Where There Is Djokovic/Serena, There Is A Way

This Article was first published on 10sballs.com as : 

http://www.10sballs.com/2011/08/16/where-there-is-djokovicserena-there-is-a-way/

Written by: ApekshaHA on 16th August 2011

In my experience, I have seen myself and so many others giving up goals in their lives thinking of them as impossible:

Being at No.3 since 2007 and losing consistently to two players– considered amongst the greatest players of all time by many: Federer/Nadal - must have been frustrating and disappointing. Watching them dominate the world of Tennis, anyone would consider it impossible to win any Grand Slam or to acquire the Numero Uno spot. How do you get over that barrier?

Being at the top and dominating the game with no fear for 7 years, she was suddenly diagnosed with career and life threatening injury. It threatened to take away from her the thing that made her everything and that she loved since childhood. After a year's time off, she comes back to the tennis court and loses in fourth round of Wimbledon. And suddenly there are talks about new players coming up, end of an era, not being fit enough to sustain long matches and what not! How do you get over that barrier?

In both these situations, many would have lost hope and left it on fate, feeling they are just unfortunate to be born in such an era or unlucky to have such an injury! How does one get over that barrier?

Well, you just have to be Novak Djokovic/Serena Williams in your lives in order to overcome all these odds. Just imagine what if these players would have given up not trying. They wouldn’t have been able to achieve what they have:

Novak Djokovic:  9 titles, 2 Grand Slams, 5 Masters, 122 sets won, only 18 lost, 53-1 record and World No. 1 ranking ending the dominance of two of the greats - Federer/Nadal.

Serena Williams: After falling out of top 100, she came back and won back to back tournaments - Stanford and now Rogers Cup. From 175 to 31, she might land - probably by the end of season –in top 5 or as World no. 1 yet again.

It’s not that these players didn’t have hiccups in their journey. They are also normal human beings like us. Then what is the difference:

Mindset:  Never let others get into your head: It’s you who have to decide what your goals should be. Even if people don't believe you, it’s you who have to decide what you want. People will come, go and then come back again but your goals won't. People will be with you when you are at top one time, against you once you are down and then again with you at top!  It’s only family and true friends/fans who stick with you at all times. As Carl Lewis said “Scientists have proven that it's impossible to long-jump 30 feet, but I don't listen to that kind of talk. Thoughts like that have a way of sinking into your feet"

Attitude:  They say - it’s not the altitude but your attitude which defines your life! No matter what situation you are in - high or low - if you have attitude of not giving up ever and trying to reach your goals come what may, you are bound to succeed! Every human being is unique and has his/her own specialties so don’t compare with others. Carve your own way, work on yourself and grind it out. Don't ever ever ever give up no matter what!  I can guarantee you this that if you give up, you will never ever achieve what you are destined for. But if you don't, one day you will. Try your best and go for it!

And these two people are an example of the above two differentiators.That’s why I say where there is Djokovic/Serena, there is a way!

If you have any questions- You can mail me at apekshaha@gmail.com

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Also:Will Roger Federer Bounce Back And The Myth of Age 30?

Roger Cup Defeats: A boon for Federer, Nadal and Murray?

This Article was first published on 10sballs.com as : 

http://www.10sballs.com/2011/08/13/roger-cup-defeats-a-boon-for-federer-nadal-and-murray/

Written by: ApekshaHA on 13th August 2011

What an eventful week it has been so far: The top 3 out of the top 4 crumbled to their opponents in the early rounds of Rogers Cup. Pretty disheartening for their fans! Already we can see people talking about the end of era for Federer & Nadal and how Murray does not deserve to be in Top 4. So I thought that lets look at the history once again and study the trend!

And guess what? It turns out that losing in Rogers Cup might turn out to be a boon for these players.  In the past 20 years, 70 % of the time a player who has won Rogers Cup has not been able to win US Open. It’s not that surprising? Is it? Because top players take a break after Wimbledon before starting their crusade for US Open. So it’s pretty natural that they are a bit rusted and have a hangover of their past performances in French Open/Wimbledon.

Here is a table for the top 4 and their performances in Rogers Cup in past 6 years:

Rogers Cup	Djokovic	Nadal	Federer	Murray	US Open Winner
2005	NA	Winner	NA	NA	Federer
2006	NA	3rd Round	Winner	SF	Federer
2007	Winner	SF	Finalist	2nd Round	Federer
2008	QF	Winner	2nd Round	SF	Federer
2009	QF	QF	QF	Winner	Juan Martin Del Potro
2010	SF	SF	Finalist	Winner	Rafael Nadal

Federer is the only anomaly (2006) in which he won both Rogers Cup and US Open. Although Djokovic will remain to be the top favorite to win US Open irrespective of results in Rogers Cup, my point here is that all is not lost for Federer, Nadal and Murray.

