Letter 16-year-old himself

This is very sincere and inspiring story of tennis player looking at the path, trying to warn themselves from the errors and highlight what is really important in life.

Dear 16-year-old Pete!

You're going to become a professional, you are very excited. Look deep into your heart, you already know that sooner or later will come to success. But believe me, it will happen a lot sooner than you can imagine. Initially, there will be ups and downs, but it's just for a couple of years. Then you will fight for his place in the top five of the strongest athletes in the world by winning the US Open by beating Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe and Andre Agassi.

That's when everything changed.

You'll be a budding American without protection from external influences. When you wake up the morning after his victory at the Open Championship of America, you will begin the interview for the interview. All eyes will be focused on you, and get used to the attention you need - from it can not hide behind the net.

Being a professional athlete - it's more than just play tennis.

The greater success you achieve, the more people you wish to leave the game.

It will not always be the desire to do it, and not always be fun. Such pressure exhausting you have not experienced even a tennis court. But being a champion, you take the responsibility. Do you play tennis, because you love the game, not because you like to be the center of attention, so be ready. Think about how to learn to work with the media. It's a long way to go. Fortunately, you're out of the game before the ubiquitous Twitter and Facebook. Be grateful for it. One day you'll understand what I mean.

And yes, throw a newspaper. Do not read what people say about you. Nothing good will come of it. And if you have heard and read something negative about yourself, do not worry. Give racket to speak for you.

And now let's talk a little about your game. During your career, invented some new types of fabrics that will help you get a little more speed and flexibility. You will see how Gustavo Kuerten uses them on unpaved and succeeds. And even when the coaches and other players will advise you to use the new technology to have a slight right to make mistakes and win on clay, you refuse. You're too attached to his outfit, like most tennis players, but if you want to win in French Open and continue to fight in the Grand Slam tournament, you need to try something new. Be open to new technologies.

But most importantly, do not forget to take care of their most important weapons - your body. Be aware of what you eat. There will be moments when you'll be waking up in the middle of the night before the match with a passionate desire to eat something crazy like hamburgers and pizza. This is because your body that something is missing. If you ignore these desires and can not tell, what was really needed your body (and it's not exactly burgers or pizza) for you not proizvedosh next day on the court expected impressions.

This will be particularly evident at the Open Championship of America in 1996. You will play in the quarterfinals with Àlex Corretja, and in the fourth set you completely izraskhoduesh all forces, because do not eat anything before the match. You will need make-up, and you grab Coca-Cola can. This is not an answer. All you need to do - to stretch before the break in the fifth set. You come back to win the match, but believe me, nothing funny in it there (even if that someone else loves drama).

Once all become obsessed with nutrition. Be at the forefront of this trend.

Also realize what pills you are taking. If you drink pills to sleep, to adapt to the change of time zones, you'll be drinking them every night. When you hurt your hand and you will be given pain medication, throw the jar away. These pills give you only pain and moral decay. Understand what you are doing with your body.

You're going to play against their heroes - Ivan Lendl and Jimmy Connors. You grew up watching them play. You're not even going to play in tandem with John McEnroe, and it will be strange, but a perfect combination. You, calm, with a strong right jab, and McEnroe, emotional, with vigorous left. When he would go crazy, you will radiate calm. When you are weakened, he will infect you with their energy. You will ideally complement each other. You win the Davis Cup together, and this is the most joyful event in your career - a game in a pair with the greatest player of all time.

But even when you leave the court, the name of one of the enemy with whom you walked side by side, will remain with you forever. Andre Agassi.

I know now you can not know that, but you expect a furious, special rivalry with Andre Agassi. It will be the best player against whom you happen to play, and it will awaken all the best in you. You'll fight for that to be the best, and each time it will be a powerful match. And it always will be great excitement.

You're lucky to five times to play against him in the final of a Grand Slam tournament, you win four times. But if you want to win all five, listen to me.

In 1995, at the Australian Open you will compare the account in each set. You'll lead 6: 4 before the break, which will prepare for and hold two sets instead of one in great shape. Do not play the entire width. Hold the middle. If you've gone too far, he would have received a supply of the right, and he has won not only the set, but the match.

It is the only Grand Slam final when he beat you. This leveling does not guarantee that you will win the match, but at least give an advantage.

After winning the first Grand Slam match against Andre you begin to understand the importance of this rivalry for American tennis, and how much it means to you both. This competition will be more important than you can imagine. Your game will be different, as you are. Stay professional and maintain mutual respect, and this competition will result in one of the best games I have ever seen.

Of course, this does not mean that only need to appreciate Andre and your competition. In the game of life and you are surrounded by many people who have given you a strong push, and among them there is no one more important to your future coach, mentor and friend Tim Gullickson.

During the Australian Championship in 1995, when you lose Andre in the final (if not vospolzueshsya my advice), something shattered Tim and he had to miss the tournament. To see him in the hospital and see his brother in tears, it was too hard to bear it alone.

Talk about it. I know you're closed introvert. But it's too heavy burden to bear it alone. If you do not speak, it will be deep inside, and once, during a quarterfinal against Jim Courier, will result in a huge explosion of emotions. You will be broken and sobbing right on the court.

Tim eventually became a victim of brain cancer, which caused his death. And that hurt you even more. Do not go through this alone. Appreciate him while he was with you. Say about him when he leaves. Then you will thank me.

These people in your life - such as Tim - gives you a form. I appreciate them.

I appreciate his friend John Black. When he will give you the number of a beautiful girl Brigitte, whom you once saw in the movie, thank him. I know you would not want to put yourself in that position, but it will be incredible. And later, when she will be your wife, Appreciate it. Every day Appreciate it.

Appreciate her sisters, Stella and Marion, and his brother Gus. Listen to them. They give good advice. And know that they are always and in all your support.

Appreciate your parents. They have prepared you for everything that you need. They always support you. They allow you to become an independent person. And now, when you're ready to become a professional Appreciate them for what they give you is so normal childhood, as far as possible. They never put pressure on you too much. There are things that you do not see in 16 years. It sacrifices were parents for you. Attention is paid to parents and the lead note. They will come in handy when you will have two of their boys.

You're 16 years old, and your life has just begun, but do not spend all the time trying to look forward. It is not easy, because after each tournament - even if you win - you focus immediately on the next.

Take time to enjoy the victories and share them with family and friends.

Take advantage of their youth and enjoy it. However, the journey - this is the reward.

Play hard, do it according to their own principles and stay true to himself. Do this and not go wrong.

Sincerely yours,
Pete.