Wheelchair Tennis Champion Dana Mathewson’s Finest Suggestions

As the primary American lady to win a Grand Slam Main title in wheelchair tennis and one of many prime wheelchair tennis gamers within the U.S., 33-year-old Dana Mathewson is aware of what it means to be on the prime of her recreation. 

At all times an athletic child, Mathewson performed quite a lot of sports activities in her youth when she was able-bodied. “I all the time preferred soccer. I preferred softball. I attempted tennis a few times at summer season camp however was not likely into it,” she tells me over a latest video name.

Nevertheless, after creating a uncommon autoimmune dysfunction referred to as transverse myelitis (TM), she grew to become partial paraplegic, “or mainly somebody that should use a wheelchair to run or to get round,” she says. 

After encouragement from her mother (which she says was, maybe, insistent at occasions), she picked up adaptive sports activities—and this time tennis caught. The remaining unfolded all because of Mathewson’s sheer expertise and drive. 

Dana Mathewson: My situation shut numerous doorways that I assumed have been my solely doorways resulting in athletic pursuits. However fortunately mother had talked to numerous completely different folks once I was within the hospital and came upon what wheelchair sports activities and adaptive sports activities have been. 

At that stage of life, I had by no means seen anybody with a incapacity that wasn’t 90 years outdated. I simply wasn’t uncovered to lots at the moment, and I feel that is really the case for lots of People. Our nation is so huge that you simply don’t come into contact with numerous completely different demographics. 

At first I used to be one of many children who had little interest in wheelchair sports activities. I assumed it sounded actually boring. I could not conceptualize what it will be. 

However my mother was like, “Nope! I would like you to be energetic. I’m signing you up for each camp potential.” And tennis was a kind of. 

Mathewson: I am a giant breakfast individual. I can not begin the day with out breakfast. I do know there’s a number of folks that get up and all they want is espresso and an apple. I am not that lady. 

I like waking up and having scrambled egg whites or an egg white omelet with toast. If I am actually within the temper, I will sauté mushrooms and spinach and put that in there. That means I’ve protein and carbs to get me going. Having that scorching meal simply helps me really feel prepared.

Apart from that, I feel that I am very huge on veggies. I’ve by no means been a giant meat eater, ever since I used to be a bit lady. So in the event you have been to supply me a steak, I would not actually need to eat it. However I haven’t got the vegetarian mindset of not eager to eat meat due to moral causes, I simply have not actually loved it. 

Mathewson: I’ve an entire group of coaches down right here in Orlando that I work with. My power and conditioning group has particular packages I’ve to do daily. 

So, for instance, Mondays and Wednesdays are lifting days. So for me, that is numerous higher physique, however we do even have me doing stuff simply to maintain no matter muscle groups I’ve in my legs energetic. That can contain me utilizing the SkiErg machine, the rower, free weights, bench press, and stuff like that. 

Then Tuesdays and Thursdays are extra conditioning-based, so we’ll have courtroom conditioning drills. 

Friday is a circuit the place I mix pulling a sled, rowing, lifting, and battle ropes. It is brutal. 

There’s good variability between conditioning and power. I feel that in the event you go utterly one or the opposite, you may burn your physique out—otherwise you’re not offering your muscle groups the train that they want.

Once I was in faculty, I used to be simply very obsessive about the thought of being skinny and being toned. I feel numerous ladies fall into the lure of, “Properly, I am simply going to be on the elliptical for half-hour or I will be on the bike for an hour.” Yeah, that burns energy, but it surely doesn”t really burn energy the identical means it does like burning muscle. 

Mathewson: After coaching, there’s numerous stretching that we do. That was one thing that I’ve to confess I did not do for the majority of my profession, and I used to be simply fortunate I did not have accidents. However now that I am getting older, I actually see the significance of stretching and cool-downs after a exercise. 

I additionally suppose it is essential to get well mentally. I put aside time to play with my canine, name my buddies, and even simply sit on my sofa and watch TV. I like the Actual Housewives. It is good to have issues in your life that carry you pleasure!

A number of years in the past, my mindset was like, “I have to work onerous. I simply have to put my head down and be productive the entire time.” However I feel it is really productive to be lazy typically. That is what refuels you. Being a sofa potato, being a sloth, being on my own for a bit is what recharges my batteries. 

Mathewson: That is been one thing I’ve actually needed to work on previously few years. Tennis is such a mentally based mostly sport, and I did not understand simply how a lot till I received to the extra elite stage of taking part in. As a result of at that time, everybody has a very good forehand. Everybody has a very good backhand. Everybody has a very good serve. Perhaps one individual is a bit bit higher than the opposite. However what actually makes folks win extra usually is their mindset. 

And I feel as an early tennis skilled, I heard that however did not actually embrace it or did not actually perceive it, however I very a lot do now.

A whole lot of what I have been doing is optimistic self-talk once I’m taking part in or earlier than the match. I have a tendency to present an excessive amount of credit score to my opponents earlier than a match even begins. In the event you try this, then you definitely’ve already misplaced the match, proper? Since you’re already considering like, Properly, she hits tremendous huge or she’s actually quick. She’s going to get all the things. 

I’ve needed to be taught to visualise optimistic outcomes. The night time earlier than a match, I’ll give myself jobs or issues I need to do as a result of I am very goal-oriented. What I imply by that’s I will give myself assignments for myself for a match. I will write them down on a notecard, then attempt to visualize what it will appear and feel like to attain the objectives. I do it time and again and once more. 

Mathewson: I feel you are proper that sure folks have extra of that cussed mindset, which helps you be extra resilient. What I imply by that’s, like, you get knocked down 5 occasions, then you definitely’ll stand up six since you’re cussed sufficient to maintain making an attempt. However I feel that that will also be a discovered trait too.

With tennis being my private instance, there’s just one individual each week in a event that wins, proper? In order that implies that all people else has to lose. You play X variety of tournaments a 12 months. So there’s numerous shedding that it’s a must to get snug with in tennis! 

It is week-in and week-out video games, and most occasions you do lose. You would possibly win a number of, however finally you are ending up with an L most probably. Until you are Serena Williams. By nature of tennis being my job, it teaches you resilience since you learn to reframe losses. 

Mathewson: Tennis is basically technical, so, sure, it may be irritating. It will probably flip numerous children away from it. Or perhaps children will likely be annoyed as a result of they do not have a group they will play with, and that may be onerous. 

However tennis is without doubt one of the coolest sports activities in that it means that you can choose up a racket and play with anybody on any given day. You’ll be able to simply go to the park, meet somebody, and play with them. You do not want an entire group to play, like basketball or soccer. 

However other than that, I might say to simply keep it up and belief the method. As a result of it is not all the time straightforward. 

There’s sacrifices that need to be given to a sport that folks do not all the time take into consideration after they’re children. Like perhaps you will have a event on a weekend while you need to go to a sleepover. Or perhaps you will be getting annoyed that one apply did not go nicely, or different individuals are taking part in higher than me.