I have no sympathy for German tennis player Alexander Zverev.
In 2022, in a tournament in Mexico, he cursed the judge of “idiot M …” for disagreeing with a decision and struck several times the referee’s chair with the racket in a fury access. It was expelled, fined, but it was so. It was in the year that Roger Federer retired and the world of tennis debated who would be the next generation idols. It would not be Zverev. Also because he was accused of something much worse than a chilique: aggression against two ex-girlfriends. In one case there was agreement in court; The other, ATP investigated and filed.
That said, as a lack of sympathy does not mean absence of empathy, this text is about it. For an outburst of the German a few days ago – it is relationship with the facts above – I feel that there is a little zverev in many of us.
In the Australian Open final, he was defeated to the world’s number 1, Jannik Sinner. The Italian dominates the circuit, has been almost unbeatable. Even so, in the post-game interview, with desolation air, Zverev, which is the number 2 of the ranking, said, “I’m just not good enough.”
There is a long way behind this answer. At 27, it was his third defeat in Grand Slam finals. Sinner, 23, has won three, and Carlos Alcaraz, 21, four. Of course, right after losing, anger is understandable.
But professional athletes, used to pressure, rarely demonstrate physical or mental weakness. To show injury or fear is to give ammunition to the opponent. Therefore, Zverev sharing with the world that does not consider himself good enough made me reflect on how we have the ability to be cruel to the extreme with ourselves in times of frustration.
I was also interested in the theme because I always proud to say that “perfectionism” was one of my main qualities. A positive ambition and impairment sample. If we are demanding with our professional performance is important, it means that we want to do the best. But if we have a bad day, what eventually happens, we risk self -burning without realizing it.
There are studies by renowned neuroscientists and psychologists about how our brain is programmed for self -treatment and the negative effect on our health.
I recently got to know the work of the American Kristin Neff, professor at the Department of Psychology at the University of Texas. She says self -criticism is almost a defense mechanism. We attacking ourselves trying to convince us that we need to move on, without complaining, so we would be helping ourselves. But this increases stress and inflammation levels in the body, affects self -esteem and ends up leaving us insecure.
It does not help social networks try to make us believe that impossible perfectionism levels must be achieved. We compare ourselves to strangers, imagining a perfect life that is actually impeccably manufactured.
But there are techniques for reprogramming the brain and transforming self -pity into self -pity. Dr. Neff explains that the change of attitude has nothing to do with accommodation, with sorry for ourselves or with weakness, but transforming errors into learning.
In the end, it does not take our motivation; On the contrary, we become even more confident people.
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