Nana Korobi Yaoki

Nana Korobi Yaoki. Fall down seven times, get up eight. This is a quote from Daruma a Japanese wishing doll. Usually red and round Darama's face stares with fierce determination. Daruma dolls are constant reminders of what the Japanese call the ganbaru spirit. Life is full of pitfalls and bumps in the road. It's inevitable that you will stumble. But it's up to you to get back up. It's in your own power and will to keep moving. Nana Moroni Yaoki...fall down seven times, get up eight. No matter how tired, despite the circumstances the ganbaru spirit moves forward. That is why Daruma has such a determined expression. My Dad gave me a Daruma doll when I was 18 years old. I have had it in my tennis bag ever since.

We all know sports is a metaphor for life. The competitor who controls their emotions, stays positive, perseveres is often the victor. I have seen so many players with beautiful strokes lose to people who look like it's their first day on the court because they couldn't manage themselves.

To this day the greatest match I ever played happened when I was 17 years old. I was in the semi-finals and was losing 0-6, 0-5, 0-40. Before I stepped up to serve I said to myself, "I am not losing today." I came all the way back to win. The worst match I ever played was decades later. Playing singles at a sectional tournament. Over the course of three sets I had 13, yes 13 match points and lost. That day I was saying to myself, "another match point how are you going to screw this one up". The only difference between the two days was belief in my ability to find a way to compete.

You need to practice the mental side of tennis just like you practice your serve. I highly recommend reading The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Gallwey. Tom Brady credits this book with his ability to overcome self-doubt.

Today's video is from the 1999 French Open ladies final. Five-time major champion Martina Hingis held a 6-4, 2-0 lead over legend Steffi Graf when she disputed a call and became angry when she thought the umpire checked the wrong mark. Hingis walked over to Graf’s side of the net, kept complaining and refused to play until talking to a tournament referee. That move backfired too. Hingis was assessed a point penalty and the meltdown was on. Graf came back with ease, winning her 22nd and final Grand Slam title before retiring one month later. Hingis would never win another. It was a mess of her own making.