How Tennis Helps Unlock Your Leader Within… & Mine.

Why is tennis so popular?

Whether you’re reading about the record breaking 1 billion viewers of the Women’s Tennis Association or how the men's 2023 Wimbledon final drew 3.2 million viewers for ESPN, it’s safe to say tennis has A LOT of viewers. 

I couldn’t help but wonder why tennis draws such high viewership numbers. There are various perspectives out there that can help answer that question. Here’s my take on why I am one of those many million/billion viewers, why I love to play this sport, and how it helps me unlock my leader within.

When you’re watching or playing tennis you’re either exercising your mind or exercising your body.

Tennis can be a long sport to play and watch (for my tennis fans out there, I’m talking about the fact that you have to win by 2 in instances such as: deuces, crushing a set via winning by two games, and a tie-break via win by two points). It takes endurance and mental clarity to not only play the sport, but also to withstand the long hours, particularly during a Grand Slam match.

In addition to building endurance, tennis has taught me how to practice being present. Oftentimes my clients ask me what it means to be present, to which my response is: “Wherever you are, be there.” So how does tennis help me bring this to life? I don’t know of anyone who has won every single point in a tennis match. And similar to life, I don’t know of anyone who has experienced complete smooth sailing/”winning” in all avenues of their life every single day.

And no, no matter what Instagram or social media portray, nobody’s life is perfect. 

Anyways, I’ve digressed. 

If each ball/point being played in a tennis match represents each life scenario, we’re going to win some and we’re going to lose some. 

And if I dwell on the previous point that I missed, I can’t bring mental clarity and focus to the point that is being played here and now. 

This is the very essence of mindfulness and being present.

If you follow me on Instagram it’s safe to say I love tennis (both watching and playing). Tennis has taught me that if I allow for hard points/moments to overpower, I simply will lose the game, set and/or match. I have to learn how to accept missteps and “failures” and then play my best foot forward with the next point in front of me. 

This is how tennis helps me unlock my leader within. Oh, and also remembering that it all starts with love.