Andy Murray: It might be good for Murray to lose out in first round as he said last year - by the end of US Open, he ran out of energy and had no fuel left; probably the reason why he practiced so hard In Miami in 100 F temperatures.

Rafael Nadal: Losing early and getting to know your weakness is better than losing in US Open (Grand Slam). It’s clear now to everyone and Nadal himself that he needs to win the battle of minds if he has to win US Open. And it’s better that Nadal now knows that he has a serious problem at hand and can tackle it before the Grand Slam. He still has 2 weeks; if he would have lost in US Open, he would have had to wait for another year.

Roger Federer: A lot has been already said about the champion and he himself knows that he will have to pull his socks quickly otherwise time will run out! He lost the match but let’s face it, he had his chances to win like Nadal did. We were discussing this the other day and my friend told me:

‘Life’s battle doesn’t always go to stronger or faster men; but sooner or later the man who wins is the one who thinks he can’. So for him the mantra of success would be to think he can and continue his journey. Doesn't matter what others say, it's he who has to decide what he wants to do and achieve!

If you have any questions- You can mail me at apekshaha@gmail.com

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Also:Will Roger Federer Bounce Back And The Myth of Age 30?

Will Roger Federer Bounce Back And The Myth of Age 30?

This Article was first published on 10sballs.com as : 

http://www.10sballs.com/2011/08/10/will-roger-federer-bounce-back-and-the-myth-of-age-30/

Written by: ApekshaHA on 10th August 2011

A friend of mine, who was getting married, told me an interesting fact recently:  for bachelors, marriage can be looked at in two ways: The end of journey or start of a new journey. As Federer enters the 30’s club, it’s the same case for him. For people, it might seem as an end of an era when he lost in Wimbledon Quarter Finals; but for me, it’s the start of a new journey for him. Why? Read on to know the reason:

Life is a sinusoidal curve with ups and downs, highs and lows ready to take us into new paths in life. Historically, there was a time when people thought that  Bjorn Borg would go down in the history as the greatest ever. Then Pete Sampras emerged and dominated Tennis during 1990′s. When he retired, many regarded him as the greatest. But he was surpassed by Federer in 8 years’ time. He, not only surpassed Sampras in Grand Slam titles but is also considered, by many, the one who changed the face of tennis with his charming personality. Just when Federer was thought of as invincible, Nadal came knocking on the door with a claim to the throne; and when Nadal was starting to establish his credibility on all type of courts, though too early to say, we might have another claim on the throne in future-Novak Djokovic – Who Knows?

The point here is that no one is invincible in his/her life. If there is a high in your life, you will also experience the opposite in your career. And that’s the fact of life. So the biggest question is will Federer be back in his career?

Yes. Every good player has a high and which is invariably followed by a low as he/she advances in his/her career. The difference between good and great is the ability to bounce back from this dirt. It’s not the age that matters, what matters is the person’s sheer will and determination to continue to move forward. Here are a few examples from history:

1) Rod Laver won 4 Grand Slams after the age of 30.

2) Pete Sampras (seeded 17th at that time) surprised everyone when he won his 14th Grand Slam at the age of 31.

3) Not to mention Ken Rosewall, arguably amongst the 5 greatest players of all time, won his last Grand Slam title at the age of 37 and after two years reached the Wimbledon Finals.

4) And there are so many others – Jimmy Connors who won US open at the age of 31, Andre Agassi who won Australian Open at the age of 32 etc.

If you look at the greats of the game, they had competition from the likes of John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Stefan Edberg, Boris Becker, Jim Courier etc. during their time, but they managed to overcome all the odds successfully.

The simple rationale is – If you think you can, you will.

“I’ve won so much that you feel like if you put yourself in the right position and you do all the right things you’ll definitely get a shot of winning big tournaments.”

“My planning has always been long term. I’m looking forward to how much more I can achieve from this point on.” – Federer.

Here is a champion who has won more Grand Slams than anyone in history. He still believes in himself and knows that he can go that extra mile. For some, it might be the end of his journey but as I see it, it’s the start of a new chapter in his life. A chapter that he wants to write down in the history book as a successful one.   He has broken so many records; I won’t be surprised if he goes on to achieve the milestone of winning multiple Grand Slams after the age of 30.

So many greats of the tennis world have done it before, so can Federer!

For me there is no reason at all for Federer fans to panic or think that his era is over. The champion that he is, he will be back soon!

