1. Focusing on what really matters for future great success
On Saturday September 11, 2010, Vera Zvonareva lost the Women Singles final of the U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows in New York to Kim Clijsters.
When speaking to the media after the match which she lost 2-6, 1-6, Zvonareva said: ‘I gave it 100%. I was just physically not there. I just couldn’t execute. I have to learn how to recover well and make sure I’m physically fit and ready to play when it comes down to the last matches….I will have to learn how to pace myself with practicing and preparing. May be if I really want to go deep in the Grand Slams, may be I will have to stop playing doubles.’
2. Developing versatility and resourcefulness counts
Kim Clijsters defended her third U.S. Open title at Flushing Meadows in New York on Saturday September 11, 2010 in less than 60 minutes. However, the success of the Belgian was not just what happened on the occasion but how she developed herself after winning her first match at the U.S. Open.
In an interview after the first match in a very windy condition with high unpredictability, she was asked; ‘When you trailed 4 love, are you relying on experience or anything from the past, or is it just trying to get one game?’
Clijsters replied, ‘…Obviously you try to kind of read or, you know, kind of, yeah, not study, but kind of, yeah, just experience what’s happening, what made you get to Love 4. And then obviously you try to, you know, change a few little things just not maybe tactic wise but just for myself. You know, okay, just take a few little more steps. Just take smaller steps. Make sure those feet, you know, keep moving. You know, that’s obviously to me was something that was very important. Obviously going with the wind, you know, I had to move forward quite a lot of times. A lot of times I was …kind of searching for the ball a little bit. Just let it, you know, waited too long to step into the court and just let the ball bounce. You know, let it go, you know, a little bit too low a few times.’
After defeating Zvonareva, Clijsters said, ‘…today I was able to mix up my game a little more and I think that just got her thinking even more, besides the fact that she was probably thinking about the occasion, where she was playing and being in another final, which is always something that does have an effect on the way you feel.’
3. Continuous improvement is critical to personal development for great success
On Monday September 13, 2010, Rafael Nadal defeated Novak Djokovic in the 2010 U.S. Open final in a thrilling contest 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-2 at Flushing Meadows to become only the seventh man in history to win all four major titles. Nadal is only the seventh player in the history of men’s tennis and the second youngest to attain the career Grand Slam. Nadal is also the first male player since Rod Laver (in 1969) to win the French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open in the same year.
Nadal triumphed with a new-and-improved serve he worked on specifically for the tournament. He was serving both his first and second serve with more speed, spin and precision than ever before.
Novak Djokovic who Rafael Nadal defeated said, Nadal “…is just proving each day, each year, that he’s getting better. That’s what’s so frustrating. He’s getting better each time you play him.”
Nadal himself, summarized his victory this way: “For the first time in my career, I played a very, very good match in this tournament…I played my best match in the U.S. Open at the most important moment, so I am very, very happy for that, for sure.”
Commenting on the vast improvement of his conqueror, Djokovic said this of Nadal: “He has the capabilities already now to become the best player ever. I think he’s playing the best tennis that I ever seen him play on hard-courts. He has improved his serve drastically. The speed, the accuracy, and of course his baseline is as good as ever.”
Interestingly rather than dwell on his success he was talking about how important it is for him to keep improving. For example, he said wants to try to finish the season playing better than other years at the end of the season. In order to achieve this, however, he wants to make sure his serve gets better, and that he improves his slice backhand and volleys and his court positioning, among other things! For details on total personal development for great success, visit personal development system.
4. Mastery of emotional challenges
Rafael Nadal conquered his internal emotional challenges and won with solid mental strength and capacity. His career was in doubt in 2009. He had to withdraw from defending his first Wimbledon title on account of tendinitis in his knees. He worked on retooling and recovering to be mentally and physically fit for the tournament.
5. Understanding and mastering the critical success factors
In winning the 2010 U. S. Open, Rafael Nadal adapted his game to be effective on a quicker surface than clay. He has come to the Open worn out over the years. However, this year he kept a light schedule and he changed the grip on his serve. With the help of his coach and uncle, Toni Nadal, he adjusted the grip on his serve the day before the tournament, allowing him to find greater power. Furthermore he worked on mastering crushing topspin backhands.
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