Since this Saturday I have been without internet and cell phone access. I like a remote location. It is calming. But not a spot without modern technology. Thankfully Sunday we had the Wimbledon Final between Andy Roddick and Roger Federer. For those non tennis fans, Roddick was not given a chance to win by most experts, as Federer is arguably the greatest player ever. As a trader Sunday’s match was a learning experience. Let’s discuss.
I have always liked Roddick. He is hysterical on late night shows. He is a professional athlete who is genuinely funny. And he did not disappoint after his heart breaking match by apologizing to Sampras for being unable to stop Federer from breaking his record. His taste in women is not that bad as well. What is the point of being an elite athlete if you can’t marry a supermodel after all? And he plays with heart. He has always left everything he has on the court.
Roddick when younger was supposed to be the next Agassi or something like that according to Madison Avenue. With his 140 mph serve he was a can’t miss superstar. But then life happened and they actually played the matches. He has won only one Grand Slam title. Many would state he has not achieved the success his hype had predicted.
I am a casual tennis fan. There are millions who know much more about tennis than me. But I found Sunday’s match educational. Roddick has clearly been working on his game for years. And he is not the same player he was a few years ago. He is a much improved player. And in watching Roddick play Federer there was almost no difference in skill level between these players. How is this possible?
Roddick needed to improve his net play, conditioning, and backhand to compete with the very best in the world. He hired Jimmy Connors, who worked on Roddick’s backhand. Today Roddick’s backhand is almost unrecognizable compared to three years ago. It is much improved.
His new coach Larry Stefanki suggested that Roddick drop some weight to compete at a higher level. Roddick lost 15 pounds in the off season. Certainly this helped Roddick compete for almost seven sets during yesterday’s Final. His movement is better. He lasted over four hours, shot for shot, against the greatest tennis player in the history of the game. Essentially he gave up bad carbs, and ate more protein and vegetables.
Roddick volleys much better than when he was younger. I am not sure if I heard this correctly but I thought one of the commentators stated he plays net games for hours with professionals. Whatever he does, with his self-described “brick hands”, the guy has learned how to really volley.
As I watched the match I could not see any difference between Federer and Roddick. I was getting a little annoyed at the announcers who were saying how incredible Roddick was playing. It appeared to me that he is now just a lot better than he was. Maybe he was not playing the match of his life, maybe his spectacular play in the Semis, was his new level of play given his improvement?
Maybe Roddick played over his head this weekend. I tend to doubt this. He seems to me to be just a much better player. It would not surprise me if he won many majors over the next few years.
You know we say this a lot to developing traders who are under performing – you can improve. You must continually work to get better. Roddick went from an excellent player to almost as good as the best player ever. He did this through concentrated practice on his backhand and volleying, losing weight, conditioning, and probably a lot more work we will learn about going forward. But if he can get better, then so can we. It will just take some work.
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7 Comments on “What We Can Learn From Roddick as Traders”
Like you, I’m only a casual tennis fan. I did notice Roddick actually won more total games in the final than did Federer (39-38), although he lost the match.
Interesting.
As traders, the day-to-day work we put in to hone our skills might not always be glamorous (like Roddick), but as time goes by we’ll see the results.
We just have to keep stepping up our game and never get content with where we are. Roddick clearly isn’t.
Thanks for a solid post,
Jeff
Like you, I’m only a casual tennis fan. I did notice Roddick actually won more total games in the final than did Federer (39-38), although he lost the match.
Interesting.
As traders, the day-to-day work we put in to hone our skills might not always be glamorous (like Roddick), but as time goes by we’ll see the results.
We just have to keep stepping up our game and never get content with where we are. Roddick clearly isn’t.
Thanks for a solid post,
Jeff
Well said Jeff.
So….. I am a big tennis fan, as well as a closet finance guy…
My take – this time, Federer did not deserve to win, there was nothing better in his game compared to Roddick’s
The lesson is : Goldman Sachs will always win, the US people will always lose 🙂
So….. I am a big tennis fan, as well as a closet finance guy…
My take – this time, Federer did not deserve to win, there was nothing better in his game compared to Roddick’s
The lesson is : Goldman Sachs will always win, the US people will always lose 🙂
To a hammer everything is a nail. Somehow to you as a trader everything is a parable of trading. Roddick is a poor example of both an Athlete and the mentality of a trader. He has had his head up his ass for most of his career…
there is a slim chance, he has decided to finally, in the late stages of he life, MAYBE… has figured out how to pull his head out.
And his comments at the end that Roger might “Let someone else have a chance” is typical LOSER thinking. that somehow there are Turns, or that opponents will or should “Let you win.”
He has lost the final 3 times, He has the opportunity, and squanders it, on hope and chance. Not realizing he has to earn it, and nothing is given.
so I guess, very much like most traders.
To a hammer everything is a nail. Somehow to you as a trader everything is a parable of trading. Roddick is a poor example of both an Athlete and the mentality of a trader. He has had his head up his ass for most of his career…
there is a slim chance, he has decided to finally, in the late stages of he life, MAYBE… has figured out how to pull his head out.
And his comments at the end that Roger might “Let someone else have a chance” is typical LOSER thinking. that somehow there are Turns, or that opponents will or should “Let you win.”
He has lost the final 3 times, He has the opportunity, and squanders it, on hope and chance. Not realizing he has to earn it, and nothing is given.
so I guess, very much like most traders.