A strong body makes a strong mind

When I was a college player, my coach, the great “Tavo Vázquez,” told me something I have never forgotten: “A strong body makes a strong mind, never the other way around.” Many years later, I can see that he was right.

If you have a strong mind, you can accomplish many things. But if your body is weak, it can eventually take control of your thinking. When you are hungry, exhausted, or sleep-deprived, there comes a point when your mind becomes tired and your thinking becomes less clear.

When a bad day comes, sometimes the strength of the body matters even more than the strength of the mind. If your mind isn’t fully focused, your body may be able to support you and help you win a match. But if you are out of shape and face the same situation, the result could be very different.

Martina Navratilova said that matches are won in the gym, on the practice court, and in your own mind. In part, I agree with Martina. But over the years, I’ve discovered that the great matches of life are also played at the breakfast table, during nights of good sleep, and in those small moments when you have the discipline to say, “No, thank you.”

“No, thanks, I don’t want another drink.”“No, thanks, I don’t smoke.”“No, thanks, I need to take care of my body.”

Because my body is more important than my shoes or my racquets. I can replace those. I can’t borrow another body.