Keeping in Perspective


Oct 16, 2017
Aisam Qureshi / ATP Player
An excerpt from the book Aisam Qureshi: Lessons Learnt From The Tennis Tour

I had just lost in the first round of Wimbledon. I have never felt so much pain on a tennis court before. As I walked off the court, I felt my body moving, but my mind was in a state of shock. How could it have gone so terribly wrong? Five times in the match we had match points. I had fully convinced myself that my greatest dream was going to become a reality. This loss brought more than pain, it brought confusion, questions and plenty of soul searching. In the hours and days that followed, I analyzed everything about my preparation for Wimbledon. Had I made a mistake somewhere? Could I have done something wrong? What could I have done better during the match?

In addition to my own disappointment, I had to deal with the feeling of hurt and frustration for my family, friends and coaches who were there. And then all my fans who support me on social media. Honestly, I felt ashamed. Not only had I let myself and my team down, but I had let down my family and nation too.

As the days passed I came to the realization that sometimes things are just out of our control. Eventually, the pain subsided, but what helped me the most was knowing that I had done everything I could have done to give myself and my team the best possible chance of winning. Soon I was back in Pakistan and on a mission to the Sindh Valley for the UNDP. This was my second visit to regions affected by the floods. The first time I visited when I saw all this suffering of my people, it really bothered me. My fellow countrymen…
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