“There’s no way around HARD WORK. EMBRACE
IT”- Roger Federer
Roger Federer,
an idol from many including me, was already known as one of the greatest tennis
players and on Sunday evening, July 16, 2017, he created history once again and
showed he is all class and the greatest of all.
In the
hours of play at final match for the coveted title at Wimbledon, the Swiss champion
defeated rival Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 and in doing so, took home his 19th major
title and became the first person to win 8 Wimbledon titles just a few days shy
of his 36th birthday. Fans and media erupted with joy with many declaring
Federer as the “Greatest Of All Times”.
Federer had his share of defeats during his carrier
and after losing a match in 2013, he said; “I hope I'm a better player today
than I was (in 2007),"…. "I feel like I'm a more complete player
today. Although my game hasn't changed much, my experience would allow me fewer
mistakes and the ability to deal with challenges a little bit easier." In
his early years, he says, he didn’t know how to handle defeats and that
probably also made him the hardest working tennis player of all times. Federer
learnt from his failures and wins and there’s no denying that he is one of the best
tennis players of all times. As ones sees his career graph, there is so much to
learn from the great player and incorporate these learnings in our own lives. Right,
here we go...
1. Believe in Yourself
“I think I am great and therefore
I am” Roger Federer
While Sunday
night was far from the first time the tennis champ had triumphed, Federer said in
his winning speech that, “it felt magical and that it means the world to him”. On
the record of the 8th Wimbledon title he said “It is just belief that
I can achieve such heights. I wasn’t sure
if I will here again in another final after last year but I always believed that
I could come back and do it again. If you
believe, you can go really, really, far in your life and I did that and I am happy.
I kept on believing and dreaming and here I am today,” he said.
Being
unbeatable and being on top your game requires a lot of hard work. To be the
king in any given field, one must exert much effort and take measures beyond
anybody else and this journey starts with self-belief. It’s a simple process
of- I Am, I Wish, I Can & I Will.
Remember- A man
who wins is a man who thinks he can.
2. Respect your opponent
“I fear no one, but respect everyone,” Roger Federer
Federer
is known for showing respect to his adversaries, and like many other tennis pros,
chooses to highlight the best qualities of the players he meets on court. He showed
this respect again on Sunday evening when he congratulated and encouraged Marin
Cilic.
I
think this is what makes a true champion – the ability to empathize with your
vanquished opponent and relate to your audience and fans. Federer has that in
abundance and it can be observed clearly during his victory speech.
3. Keep Calm
“I have learnt to be even more
patient” Roger Federer
We all
know when Federer was young, he threw rackets, was disrespectful towards
umpires and opponents until when he came to the stage where he realized he had
to change.
Appreciating
that success may not be forever, and that it is hard earned, is a recurring theme
in Federer’s career, with the champ previously admitting to Italian magazine IoDonna that keeping a level head is
challenging when you are making your way to the top. 'I matured and
learned to behave better,' says Federer
His
transformation came from self realization and channelizing positive energy into
his game. Negativity drains your energy and deters you from the path of
success. You must be calm, especially during stress times to remain focused and
win.
4. Mindset matters
“A man who wins is
a man who thinks he can” Roger Federer
Having
the right mindset can be as important as physical strength and endurance for elite
players. “Previously I always thought it was just tactical and technique, but every
match has become almost mental and physical – I try to push myself to move well.
I try to push myself not to get upset and stay positive, and that’s what my
biggest improvement is over all these years. Under pressure I can see things
very clearly.”
Federer’s
mantra as he states is to “play free” during the match. You play the ball, you
don’t play the opponent. Be free in your head, be free in your shots, go for
it. The brave will be rewarded here,” he said.
Having
a can-do positive approach is as important, if not, more important than
technical skills. You will receive many knock backs, you will encounter many
roadblocks and you will be discouraged. But the important thing is to stay
positive and keep going for it.
Always
remember – fortune favours the bold.
5. Constant Improvement
"Staying the same means going
backwards." - Roger Federer
Learn
from your loss. Ask, what can I improve? What do I need to change? Losses make you
stronger and its important to learn from your mistakes and become a better player
and work harder. Federer
has always been known for his destructive forehand shots. His backhand shot? Well,
not quite. In relation to the forehand, his backhand has often appeared as a weakness.
Make no mistake, his backhand isn’t poor at all. Having said that, it hasn’t been
something that won him many matches. Until recently.
In a recent
tournament that he won, what astonished many, including his opponents, was how good
and lethal his backhand was. After the tournament, Federer revealed that he has
been working on improving his backhand to win him more matches.
Question
yourself not just when chips are down but most importantly also when you are on
top of your game. Because if you don’t do anything to improve or continue doing
the same thing, you say the same, which is equal to going backward. When thing
are going great, ask what more can I do? How much harder can I work?
Often,
we all realise where we can improve. What isn’t serving us well. Be honest, own
up to areas of improvement and strive for constant improvement. The ones who do
so consistently are the ones who achieve growth and success.
6. Targeting goals translates to success
“When you are good at something,
make that everything” Roger Federer
Having
achieved so much, at the ripe age of 35, which is generally considered past retirement
age in tennis, Federer is hungry to compete. Not just to play, but to win.
Set
the highest goals. If you don't set goals, you can never question yourself and
you your just move from one thing to another falsely believing that everything
will be okay. Almost every day, you have a chance to outdo yourself, get closer
to your goal, just remember to give it your best and all will be fine.
Its
all about passion and purpose. Be clear
in your mind what you want to do and what you want to be. Have a master plan of long term and short
term goals and be hungry to do your best because when the desire to do your best
reduces, more often than not, mediocrity sets in. And that starts impacting how
you enjoy what you do, and eventually, your results.
7. Appreciating
the people who support you
Federer
in his journey of ups and downs, has had a team of people to cheer and support him,
no matter what his results. He is quick to acknowledge the amount of work his team
(including his wife) put in to make him ready for his comeback. In the Recent
Australia win, he asked the tournament officials if he could walk with his team
for a lap of honour in front of the crowd. By doing so, he showed gratitude not
only towards his team, but also the crowd who supported him passionately through
the tournament.
Give credit
where it is due. It often sounds simple enough, yet not many follow this approach.
By appreciating people, we acknowledge their efforts, contribution and a simple
act can do wonders to someone’s morale.
Have an attitude of gratitude! People
thought his time had passed, he was facing a losing battle in front of a
younger and stronger opponent, and that he was there just to make up the
numbers. But Roger Federer had other ideas. There’s no writing him off- the Australian
Open victory and the recent Wimbledon victory after a comeback shows his desire
to compete, and win, at the highest level and that what makes this ageless
legend the tallest of all.
Roger Federer’s
longevity stands tallest of all and his place is firmly cemented in sporting history.
There’s plenty to learn from Federer’s determination, persistence and attitude to
winning for each of us.
He
says, “Winning Never grows old” and
we sure all agree to that.
References:
Namit is a grade XII student at Vasant Valley School, New Delhi. Economics and history are the subjects that draw his attention and he wants to pursue them in the future. He is a strong believer of nurturing relationships and calls it the “Art of Human Relations”. A tennis junkie and a weekend cook, Namit is also passionate about making a difference and strongly believes that involvement of the youth in social and developmental causes is paramount today.
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