I realized that there is an incredible connection between the business world and tennis when it comes to stress management and quick decision-making. I’m not going to slip into a cliché like ‘you must work hard to succeed in both,’ no.
I have been an avid tennis watcher for many years, and for the past 5 years I have been actively playing the sport myself. Once I surpassed the technical parts and reached a competitive level, I noticed something: the competitiveness of tennis and the competitiveness of the business world are almost the same, especially for a manager.
In the business world, you sometimes have to make a critical decision completely on your own, without having clear information about whether it is right or wrong. And tennis is exactly that kind of sport. When you step onto the court, every action is your responsibility. You are completely alone. Until the match ends, you must make quick decisions, find your opponent’s weak spot, stay solution-oriented, and execute every move with strong determination.
Each match brings a new opponent and a new challenge. Some hit the ball high, some slice; some make the game dirty, some play clean. You must quickly adapt to each style and respond accordingly. While doing this, you must keep yourself mentally strong, avoid getting angry, and be ready for the next point after every rally. Because there is always a next one…
For these reasons, I believe there is no sport more beneficial than tennis when it comes to stress management and mental calmness. Anyone who aims to achieve success must inevitably be at least somewhat competitive. Once someone experiences the joy of winning, they become addicted to it—and at that point, tennis becomes incredibly satisfying.
