Day 33: 22 (!) Grand Slam Titles

I was watching Serena Williams play tennis today while I was at the gym. Of course, saying I was watching her “play” tennis is doing her an injustice. Because what I watched was someone competing.

She was “playing” to win. There was no doubt about it. It seemed like she was looking for every opportunity to irrevocably crush her opponent.

I was in awe, really. How does she do that, I thought over and over. Her strength — physical and mental — was almost palpable.

I’m not sure how her opponent felt. Dominated, probably.

Do you know when Serena won her first Wimbledon title? 2002. 14 years ago. To win Wimbledon titles at age 20 and at age 34 — with another five in between, by the way — is pretty much unfathomable. You shouldn’t be able to do that.

So how has she been able to? Why has she been able to?

Well, I think this quote explains some of it:

“I’ve had so many offers in the past to do different movies or different things and I always choose tournaments over it.”

She prioritises tennis over everything else.

There’s your “success hack.”