If you have any questions- You can mail me at apekshaha@gmail.com

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Also: Roger Cup Defeats: A boon for Federer, Nadal and Murray?

Steffi Graf,Serena Williams-A Lesson To Learn From The Champions!

As I sit and go back down the memory lane, I remember 1998, when Steffi Graf did not play due to her knee injury.Media at that time had written her off as Martina Hingis was the new kid and champ in the town.People and Media in 1995 (after the unfortunate incident of the cynical fan stabbing Seles), had just shrugged off at Seles comeback. And fast forward to 2011, Serena Williams also had to go through the same when people hinted that her era was over after her defeat in Wimbledon.

It's a natural tendency of human beings to hail the current champions and just announce to the world the end of the old. It's very easy to criticize and find out faults in one's game especially after an injury layoff. Most of the players are not able to make a successful comeback but few does!

What we forget is that people who do succeed in their comeback have already shown their supreme dominance to the world once before. They have already proved to the world that they are one of the greatest if not the greatest of all. So in nutshell, they know the formula of success. So it wouldn't be impossible for players to return to the game as a champion.

What separates these champions from others is: 

1. Strong determination to achieve their goals.


2. Belief in themselves to achieve the impossible.


3. For them, everything is possible. They have done it once, so why cant they do it twice?

I for once never had doubts when Steffi was playing 1999 FO that she will not win  nor do I have any doubt in my mind that Serena will not make a strong comeback. Infact in a year's time, she will be back to her strong old self. Stanford did prove that! Well its just the beginning  for her. Already the people who had said she was done are announcing her to be US open favorite.

What I want readers to take from this article is that even in your life, no matter what people tell you or  if  you think(since you just faced the biggest hurdle of your life), you can't rise, Take a deep breath, close your eyes and remember these great players. If they have been able to achieve the impossible, SO CAN YOU. Steffi tried, Serena is trying right now and if only you can have that faith in yourself, your name can be the next in the list along with the greats! 

If you have any questions- You can mail me at apekshaha@gmail.com

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Also:The Top 4 (Djokovic/Nadal/Federer/Murray) In Tennis And The Story Of Statistics So Far

Also: The Top 4 (Djokovic/Nadal/Federer/Murray), Del Potro And The Story Of Hard Court Statistics So Far: Part II

A Journey, A Dream: US Women All Set To Rewrite History

Article first published as A Journey, A Dream: US Women All Set To Rewrite History on Technorati. (Author-Apeksha HA)

It was the fourth time in World Cup history that a team came back to win after falling behind in extra time, and a first at the Women’s World Cup last Sunday. But this was just the beginning.The fairy tale continued on Wednesday for the US women’s soccer team at the World Cup as US defeated France 3-1. Abby Wambach, the star forward again came to the rescue again with a late goal in 79th minute which spurred the comeback.

This is the same team which had faced a possible exit in the quarter finals against Brazil if not for the magnificent late goal in 122nd minute of the second half of extra time by Wambach. It was in 1999 that the US last won Women’s World Cup and since then haven’t been able to produce a team with that huge fan appeal. Until now.

This dynamic team has taken the entire US nation by storm and frenzy. People are gathering all over the country at sports bars, households,streets to support their team. Not too far behind are the social media sites which have been inundated with floods of messages of support for this wonderful team.

What is so special about this team is their will to fight back and never give up in any situation. This was evident in both their previous matches where they bounced back at the last stages of the game. What marks this US team is their indomitable spirit and the way they have believed in themselves to perform resulting in huge support and admiration from people all over the world.

The next hurdle and the most important one will be in the form of Japan who are on a course of defining history themselves. Plagued by the memories of the devastating earthquake, the Japanese are all the more geared up to write their own story.

But in the words of Wambach-“This is our journey, This is our dream.”

This US team is certainly not going to give up on their dream of winning the most coveted championship in soccer and more importantly mark the turning point of the growth of soccer back home.

Can You Be Like AGASSI In Your Life?

In 1992 Wimbledon, a new champion rose in the history of Tennis-Andre Agassi, the long haired tennis player known for his brashness, mockery and off court media popularity. For a person who was more focused on his image rather than tennis, ongoing hair problems, drug use, tanking matches (unknown to the world at that time) and mocking players, and whose hatred towards tennis was more than anyone can imagine during the early part of his career, dropping in the world ranking from Numero Uno to No. 141 and a divorce was not a surprise. In his words it was the rock bottom of his life. There was no comeback from that situation. Right?

