Former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez penned a buoyant message about the struggles tennis professionals undergo in order to become a better version of themselves.
Fernandez was knocked out of this year's US Open by 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova at the first hurdle. Fernandez stated that victory and defeat are actually the basis of sport and competition. She is still in the doubles draw where she won her opening match in partnership with Taylor Townsend.
Rather than dwell on the disappointment of her singles defeat, Fernandez shared a truly invigorating message on her Instagram account on the struggles that tennis players need to overcome. Fernandez also breaks down the tennis ritual which in many textbooks teaches you how to play the perfect shot or how increased muscle mass can help you do that.
But the Canadian goes against the grain and explains just how much of tennis is all about the mental battle. It is hard to quantify, but we've seen increased demand for sports psychologists in recent years, and tennis players, the majority of them at the very top, have tapped into them.
Fernandez explains that every player is bound to experience a moment of mental breakdown at some point. But it is at your most vulnerable and lowest point that you fight through adversity to become a stronger version of yourself.
Novak Djokovic, very recently, echoed similar words when describing mental toughness, saying it is how many times you pick yourself up after losing focus of what you intended to do. And according to Fernandez, using that disappointment as your source of inspiration is what players should always aspire to do.
"Tennis is not just about physical strength and technique; it's a mental battle that pushes me to my limits. Each match, each point, challenges my resilience and determination. And yes, there are days when the mental struggle feels overwhelming when self-doubt creeps in."
"But here's the thing: I know I'm not alone in this. Every athlete faces these moments of doubt. It's what we do with these moments that define us. I'm committed to learning and growing from these experiences, to using disappointment as fuel to push myself further and become a better player and, most importantly, a stronger person."
0 Comments