into the tennis player you would like to become.
 
So again, welcome on board and make sure to share your questions and thoughts with me and the rest of the tennis world by commenting below.
 
Also don’t forget to share the knowledge with your friends.
 
As Brian Tracy says: “Love only grows by sharing. You can only have more for yourself by giving it away to others.”