Wrong! Come 2011, he is one of the most adored and respected tennis player who is not only known for his tennis achievements (8 grand slams, 1999 historic victory in French Open, third player to complete a career grand slam, World No. 1 ranking and so many more) but also for his off court achievements. In the field of sports, he is one of the biggest philanthropists; he has generated $150 million for his education reform activities in Las Vegas. In his personal life, he is happily married with the woman who still manages to take his breath away after 10 years-fellow hall of famer-Steffi Graf with two kids Jaden and Jaz. In my book, he is the perfect role model for everyone in all the aspects of life- professional and personal.

So how did this turnaround started: It started with the advice of Nelson Mandela to him in 1997: “We must live our lives carefully”. And how true it is? Shouldn’t every individual live that way, be careful of their decisions on every step. Every human being in this world hits a rock bottom in his/her life but how often do we see such a remarkable transformation and rise to the top. The normal tendency is to give up and succumb to the pressures of life and give away our lives. Some commit suicides, some fall in the trap of depression, some blame their families and so on. But is that really the solution to this problem? Andre Agassi is a perfect example from whom we can take inspiration in life and get back to the point that we and our family want.

Was he able to do it because he possesses special qualities? No, he was also a normal person like all of us wanting to have a great career, family and good memories. The only difference is that he didn’t give up and with his belief and determination revived himself again to achieve great heights. So, can we also do it? God has given every person the same tools; it’s the qualities which a person develops over a period of time which defines his/her extraordinary achievements. If only we can look from within and be careful in our decisions, we also can do the impossible. As Agassi said “Hitting the rock bottom, a place that really isn’t so bad because it gives you a chance to look up” and start cherishing the things you love the most in life.

Andre Agassi is a true inspiration to all, who has taught us the importance of never giving up in life and the belief that we can always push ourselves to begin again and be inspired to achieve the greatness we are destined for.  It’s NEVER too late in life. In the words of this tennis great and my favorite:  “I am living proof that no dream, no journey is impossible.”


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Also:Novak Djokovic- Inspiration To All (Fans,Tennis Players And People All Over The World)

Novak Djokovic- Inspiration To All (Fans,Tennis Players And People All Over The World)

While everyone was busy talking about Federer/Nadal, how these two great players were invincible, one player was making efforts slowly to begin his new era. For 4 years he was No.3 in the world before finally figuring out his destiny.

Often in life, we face adverse situations and think that we don’t have it in us to achieve our goals. However, what we often forget is that nothing is impossible in this world. I have always said that sports can change an individual’s life. We can learn so many things from any sport that we like. I happen to like tennis and this past Sunday, I learnt the most important lesson in my life:

“No one is invincible. Everything is possible.”

Who would have thought at the start of the year that Novak Djokovic would be the player to beat (even by Federer/Nadal - two of the greatest in the game)? Very few I guess. Who would have thought that he will be number 1 by Wimbledon’11? None I guess. But here he is - World no.1, with 48-1 winning streak and 2 grand-slams this year.

Since Feb 2004, none of the current/former tennis players have been able to dethrone the kings of tennis - Federer/Nadal. Anyone in their position might have been demoralized and frustrated. After trying so hard to achieve their goals and after years of failure, they might have even given up. The truth is that most of them did. But Djokovic didn’t. What is it that sets Nole apart?

From my viewpoint, it’s simply two things:

Belief in Himself:  In spite of being defeated 30 times by Federer/Nadal in the past 4 years, he did not lose confidence in himself. In the words of Jack Welch, Belief is probably the most important trait of a successful leader. After years of failure to break into the top two, he did not give up and kept his belief in himself when others had lost in themselves. Obviously, to back up his belief he has put in a lot of hard work which everyone does too, but nowadays, Tennis has become a mental game too. That’s why Nadal is considered a master in this game. And this belief (when most of them don’t have it) that he can defeat the best, gave an edge to Nole.

Ability to Change:  The only constant thing in life is change. However clichéd this may sound, if you continue to improve, only then you can survive; and if you don’t, you can get obsolete. That’s what Djokovic has been doing since last 3 years; he has been continually striving to become the best. Trying out additional coaches and team members (Mark Woodforde, Todd Martin in the past, nutritionist responsible for his all famous gluten free diet) shows his dedication towards improvement. He is a perfect example of “turning his weaknesses into strength”. His forehand and serve have improved significantly. His health (allergies because of which he retired a couple of times at a grand slam) has improved. Not only in his play, but also in his manner on the court, he has grown from a whiner to a calm and composed player who has won hearts of millions now. This has happened because he was ready to try out new things and accept changes. In Nadal’s own words he has become “A player with no weaknesses”.

