Hilarious Player Wisdom
Hilarious insights and witty remarks from tennis legends
Fuel your determination and push your limits on the court
Never Give Up
"Champions keep playing until they get it right."
Perseverance Through Failure
"I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 matches. I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. But I keep going."
Keys to Success
"One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation."
Inner Strength
"You have to believe in yourself when no one else does."
Complete Champion
"Winning is about having the whole package—physically, mentally, and emotionally."
Mark of Greatness
"The mark of great sportsmen is not how good they are at their best, but how good they are at their worst."
Preparation Over Will
"It's not the will to win that matters—everyone has that. It's the will to prepare to win that matters."
True Sportsmanship
"The only way to prove you are a good sport is to lose."
Comedian on Tennis
"The depressing thing about tennis is that no matter how good I get, I'll never be as good as a wall"
On the Net
"The serve was invented so that the net could play"
Commitment
"The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed"
Retail Therapy
"It's called Retail Therapy"
(on going shopping after a loss)
Speed Rivalry
Greg Rusedski:
"Pete is a step and a half slower"
(after losing to Pete Sampras in the US Open)
Pete Sampras (Response):
"Against him I don't need to be a step and a half quicker"
On Racket Breaking
"Not yet. It's my first day on the job. Give me some time"
(on not breaking a racket during his first match of 2002)
Tactical Advice
"Champions keep playing until they get it right."
Training Wisdom
"The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed."
Passion for the Game
"I can't remember the last time I didn't have to play a match with my balls."
Rest & Recovery
"If you don't practice you don't deserve to win."
Time Management
"I hate to lose more than I love to win."
Mental Toughness
"I just try to focus on the next point, the next shot, and let it all come together."
Life lessons and wisdom from tennis legends that inspire beyond the court
Individual Combat
"It's one-on-one out there, man. There ain't no hiding. I can't pass the ball."
The Foundation
"Nothing can substitute for just plain hard work"
Journey of Success
"Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome."
Key to Confidence
"One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation."
Greatest Things in Life
"Greatest thing in life: Winning a tennis match. Second greatest thing in life: Losing a tennis match"
Mental Focus
"The next point - that's all you must think about."
Gladiatorial Combat
"I have always considered tennis as a combat in an arena between two gladiators who have their racquets and their courage as their weapons."
Physical Challenge
"That's what you do all the hard work for, to play in situations that put your body through gruelling times. If you're not up to it, pull out!"
(on the grueling heat at the Aussie Open)
Mental Battle
"The fifth set is not about Tennis. It's about nerves"
Mark of Greatness
"The mark of a great sportsman is not how good they are at their best, but how good they are at their worst"
Let Actions Speak
"I let my racket do the talking. That's what I am all about, really. I just go out and win tennis matches"
True Concentration
"If you can keep playing tennis when somebody is shooting a gun down the street, that's concentration"
Life Lessons
"If you can react the same way to winning and losing, that's a big accomplishment. That quality is important because it stays with you the rest of your life, and there's going to be a life after tennis that's a lot longer than your tennis life"
Learning Through Tennis
"Tennis was always sort of a learning tool. It was a vehicle for me to discover a lot about myself. And the things that I sort of discovered at times I not only didn't want to see it for myself but I certainly didn't want millions of people to see it"
Pure Joy
"Tennis was never work for me, tennis was fun. And the tougher the battle and the longer the match, the more fun I had"
Key to Championship
"What is the single most important quality in a tennis champion? I would have to say desire, staying in there and winning matches when you are not playing that well"
Family Strength
"We're from the ghetto. Venus is a ghetto Cinderella. People from the ghetto don't get nervous"
Multiple Challenges
"The trouble with me is that every match I play against five opponents: umpire, crowd, ball boys, court, and myself"
Humorous takes on tennis from players and comedians that will make you smile
Signature Line
"You cannot be serious!"
Self-Deprecating Humor
"I'm like an expensive menu...you can look but you can't afford!"
Comedian's Take
"The depressing thing about tennis is that no matter how good I get, I'll never be as good as a wall."
Purpose of the Serve
"The serve was invented so that the net could play."
Commitment Analogy
"The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed."
Player Addictions
"Tennis players never retire; they just lose their drive."
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Hopefully you enjoyed these tennis quotes!