| John Newcombe, former world tennis No 1 and | | | | For instance, some people are born with a body |
| former Australian Davis Cup captain, once said | | | | structure conducive to speed, others to strength, |
| that the top Australian players of his era believed | | | | and so on. In this sense, a very large proportion |
| that it was their destiny to become tennis | | | | of the population are excluded, from birth, from |
| champions. | | | | ever winning an Olympic gold medal as a sprinter |
| Boris Becker told me that two weeks before | | | | or a weightlifter. |
| achieving his first Wimbledon title (in 1985 when | | | | It is the same with tennis. The physical attributes |
| seventeen years old), he felt as if it were | | | | that are required to become a champion player |
| predetermined. | | | | are such things as good hand-eye coordination, |
| As a seventeen year old, Ivan Lendl, who, prior | | | | quick reflexes, and leg-speed. Without question, |
| to Pete Sampras, held the No 1 spot longer than | | | | these attributes can be developed to their fullest |
| any other player in history, was convinced that he | | | | potential with hard work and effective training |
| would turn himself into the best player in the | | | | methods. |
| world. He would even tell you so. | | | | But most people are excluded from becoming the |
| When asked by the media about his chances of | | | | best tennis player in the world, no matter how |
| winning his first US Open title (in 1975), Jimmy | | | | much time they spend attempting to reach their |
| Connors' response was: "There are 127 losers in | | | | physical ceiling of potential. |
| the draw -- and me!" | | | | Does this mean, then, that champions are born? |
| Jimmy won. | | | | Were Newcombe, Becker, Lendl and Connors so |
| What these former greats had in common was | | | | physically superior to everyone else that |
| an unshakeable certainty that they would win. It is | | | | becoming the best was just a mere formality? |
| a trait that is shared by all top sports people. | | | | Certainly not. All four were exceptionally gifted |
| But a question that has always fascinated me is: | | | | physically, but in my view, there were other |
| Are such champions born, or are they made? | | | | players of the same eras who were more gifted |
| Were Newccombe, Becker, Lendl and Connors | | | | than they were. |
| born to rule the tennis world? Or did they | | | | What separated them from everyone else were |
| become champions because of the choices they | | | | their mental attributes: their will to win, their |
| made? Was their success predetermined, as | | | | determination, their perseverance, their ability to |
| suggested by Newcombe and Becker? Or was it | | | | remain calm under presuure, their ability to bounce |
| a result of a single-minded dedication to making | | | | back from disappointments, and the belief that |
| themselves the very best, as implied by Lendl and | | | | they deserved to win -- all attributes that not one |
| Connors? | | | | of us is born with, but that each one of us has |
| Are champions a product of nature? Or of | | | | the power to develop. The only choice is whether |
| nurture? | | | | we want to or not. |
| To be a true champion at tennis or any other | | | | It is in this sense that, given the necessary or |
| sport requires very special qualities. These qualities | | | | essential physical attributes as a starting point, all |
| or attributes can be divided into two categories -- | | | | champions are not only made -- they are |
| the physical and the mental. It is my contention | | | | self-made. |
| that physical attributes are predominantly a | | | | Find tips about volleyball serve and volleyball |
| product of chance. They are determined | | | | terms at the Volleyball Drills website. |
| genetically. | | | | |