Come to think of it, this player has done the unthinkable and has given life to so many dead beliefs. He is now a symbol of hope, happiness, success, belief and inspiration to people in Serbia, to every tennis player and to all the people in the world. Consider the impact on the tennis world - Now everyone will look at Novak Djokovic- the person who did the impossible. This can be a bad sign for Federer/Nadal as everyone will now work with a renewed enthusiasm that if Nole could do it, so can we. But I am sure, the great champions that these two players are; they would leave no stones unturned to respond to the challenge. Overall it is a very good sign for tennis.

So the next time, when you have failed and are feeling low, remember not to lose belief and be ready to change yourself for the best. When that will happen, at the right opportunity, things will click in your favor (just like Davis Cup win in 2010 for Nole) and the result will be obvious: You will become Novak Djokovic in your life.


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Also:New:Can You Be Like AGASSI In Your Life?

I Am Who I Am

“I stand outside in the light,

Looking far away in the sky.

I am confused, puzzled,

Asking God to show me a ray of light.

I stand there thinking about my past,

I stand there thinking about my present, 
What am i worth of?

Do I give up now and rest forever?

Or shall I take control and lead my destiny?

A flush of air breeze past my face,

Asking me to WAKE UP.

In that moment I realize, Never give up.

Don’t let others control your fate,

I am the leader of my life,
I can do anything not because I am invincible,

But because I Am Who I Am.

No one can bind me, No one can hold me back,

I will continue to move forward, step by step,

as I Am and will always be Who I Am."

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Also: Its Better Late Than Never  (What one can learn from LiNa,Roger Federer & Dirk Nowitzki) 

Its Better Late Than Never

Article first published as It's Better Late Than Never on Technorati.

He pointed out to his entourage followed by a big shout after a big semifinal win.

She lay down on the court followed by looking at her husband and coach after her first grand slam victory.

He won the second match with his team 15 points down and got high fives by his teammates after getting the NBA final series tied 1-1.

Roger Federer, Li Na, and Dirk Nowitzki- the three current hot players on the circuit right now. You look at them and wonder in awe. How can they make everything look so tangible?

All three have one thing in common- Resolve to bounce back against extreme odds and critics. As Human beings grow old and grey, our risk taking ability and belief in ourselves also takes a down slide. And top that with our earlier failures, we start to loose belief in ourselves..

One question keeps popping out of my mind? Can I make it? People who have achieved the same goal that i long for/crave for(people who are living my dream) were so young or maybe they were just lucky that they got the opportunity right at their doorsteps . I wish to be one of them or to be young again (yeah I know we all are the same). Will I be able to do this?

These thoughts continued to haunt me at every stage of my life when I used to compare myself with people who had done better than me, or who were younger than me and were aspiring for the same goal. Be It MBA exams or job interview, it never left me until one day I realized is it too late for me to start up a new thing in my life?

You look at Li NA- a player who quit tennis to study journalism and came back and was virtually unknown till the age of 28. Roger Federer-who people had thought was downright underdog in front of Djokovic- 4 years younger than him/fresh legs. Dirk Nowitzki who had lost the opportunity in 2006 to win the NBA finals and now at the age of 32 is trying to compete with a team of stars 4-6 years younger than him. Going by the natural thoughts, one would think that they should have given it up and said that No we cannot do this? How lucky was Martina Hingis to have won her first title so young, how can i beat Djokovic when he is so young and is the best player currently, how can i even think of competing with a star studded team with the best players when i am 32, old enough to retire maybe?

But they didn’t and they never will. What makes these players so unique is their will to fight back and give their best no matter how tough the circumstances are. It doesn't matter whether they are too old enough by the books, or they have stiff competition from younger people, for them It’s never too late.

The sheer grit and determination is what sets these players apart. And I have strongly believed that god has given every human being two hands, two legs, two eyes, and one brain for a reason. So if these people can come up with such sheer resolve, is it hard enough for me to become strong willed in my pursuit of goal. So what if people think that i m not capable to do it, it is me who has to decide whether i can do it or not? Whether i can give my 100 percent and not lose hope.

There are so many examples to substantiate that ITS BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. Be it Andre Agassi or Winston Churchill (age of 62) or Abraham Lincoln, we all have it in ourselves to come back and achieve our goals. If one man can do it, so can you. Imagine all these people, if they would have given up and not tried what they would have missed? Do you really want to quit and not have that one thing in your life which you so dearly want? Because you think that you are too old enough, or right time has gone or there are more talented young people than you?

Just believe in yourself and never ever give up. Because if you do, it won’t be that god has made these people any different, it will be just that we are lazy enough to put in hard work in our fields. Always remember It’s better late than never.

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