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Learning in Public: Mindfulness, Sports & Performance
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Serena Williams

Winningest tennis player of the modern era, 23 grand slams.

Key Concepts



@Masterclass with Serena Williams

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Notes

Dad used to say game is 70% mental
Key matches I’ve won have all come down to mental game
Considers greatest strength her mental game
Once your physically fit, not worried about getting tired, then you can take mental game to next level
One of best mental performances — Australian Open 2010
Injured in several ways, couldn’t walk
Guy yells ‘You don’t deserve to be number one’ → thought to myself, ‘I’m going to win because of you.’
One way to develop mental toughness is to practice really hard
Mental games during practice
Relax by thinking about what people are going to remember in 10 years
Probably won’t remember this match, just relax in that case
Take a deep breath, take it one point at a time, then start problem solving
Take it one point at a time
Playing through pain and exhaustion is part of the game
Come into the season with that expectation, don’t get frustrated by it
Choose to embrace it and make the best of it
Dealing with fear
Take a few hard swings, hit the ball hard,
When I’m behind, think that it’s not going to get worse
You have nothing to lose
Focus on one point, don’t focus on score, let yourself focus on one point at a time and then it builds
When you’re angry, you’re not thinking clearly
Recognize that early, and the need to calm down
Can’t rewind time, solve the problem by troubleshooting, figure out what you did wrong and fix it
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