Lesson 7 The Practice: What You Can Control
“I can only control my performance. If I do my best, then I can feel good at the end of the day.”
What Can You Control?
On the tennis court, what is truly within your control? The answer lies in focusing on what is within your power, including:
Attitude: Cultivating a positive and optimistic mindset, no matter the circumstances.
Effort: Putting forth consistent and intentional effort in practice and competition.
Focus: Choosing where and how you place your attention and energy.
Preparation: Mentally, emotionally, and physically readying yourself to perform.
Reactions: Responding thoughtfully to adversity and challenges rather than reacting impulsively.
Training: Maintaining discipline and putting in the necessary work to improve.
Work Ethic: Showing up every day with commitment and determination to grow.
This mindset is often described as “controlling the controllables.” These are the aspects of the game that originate entirely from within.
What You Can’t Control
Conversely, many aspects of tennis are outside your influence:
The outcome of a match.
Your opponent’s behavior, including their style of play, sportsmanship, or line calls.
Your ranking or rating.
While these elements are external, what you can control is your response to them. By focusing on what you can control—your actions, mindset, and preparation—you free yourself from unnecessary stress and frustration.
The Cost of Trying to Control the Uncontrollable
When we fixate on trying to control what’s outside our influence—like outcomes, rankings, or our opponent’s actions—it often leads to stress, frustration, and angst. Recognizing when your mind drifts into this What If state is crucial. The sooner you catch yourself, the sooner you can shift your focus back to the present moment—What Is.
As the saying goes, you cannot solve a problem unless you first recognize it .
“I really think a champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fail.”
On-Court Tip
Tennis is a game of constant problem solving—recognizing patterns and making the appropriate adjustments. This applies to both:
Your Side of the Court:
Correcting technique (e.g., shortening your backswing if you’re late, or aiming higher if you’re hitting into the net).
Staying present, calm, and collected to execute your best game plan.
2. Your Opponent’s Side of the Court:
Identifying weaknesses (e.g., targeting their weakness or hitting out of their strike zone).
Adjusting your strategy as the match unfolds.
Improvement comes from learning how to adapt. Ideally, your play should improve as the match progresses.
“In the end, it’s the effort that matters. The rest is beyond your control.”
Redefining Success
Growing up, my coach taught me to define success not just by wins but by measurable improvement over time.
If you get better during a practice session, that’s a success.
If you improve throughout a match—even if you lose—that’s a success.
If you grow over the course of a season or a year, you’re succeeding.
For instance, if you lose the first set, aim to make the second set more competitive. Can you win a few more games? Make the second set last longer? Extend the match into a third set?
This shift in focus reinforces that it’s not about what’s happening but how you respond to what’s happening.
Stay positive, stay present, and embrace the opportunity to problem-solve. Every challenge is a chance to grow, both as a player and as a person.
“Victory is in having done your best. If you’ve done your best, you’ve won.”
“As the body lets go, the mind becomes quiet.”
“Losing is a learning experience. It teaches you humility. It teaches you to work harder. It’s also a powerful motivator. ”
