🎾 Frances Tiafoe vs Cameron Norrie
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Of all the statements I heard in the hundreds of interviews carried out, the one that was most difficult for me to believe was always the one to understand that there were professional tennis players who did not dream of the best, who did not strive to be the best at what they did, who were satisfied with be in the background. Sloane Stephensin her last interview with Caroline Garcia on the podcast Tennis Insider Clubrecognizes that this is a reality like life itself. It was always said about the American that she had the skills to get to the place where she wanted, but we forget that each person chooses their path, accepting a greater or lesser level of sacrifice.
“There is nothing wrong with not being Novak Djokovic, not everyone can be number 1 in the world,” the Plantation tennis player, 2017 US Open champion and former world number 3 at that time, says confidently. “In our case, I think Iga Swiatek is a sensational player, it’s great to be number 1, but I wouldn’t want that job. There are certain people who do aspire to that, precisely this is what makes tennis such a unique sport,” confirms the North American, without any hesitation when stating that she herself belongs to that group of athletes who are capable of achieving happiness. without the need to aspire to the highest within their discipline.
“Without a doubt, this is a good job to stay in,” says Sloane, a professional since 2011. “Obviously, tennis also means traveling for many weeks, everything in day-to-day life is very hectic, that can make everything complicated and stressful. Every week there are many adversities that people don’t see, but of course, What other job is going to pay you to put on your tennis dress and play a match that is broadcast on live television?“, the current number 75 in the WTA ranking, an absolute reference within this last decade, values ​​with good humor.
THE SECRET TO MAINTAINING THE ILLUSION
It is these adversities that have led Sloane many times to show fatigue, apathy and a certain reluctance in some official matches, empty of energy or directly lack of motivation. It is not easy to maintain that energy for more than ten years, but the Florida player herself admits to having found the secret formula to maintain the momentum each season, noticing as little as possible the passage of time and both physical and mental wear and tear.
“This year I decided to go to new places and see new things, do new things. For example, this season I decided to travel to Asia to see the Great Wall,” he comments using an example that allows us to understand its history a little better. “In the end, I feel like that has helped me know what to expect, It would be terrible for me to have a desk job for 12 years.. Tennis players are lucky to have the option to travel and do so many incredible things, although everything ends up being reduced to going to the same tournaments and the same cities. The key is to make it fun and exciting,” concludes the champion of eight individual titles.
