Lessons from the 2019 US Open

This past weekend was an exciting one for tennis fans, including my husband and me. As the tournament progressed to the semi-finals rounds, two veteran singles champions were favored to take the title once more. Each player, beyond the age of thirty, chased a record-making Grand Slam win. In both the women's and men's final, the play was epic, hard-fought, and ended with headline-making finishes. 

During the post-match interview, Andreescu talked about her strategy and preparation for the match against the powerhouse and comeback queen, Serena Williams. Although crucial to her victory, this is not what she named as the key to her triumph. ​

"After I won the Orange Bowl back in 2015, a couple of months later I just felt like I could do really big things in this sport. So, I just grabbed a check and wrote the prize money... I just kept visualizing that moment since that day." [Read the full article here]

Nadal was heavily favored to win the match against Medvedev who was making his first appearance at a Grand Slam final. Factoring in the intimidation of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Nadal's popularity with fans, and the nervousness of the moment, Nadal was expected to consolidate his 2-set lead into a quick victory. Deep in the third set Medvedev won the respect of the crowd as he calmly played through some of the most extended rallies of the tournament including a 24-shot rally that ended with an error by Nadal. [Read more here]

In the post-match interview, Nadal gave the highest praise to his opponent saying of Medvedev, “The way he played is a champion way.”

Q4 is quickly approaching. When the year comes to a close, will you be the champion of your goals? Maybe these lessons from the 2019 US Open Tennis Championships can fuel you through the finish line.

1. You're never too young or too old to be at the top of your game.
2. Visualizing your success every day creates beliefs that give confidence and guide your thoughts and actions.
3. Being down doesn't mean you've lost. Mixing it up and trying something new can get you back on track.
4. Every point is an opportunity. Letting go of mistakes and focusing on consolidating each win is the only path to victory.
5. Even when you don't achieve your goal, you can emerge as a champion.