When he moved to live in Europe 40 years ago and chose Switzerland as his home country, he seriously went back to playing one of the sports we grew up with as children, tennis. He had participated in a number of major tournaments in the country.
In one of our conversations several years ago, I distinctly remember him predicting that one day, Roger Federer would rule the world of tennis. Thinking that he was being a bit over nationalistic for his new country of citizenship, I totally disagreed with him.
Though I recognized and appreciated the amount of talent Federer had and how gifted his hands were, especially at the execution of the traditional one-handed backhand that we so rarely see in today’s tennis, I somehow felt that his temper which tended to flare up on crucial points would hinder him from reaching the peak of his potential.
I felt that he lacked the mental strength needed to go hand in hand with his physical ability and God-given talent.
This is quite a common sight among tennis players, and athletes in general.
There are the gifted ones yet there exists a lack that inhibits them from fulfilling their potential. There are others who don’t have the genius and yet with the strength of mind, heart and determination, they manage somehow to make their dreams come true.
By strength of mind I mean the ability of an athlete to withstand the intense pressure that a game brings that makes those without it "crack".
Most of us usually fall into the first category.
I went to watch the US Open many years ago to see the strength of mind and heart in action best personified by the player named Michael Chang. It was a beautiful sight to see him, an approximately five-foot-six young and pure Asian giving his all against his seemingly more physically gifted and Caucasian opponents.
It is a given that all who play in the Grand Slam events already have in them the strength of will and determination, not to mention talent. What will many times determine the winners in these events is that strength of mind which propels a player past perhaps a better trained and more talented opponent.
Michael did not win the tournament that year but looking back, it was his matches that I most enjoyed watching and to this day still remember vividly.
He was gallant in his attitude, style and demeanor. Actually witnessing in the flesh the strength of mind of such a player was indeed very inspiring. It struck me that Michael seemed to play for something truly bigger than himself.
You could sense this in the way he ran and dove for every impossible shot and somehow got it back. He never seemed to lose his head as we so often see even the best do when they come to the crucial or turning points of the match.
No amount of physical practice alone can get you ready for moments such as these.
It is in reality an attitude that develops gradually when one knows in his mind and heart that he has done every possible thing in the proper way to prepare himself for his match. Only then can he begin to clearly focus on the shot at hand.
As the US Open unfolds this week, Roger Federer is ruling the world of tennis and again is favored to win. Billy’s prediction was right after all.
Barring any injuries or fluke upsets or an inspired performance by any of the Top 8, he will probably win again.
Roger was able to put together a team that put him on the path to balance his mental ability to match the physical talent he was born with. He travels lightly — a physiotherapist and his girlfriend/manager. It’s a combination that he has found works for his needs. It is what has enabled him to separate himself from those who are born with "it" from those that make the most out of what they are born with.
Most of our tennis players don’t have access to the luxury of forming and funding a team of their own to put together. Most of them start out as ball boys who want to play the game that they have been exposed to for a large part of their lives.
They hit across the net from each other for hours on end and develop the ability of creating shots we see played by the masters of the game on television. Sadly, their development goes no further than this point.
For the coming Southeast Asian Games, there will be two Fil-American players representing the Philippines.
Without having to say much more, this is a clear indication of where our country’s tennis program is today.
The amount of practice that our players do on the court is necessary and should be commended and if accompanied with an education — not necessarily a degree in college — that will help guide their minds on how to think, teach their bodies what and how to eat, their hearts how to handle the crucial points and victory as well as defeat, then I do believe that this is the first step of our journey in the preparation of our country’s aspiring athletes.