TENNIS DRIVES CREATIVITY BY COBY BERLINER
The ball is up in the air
It’s on
Perfectly placed on the inside corner
Returned to the forehand
Puts it back cross-court
Barely gets it for an easy overhead
Forcefully finishes into the service box and well over the players head
That’s it
Match over
Whether deciding to serve open or closed stance, or deciding to hit a drop shot from the baseline, there are limitless choices in the game of tennis. Every point, nonetheless every shot, is a new opportunity for me to endorse creativity. However, there is only a matter of milliseconds to decide as shots are being blazed at me over 100 mph. In the heat of the moment, three things are going through my mind:
Where my opponent is going to hit the ball
Where I am going to position myself to receive that next shot
Which shot I am going to hit
Each of those steps present a new opportunity to be creative. In my life, I am sometimes forced to make decisions rapidly and effectively, and by playing tennis, I have trained myself to adapt quickly and embrace these situations. There isn’t ever a clear path to victory in tennis, just as in life, but having the ability to adapt and creatively make the most out of each situation gives me the best chance in both.
