Tennis’ beauty is in its opposite approaches to the game
Tennis is a sport dominated by opposites. From dealing with adversity to the game itself, it thrives on its different approaches to the game.
Tennis is a beautiful game. From Roger Federer’s mesmerizing racket skills to the fiery passion and athleticism possessed by Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, tennis has the full spectrum. The same can be said for a much smaller part of the game: frustration.
This, like the game itself, has both sides of responses to dealing with on-court issues. Some smash their racket in anger, others keep their venting to themselves and power through.
No better example can be seen than at the very top of men’s tennis. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has vented his anger without holding back. Smashing rackets and yelling at his box (or himself) have always been the most common answers, and his ways have long been under fire. Most players do the same as he does. They have the financial cushion to smash a few rackets, knowing they’ll have them replaced without the slightest dent in their wallets.
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Rafael Nadal, on the other hand, does the opposite of Djokovic. Never once has he broken a racket in his life. It’s been ingrained into his brain that he has no reason to do so. While one can make the claim that one method should be used over the other, it’s not something that can be changed either way, but it’s an interesting idea to dive into. Which works better?
To unpack this, we need to look more generally. It’s common knowledge that humans shouldn’t bottle up emotions. It has a toxic effect on physical and mental health.
By this logic, would Djokovic’s way of handling frustration be beneficial? It’s certainly working for him. His lashing out serves as a mental reset. Once he hits that low point, the only way he can go is up.
Let’s look back out. We can compare Djokovic to someone in a Rage Room. Anyone who’s been in one of those knows that it feels pretty good afterward. It’s a reset point to say “Ok, I got that out. Let’s move on.” Djokovic’s personal bubble is like his own Rage Room. Is it the most effective way to handle a situation? Maybe not, but it gets the job done for him.
On the other end of the spectrum, Nadal’s way of dealing with frustration seems to come within himself. There’s never been a broken racket, and there’s only a rare instance or two of him yelling. His coping method comes from within. His comparison is much like someone with a spiritual connection. Rafa’s mental reset is purely within himself. he stays calm and collected, even at the lowest moments, and continues soldiering on through his struggles.
Next. Daniil Medvedev’s consistency could vault him to the top of tennis. dark
There isn’t a science as to which method works better for the game. That’s purely up to the individual. What this speaks to, however, is the beauty of opposites in the game of tennis. Dealing with adversity comes in many ways, just as the secret to success can come with bruising offense or never-ending defense.