103. SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT

As I wander the globe, travelling with a pro player, there is much time to reflect on the life that these athletes lead; the opportunities and challenges they face; and the emotions that they experience on a day-to-day basis. It’s no easy job, no easy existence, but the rewards for all who take part, not only those who ‘make it,’ can be huge and life changing.

Watching my player, I see the highs and the lows, all within a very short space of time. I observe other players too and see their pained expressions when points and matches don’t go as planned – their sadness and frustration. But I also witness joy and relief when things go well. Such a roller coaster of emotions. Quite exhausting to watch, let alone to experience personally.

Now I am no poet, but weirdly, one particular week, words kept coming into my head, as I watched various matches being played. So much so that I felt the need to write them down. So, it’s a different kind of blog this time but still a reflection of the reality of life on the pro tennis tour, from an observer’s perspective.

***************

A solitary life

As you travel the globe,

Working hard for a living,

Almost always alone.

*

Empty hotel rooms,

Meals for one,

No one to talk to,

A nomadic life.

*

Thank goodness for FaceTime,

A chance to call home,

But when that it is over

Again, on your own.

*

A brutal sport,

A really tough game

Mental; physical;

Relentless; all the same.

*

Players question their place

All of the time.

They want to ‘belong’

But feel on the fringe.

*

One of the crowd;

An add on; a ‘spare’;

The party plus one,

Does anyone care?

*

So sad to witness;

So hard to watch.

Very few smiles

So much at stake.

*

Margins are small,

So many players.

All very able,

All seeking a break.

***************

Then out of the blue

Comes the taste of success.

A time for reward,

A time to be blessed.

*

The stars are aligned,

The belief is there.

The hard work is done;

No longer a ‘spare’.

*

That feeling of success

Is second to none.

The trophy held high

And the tournament is won.

*

Elated, relieved,

Joyful, content.

Euphoric and cheerful,

How much this meant.

***************

Things change at the top

If you break through the glass.

The rewards are immense

And the lifestyle sublime.

*

But the journey to get there

Is so very long,

You have to believe,

You have to be strong.

*

Do not give up,

Do not despair.

Carry on fighting

You’re almost there.

*

Stay positive, focused,

Your time will come.

The wait may be long,

But the rewards second to none.

*

But whatever the outcome

What is learned is immense,

Resilience and courage,

Bravery and independence.

***************

S. Appleton – 2024

The reality is that whatever the nature of the journey of your player, she will come away from the tour with an immense set of life skills. She will have travelled the globe and managed a business herself (see blog 85 below). She will have learned how to communicate and to become comfortable in her own company.

Like in life, each player’s journey is unique and there will be highs and lows along the way – that is guaranteed. But at the end of the day, the things that these players learn along the way are immense and provide each one with an opportunity to move forward in life in whatever way they please. So the reality is that whilst the life of a pro can seem very tough at times, the rewards, not only in terms of trophies, prize money etc, are huge and should be acknowledged and appreciated.

#realitytennis

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