📚 Story of the Week
Our Colossal Tennis players had a busy weekend competing in sectional and national tournaments across the country. The results were excellent, but what made me most proud was the tremendous character they displayed.
- Josh LaTour, competing at the National Level 3 in Las Vegas, battled illness but refused to withdraw. Showcasing grit and determination, he managed to win three singles matches before finally exiting.
- Richard Hou, playing the National Level 3 team event in St. Louis, struggled with a shoulder injury that made serving nearly impossible. Despite the challenge, he showed outstanding perseverance, scoring multiple doubles victories and grinding out an 11–9 win in a third-set tiebreaker.
- Dylan Warn, playing up an age division at the National Level 5 in Minneapolis, won the doubles title and placed third in singles. In his singles semifinal, however, he lost a close third-set tiebreaker. What stood out wasn’t the score but his character: when a roving official made a call in his favor, Dylan immediately overruled it, conceding the point to his opponent. In a high-stakes moment, he chose integrity over advantage.
These players showed not only high-level skill but also exceptional character—qualities that form the playbook we use at Colossal Tennis to help build antifragile players.
🧠 What Does It Mean to Be Antifragile?
To be antifragile is to withstand and grow stronger from the adversity that is an inherent part of tennis training and competition.
On court, the antifragile player:
- Stays resilient during lapses in their own game or surges from an opponent.
- Embraces difficult conditions and perceived unfair play.
- Effectively navigates pressure and setbacks.
Off court, the antifragile player takes an objective view of performance, focusing on process rather than outcome. Instead of being consumed by wins or losses, they set short-, mid-, and long-term process-oriented goals across technical, tactical, physical, and mental areas.
🧐 Becoming Antifragile
Building antifragility takes as much discipline as learning a stroke—it requires maturity and philosophical growth. Here are three steps to start:
1. Develop a Plan
Identify key areas for improvement. Use the SMART method (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound) to set process-oriented goals, and outline daily practices to achieve them. A clear plan builds confidence and clarity.
2. Train for Adversity
Simulate tough conditions in practice. For example:
- Start service games at 0-30, 15-40, or 30-40 to build resilience under pressure.
- Play sets with only one serve allowed.
- Restrict players to slice backhands only.
These constraints foster adaptability and help players thrive in difficult situations.
3. Focus on What You Can Control
Players can’t control results, but they can control:
- Pre-, during-, and post-match routines
- Sleep, nutrition, and equipment preparation
- Sticking to their game plan
Owning these controllables builds belief and confidence, providing a huge edge in competition.
🎾 Match Point
Competition is chaotic, but we can teach players to handle setbacks by building antifragile habits.
By creating a plan, training for adversity, and focusing on controllables, players learn to thrive under pressure, grow from defeat, and take a long-term view of their development.
Antifragile players don’t just survive the chaos of tennis—they grow stronger because of it.
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See you next week!
