Athlete Anecdote - Goals

Setting goals is a foundational mental strategy for enhancing performance in any sport. Athletes can set short- and long-term goals that are achievable—things worth continuing to fight for. In my experience, all I wanted was to finally start winning my matches—and I did! With the help of my doubles partner, I was able to challenge myself and push for every point. I stayed motivated and focused on my goals.

Training techniques come in many forms, and having the “top-tier essentials” doesn’t automatically make someone better. It’s what you make of your time and abilities that counts. While I’m certainly not an all-around athlete, I don’t focus on purchasing the popular gear everyone else has. I don’t care about the clothes I wear as long as I’m comfortable. There’s so much more that impacts performance than just ability or the type of tennis racket you own. Weather, illness, and soreness all play huge roles in outcomes. Sleep and nutrition are also crucial—running low on either will eventually harm performance.

This is why, on match days, I tend to practice lightly with my partner to avoid straining a muscle or draining my energy. I keep track of my time and remind myself to stay calm. I don’t train like a typical athlete, and unfortunately, I can’t speak to examples of periodization. Many of my friends, however, like to schedule and break down their year—they practice heavily throughout because they are tournament players. Many of my teammates continue to practice once or twice a week post-season, taking a break during the summer and preparing again when the season starts. Everyone is different, and once again, it’s up to you what you make of it.