Welcome to Tennis Paradise. Here are 6 game-changing questions that I learned from watching professional tennis players.

 

The breeze blew through my hair as the sun warmed my back. The flowers were brilliant purple and red and the palm trees perfectly manicured. Happy spectators milled around in brightly colored shorts and oversized hats. Conversations centered around where to find their favorite player or which match would be the most exciting to watch.

 

 

This is Indian Wells, CA, home to the largest tennis tournaments in the world outside of the Grand Slams.

 

I strolled through the outdoor corridors around the practice courts. Players were warming up ahead of the day’s first matches. Mere feet from the best players in the world, one is stunned by the power and speed with which these athletes move in pursuit of the fuzzy yellow ball. They are carefully crafted athletic artisans.

 

How do you warm up for a match?

Some players stretched or sprinted on an adjacent grassy area. Others loosened up the arm by practicing serves or relaxed the tension over a steady back-and-forth with a hitting partner.

 

The rhythmic thump of rackets hitting yellow tennis balls filled the air along with the hum of people’s chatter.  As I walked, I pondered the routine of a professional tennis player on match day.

 

A player carefully considers the timing of their nutrition, stretching, and warm-up on match day. Do you have a time-tested warm-up before your work every day? Have you considered the specifics you need for an ideal day?

 

Do you take 2-minute breaks to rest and laugh?

One of my favorite parts of watching tennis at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden is taking in doubles matches on the small outer courts. The speed of the game and the players is exciting. It is impossible to replicate this atmosphere of energy over television.

I noticed two things about the talented and highly competitive doubles teams. First, they fist bump each other between every point, win or lose. That means with each point of the match they are encouraging each other to keep going and play their best. Second, when they sit down for a brief rest on the two-minute changeovers, they are often laughing and having fun together. When the umpire calls time, they are back to intense focus on the competition.

 

I wonder how our days would change if we fist-bumped our colleagues in encouragement more often. What if we consistently took two minutes to rest and laugh during the day? I’m betting that just like the doubles teams playing a match, we would return to focus and productivity with higher vibrational energy.

 

Do you practice every day?

Later, I relaxed in an elevated seat overlooking several practice courts. The sun was falling west towards the mountains creating a glow over the courts. My friend and colleague leaned over to me and said, “I can’t imagine spending every day hitting a little yellow ball back and forth.”

I looked over at an American player whose coach was working with her making tiny adjustments to her server. A top British player was hitting thumping returns a few courts away. Other players were keeping their skills consistent and sharp with daily hitting practice.

 

“It’s not that different than how we go to work every day as dentists,” I replied.  “We spend our entire careers obsessed over getting the perfect taper and margins on a crown preparation or carving the best tooth anatomy.”

The daily practice and commitment to the improvement of our craft is a grind most days. The professional athlete’s life is not about glamorous travel and exhibitions of natural talent. It’s showing up every day to optimize performance.

 

Are you looking for small ways to improve your work or craft? How are you showing up every day and enjoying the process?

 

Do you use data analytics to improve yourself?

The second day of attending the tennis tournament dawned bright, a perfect spring day in the desert. We watched two doubles teams warming up together before the day’s matches. Coaches circled the sidelines offering advice and support.

 

I turned to my friend and said, “Many of these players use technology to learn more about their physiology and movements and thus improve their game. What if we did the same in our chosen professions?”

Many of us worked hard to achieve a certain skill level, then we go to work, do what we do, and go about our lives as if on autopilot. What if we did more data collection and analysis on ourselves?

 

My friend looked at me and said, “Interesting. I never thought about the players using technology and data in many different aspects to improve nutrition, breathing and heart rate, service motion, movement on the court, decision-making during a match, and the like.”

 

I continued to ponder this idea of utilizing data analytics. If we knew what parts of our day raised our blood pressure, could we optimize our day? If we learned a better way to sit or a more efficient way to move, would our work be faster and easier? If we tracked our hydration and nutrition, would we feel better each day? If we stepped back and studied our processes, would we improve our outcomes?

 

Are you making smart adjustments as you age?

We walked over to Stadium 2 where we had great seats to enjoy a spectacular lineup of matches. The first match featured a previous grand slam champion returning from maternity leave, no small feat as a professional athlete. The second match was with long-time fan favorite and multiple grand slam champion, Sir Andy Murray. Not only is he a knight, but he is also still playing professional tennis after undergoing a hip replacement.

As we watched the matches, I noticed that both players deliberately conserved energy and were more strategic in their movement. They didn’t run down balls that they had a lower percentage chance of making the shot. They moved around the court in ways favorable for protecting their bodies and maximizing their natural talent.

 

Contrast this with the third match we watched between a 20-year-old American and a strong 18-year-old Czech player. Both ran down every single ball and bounced around on the court between points. The American player even hit a 150 mph serve. This match was about maximum effort and showmanship—everything on the line, nothing to lose mentality.

I considered the shifts that occur as we age. This timeline is accelerated for professional athletes compared to the rest of us. What was obvious in watching the matches on this day is that aging well while still playing our game requires a significant physical and mental shift.

 

When we are young, we say yes. We try to do it all and jump at every opportunity. We have the energy and time to recover. As we mature, we must play smarter which means saying no more frequently.  So, what are you saying no to?  How will you work and play smarter, not harder?

 

What is your encore?

As the sun began to set in tennis paradise, I walked into the main square to hear the Bryan Bros Band. The Bryan brothers are identical twins who hold the record for the most doubles titles. While passionate about tennis, both brothers like to study music theory and the band has played together for over 15 years. The band is their encore to tennis.

 

The band jammed and the spectators danced on this perfect Friday evening. I wondered do we give ourselves enough space to enjoy our hobbies? To jam, dance, and shake off our daily work?

Life is about enjoying the journey. Honing our craft gives us a purpose. Doing it better grants us more time to enjoy each day. Giving ourselves permission to pursue a hobby or let loose and dance away our tension is what grounds us. What is your encore?

 

I had two pleasant and relaxing days enjoying world-class matches in tennis paradise. Rather than being awed by the stardom of these super athletes, I was inspired by their daily tenacity and commitment to excellence. I walked away with a new analytical mindset to hone my craft not only to be a better professional but also to gain more health and time for what I enjoy.

 

 

If you would like to plan a future trip to tennis paradise in Indian Wells, CA, I recommend you check out this post from one of my favorite travel bloggers. https://www.camelsandchocolate.com/indian-wells-tennis-tournament/