Blog #14: One is the Loneliest Number

One of the things I love most about tennis is that the men are out there all ALONE, by themselves, with no coaches allowed to help them during their matches. I appreciate and treasure how lonely it is out there for these guys. Sure, Rafa can look up at Uncle Tony for encouragement and support, but I've watched a lot of matches, believe me, and I've never seen Tony hit one cross-court passing shot or one serve up the middle at break point. When the umpire on that court says, "play" it is all up to Rafa.

Now I know that Phil Jackson never shoots a free throw, and Joe Torre never throws a pitch, but in most sports (particularly team sports) like basketball, baseball, football, soccer, there is tons of coaching going on during the actual time of play. There are strategic decisions being made, there are substitutions being shuffled in and out, there are encouraging words being shouted constantly. In tennis, the players can get all of the coaching they want before and after the match, but during the match it is all on THEM, and them alone. Ain't nobody trotting in to give them a five minute rest.

This is a huge part of what makes a one-on-one, mano a mano tennis battle that much more special and intense. When Rafa and Roger are out on Center Court for five hours in the finals of Wimby, they have only themselves to consult. That takes incredible toughness. That takes a man.

Some think coaching should be allowed during matches. I say NO WAY! This is one of the most compelling aspects of tennis. In addition to the tremendous physical grind, the mental toughness it demands is AWESOME. How different would it be if they were sitting there chatting with their coaches during change-overs, or allowed to call timeout to get coached? I like seeing them thinking alone with no one to talk to but themselves as everyone stares at them during the change-overs. How vulnerable they look. How heroic.

To me, that is a lot like our lives, yours and mine. For we may have many people who love us, support us, coach us before big moments and after, but ULTIMATELY we are alone in our words and actions and choices. In the end, when it really matters, we have to take full responsibility and act as our own, independent free agents. We may rely on the strength and support of our "team", just as the players on the ATP do, but at life's most intense and important moments, it is all on us.

How's your cross-court backhand passing shot at break point in the fifth set of a major?


How's that serve of yours?

Chips are down, you are all in, there is no Uncle Tony. It is all you.

How do you compete?

Ad OUT...