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Keeping your head

What goes through the minds of champions?

From Nadal's post-match interview.

Q. Losing the fourth set tiebreak the way you did, with two match points, could have been very depressing for other players. How did you emotionally deal with that fourth set so you could come out in the fifth and play your best tennis?
N: Well, is the final of Wimbledon, so I have to continuing fighting all the time with positive attitude. I am playing well, so why I have to go down, no? I won two sets 6-4, 6-4. I lost two tiebreaks. A little bit unlucky. I played terrible two points with the 5-2 on serve. I accept that. And just first of all accept I played terrible in the 5-2, and later he did very well. So just tried continuing focusing on myself, playing well. If he has a break and beat me the final, so just congratulate him and go at home, no? That's it.

Q. Can you just try and express your feelings as the match went on and on and became tighter and more dramatic, what were some of the things that were going through your head?
N: I don't know. Just focus in every point. Is impossible to think too much, because if you think too much you not gonna play well. I just focus next point, have point by point, no? I don't want to think about the title, nothing, because later is tough.
Interesting and useful stuff for everyday life too, no?

On another note, I cannot believe that our Singaporean soon-to-be Olympian thrower who has decided to train not in Singapore but, well, somewhere else, has NOT been training full-time for the Olympics, is sure she will NOT sniff a medal and is STILL going to the Games. Is this a joke? I mean, in other countries, people train for 4, 8, 12 or more years for it...
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Anonymous said…
How inspiring....focus on each point, point by point, just play well and don't think too much...simple yet profound truth, and as you've pointed out, applicable to daily life. I shall remind myself this when faced with an avalanche of laundry, washing, ironing, supervising kids' schoolwork, emails, tonnes of work and chores to do! the 'just don't think too much (just do it!)' bit is so true otherwise you really get stressed worrying about all insurmountable tasks all crying for your immediate attention....so laundry, here I come, my first point! haha. X-tongfang
10:11 am
Anonymous said…
Ha ha, good for you! Ya, we stay-home people have to work point by point, too. So many things to do, as you say...
11:49 am
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