Reply To: Sport Psych / Mental Aspect

[hockeygod]

Go figure: Serena Williams doesn’t like sports or working out

Wency Leung, Globe and Mail, January 2, 2012

She may be one of the world’s leading tennis stars, but Serena Williams says she’s not all that into the game.

In fact, the U.S. champ says she doesn’t even like sports in general.

According to the London Telegraph, Ms. Williams made the stunning revelation while discussing her plans to further cut back on playing this year, after taking off the latter part of 2011.

“It’s not that I’ve fallen out of love with tennis. I’ve actually never liked sports and I never understood how I became an athlete,” she said. “I don’t like working out, I don’t like anything physical. If it involves sitting down or shopping, I’m excellent at it.”

Ms. Williams, 30, nevertheless won the opening round of the WTA Brisbane International on Monday, beating South Africa’s Chanelle Scheepers 6-2, 6-3.

Even though her heart may not be in it, she told reporters she still finds it difficult to imagine a life without tennis.

“I don’t love tennis today but I’m here. I can’t live without it. There’s a difference between not loving something and not being to live without it,” she said, adding that taking time off to do other things “helps keep my motivation up.”

By scaling back her playing schedule, she explained, the tournaments in which she does participate will be special for her and her fans. “It’s going to be a forum where I’m really excited to play there.”

Ms. Williams, who learned to play tennis from her father at a young age, has won a total of 23 career Grand Slams. Beyond tennis, she has also been involved in television, fashion and philanthropy. In September, she was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

If Ms. Williams were able to become an all-time tennis great as a closet couch potato, one wonders how much better a player she might be if she were actually passionate about the game.

Does passion really improve one’s performance?

Dean
M.Ed (Coaching)
Ch.P.C. (Chartered Professional Coach)
Game Intelligence Training
"Great education depends on great teaching."