My take on Roger Federer and his Dartmouth commencement speech. He received a doctorate degree from Dartmouth. It was only his second time on a college campus – ever. He laughs about the robe and the fact that he wore shorts every day.
I met Roger when we were both 15 and playing on international teams in Europe. Again, we saw each other when Roger and I played in the Orange Bowl as teenagers. It was clay – and not my surface. My mother was known among the parents for carrying homeopathic medicine – and regular things like advil, aleve, tylenol. Roger’s back was acting up. So my mom, Samantha, called our orthopedic doctor at home in San Diego. He couldn’t recommend much without seeing him. He did give a regimen of over the counter medicine that Roger’s coach agreed upon. In those days – there wasn’t any on site physical therapy. I lost in the first round. Roger won the tournament.
In Roger’s Dartmouth speech he gave three lessons. Here’s a wrap up of a most memorable speech to the Class of 2024. Often described as Effortless.
Lesson One. He discusses how hard he worked – and it wasn’t effortless. He goes on to discuss how hard the court work was in the early days. Winning effortlessly is the ultiimate achievement, he said. He asked, How many times did your classmates make As – and you were pulling all nighters, he said. Aiming at strength, he said. Go after the baseliners, the attackers, the net rushers. You need an arsenal of strength, he said. Talent matters. Its a broad definition. Its about having grit. In tennis like in life – discipline is a talent. Embracing the process. Managing life, yourself.
Lesson two. It’s only a point. Work harder and still lose. Tennis is brutal. One player gets a trophy. Another player thinks how the hell did I miss that shot? I tried not to lose. But I did. “2008. Me vs Nadal. It would have been way way better if I had won. Center court at Wimbledon. Cathedral of tennis. 5 hours. Rain delays. Sun went down. 7-7 in the fifth. Barely see the chalk on grass. I saw this guy hungrier than I was. Rafa won. Some defeats hurt more than others. I lost Wimbledon – and the number one ranking. Keep working. Keep competing. Perfection is impossible. I won 80 percent of matches. Even top ranked players lose points. Intensity clarity and focus. Whatever game in life a poiint, a match, a job, natural to doubt yourself. Your opponents have self doubt. You want to become a master at overcoming hard moments. Work harder, work smarter. “”
Lesson Three. “Life is bigger than a court.” 2106 square feet. Not much bigger than a dorm room. The world is a whole lot bigger than that. Tennis could never be what you find in the world. Travel. Friendship. I left home at 14 to go to boarding school. Today. Helped 3 million children in early education foundation. Life really is much bigger than the court. Off court experiences I carry. My platform. Tennis like life is a team sport. Your tennis lessons Dartmouth – for today, Effortless. Points. Life.” Then, in a charming moment – Roger brings out a racquet and shows a Forehand eastern grip. Take back, follow through, for the Class of 2024 – on the Green at Dartmouth.
