She was down a set, her body aching, the crowd restless.

In the 2010 Australian Open final against Justine Henin, Serena Williams faced not just her opponent, but her own physical limits.

Taped up from head to toe, she battled through two bone bruises in both knees, a thigh strain, and a calf injury.

Then, a heckler shouted, “You don’t deserve to be number one!”

Serena’s response?

She looked at the heckler and said, “Thanks to you, I’m going to win this match.”

And she did.

That’s mental toughness.

The 3 Keys to Serena’s Mental Toughness

1. Practice Under Pressure

Serena believes tennis is 70% mental. She simulates high-pressure situations in practice—pretending she's down 15–30 on her second serve—to prepare her mind for match conditions.

2. Stay in the Moment

After losing the first set to 17-year-old Caty McNally at the 2019 US Open, Serena rebounded by focusing on one point at a time, winning the next two sets to advance.

3. Use Positive Self-Talk

Before matches, Serena writes down positive statements to boost her mental game. During changeovers, she reviews these “power thoughts” to stay focused and get her game back on track.

Molliteum’s Challenge: Build Your Mental Toughness

Mental toughness isn't just for tennis legends. Here's how you can start:

✅ Simulate Pressure: Practice under conditions that mimic high-stress scenarios.

✅ Stay Present: Focus on the current play, not past mistakes or future outcomes.

✅ Positive Self-Talk: Develop affirmations that reinforce your confidence and review them regularly.

Remember, pressure doesn't break you—it reveals your preparation.

Stay resilient,

Matt "Pressure Reveals Preparation" Caldaroni

CEO, Molliteum

P.S. Want to uncover what's holding you back and how to overcome it?

Take the Molliteum Resilience Profile and receive a personalized strategy session with a Molliteum Coach.

👉 Click here to get your Resilience Profile and strategy session now.