Passionate About Tennis

Written by: Staff on 26th August 2011

Passionate About Tennis |

Hey it’s been an eventful two days for me, let me share a little of it with you!

Talks about changing my location and possibly moving to Santa Barbara are positive, so we’ll see how the situation turns out, I’m excited to see where it goes because I look at it as a challenging environment that will test my dedication and passion. News is buzzing with Steve Jobs’ resignation from Apple, and I managed to read his 2005 Stanford commencement speech and take a few lessons from it. The thought that stuck out to me the most was the idea Jobs has about Death, and looking into the mirror everyday and asking: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” Boy what a question to start the day off! Dogma and societal pressures get kicked to the curb huh?! I thought it was poignant for me in my daily activities because I find that I ask myself the “real” questions of whether or not I’m going to become a tennis success? And right now I’m of the mind to say that despite my monetary woes, I’m living the kind of life that’s filled with tons of unique tennis opportunities that I wouldn’t change for anything. I hope that’s what finding what you love to do is all about. I will continue to work hard as I did yesterday and today to give myself the best chance at following my passions with tennis as long as I possibly can. I hope you can discover your calling too or use this quote to bolster your own personal story.

In the past two days, I’ve practiced with an incoming UCSB freshman from Zimbabwe, a junior headed to the US Open, and a few futures levels guys that give me a good run for my money at times. I think I’m very fortunate to find myself in situations here in California (not being a local to the state) that people are able and willing to practice with me, provide balls, courts, and some coaching too. Tennis is an amazing sport full of camaraderie and people willing to work together towards a common goal of improvement and exercise (both physical and mental). Today also provided a somewhat unfamiliar struggle as I started to cramp during my weights workout this evening! I haven’t cramped in a few months so I obviously didn’t intake enough fluids today or provide fuel for my body’s furnace throughout the day. I’ll do better to fill up on some protein shakes, bananas, and stay looser out on court. For the most part, I’m feeling confident in my game, my legs are strong and balanced underneath me, my forehand is improving each day that I’m down at sea-level, and as the mid-september California futures are approaching, I feel more and more game-ready to handle the challenges. Either way, I’m going to take on each day knowing that I’ve asked myself what I truly want to do with my day and feel secure knowing that I am doing exactly what I feel I should be doing. If I can take those confidences out onto the court with me, I think that would immensely help my cause. Maybe this is what Djokovic, Nadal, and especially Federer do before every match? Because you know you won’t find those guys behind a desk in an office at any point in the near future.

I’m looking forward to another good day of practice and conditioning tomorrow, and another opportunity to play with Alexandra Stevenson this Saturday (I’ll definitely let you know how it goes!)

Here’s to following your passion,
Shubert