--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a tennis player, or any professional…" description: "\"As a tennis player, or any professional athlete, our career has a shelf life. I don't want to waste any opportunities, I don't want to look back on it ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76e/john-isner-4856_career_as-a-tennis-player-or-any-professional-a_2127177.jpg" --- # As a tennis player, or any professional athlete, our… ![“As a tennis player, or any professional athlete, our career has a shelf life. I don't want to waste any opportunities, I don't want to look back on it when I'm 45 and think I could have done a lot more.” quote by John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76e/john-isner-4856_career_as-a-tennis-player-or-any-professional-a_2127177.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76e/john-isner-4856_career_as-a-tennis-player-or-any-professional-a_2127177.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/76e/john-isner-4856_career_as-a-tennis-player-or-any-professional-a_2127177.jpg) > “As a tennis player, or any professional athlete, our career has a shelf life. I don't want to waste any opportunities, I don't want to look back on it when I'm 45 and think I could have done a lot more.” [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Athletes have limited career spans and must seize opportunities before they pass. **In simple terms:** Athletes should act before their careers end. Key Takeaway Make the most of each chance. Themes career opportunity time regret Mood determined urgent Type motivational practical When to use this quote - training decisions - contract negotiations - post‑career planning - personal development Key Concepts sports psychology life planning Questions to Reflect On - What opportunity will you prioritize today? - How do you balance present performance with future planning? A Different Perspective Even with early success, injuries can still derail plans. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Professional athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-athlete/) [Shelf life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shelf-life/) [Tennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tennis/) [Tennis player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tennis-player/) ## Related quotes > [Even Sachin used to get ducks during his career. There are ups and downs in every athlete's career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/even-sachin-used-to-get-ducks-during-his-career-there-are-ups-and/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [Life's short, you know? Especially as an athlete. Your career is very short, and you use the opportunities that you have because you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-vonn/life-s-short-you-know-especially-as-an-athlete-your-career-is-very/) [Lindsey Vonn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-vonn/) > [In all honesty, being a professional athlete, especially being a tennis player, you have to be a bit nuts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-draper/in-all-honesty-being-a-professional-athlete-especially-being-a-tennis/) [Jack Draper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-draper/) > [There is so much that goes in to being a good tennis player. It's not just what you can do well on the court,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/there-is-so-much-that-goes-in-to-being-a-good-tennis-player-it-s-not/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [I didn't know I could even be a professional tennis player, honestly. All this is actually very, very unexpected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/i-didn-t-know-i-could-even-be-a-professional-tennis-player-honestly/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [I was never pegged to be the next great American tennis player by any means. I wasn't a prodigy. I'm a late bloomer. Whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/i-was-never-pegged-to-be-the-next-great-american-tennis-player-by-any/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [As a kid, I was a little self-conscious because I was so much taller than everyone. A bad habit of mine used to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/as-a-kid-i-was-a-little-self-conscious-because-i-was-so-much-taller/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [Team sports, there's always some kind of sacrifice happening... A team, if we lose, if Michael Jordan has a bad night, you hang it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-blucas/team-sports-there-s-always-some-kind-of-sacrifice-happening-a-team-if/) [Marc Blucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-blucas/) > [I'm a terrible musician. While the band members are great, I'm tolerated and affectionately regarded because I do movies, but if I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-m-a-terrible-musician-while-the-band-members-are-great-i-m/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Life is like a game of tennis; the player who serves well seldom loses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-like-a-game-of-tennis-the-player-who-serves-well-seldom-loses/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you have a dream, you don't even want to tell yourself straight out that this is what you want. You try to hide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-ackermann/when-you-have-a-dream-you-don-t-even-want-to-tell-yourself-straight/) [Rita Ackermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-ackermann/) > [My parents always taught me not to be a good tennis player or the best in what I'm doing, but to be polite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-wilfried-tsonga/my-parents-always-taught-me-not-to-be-a-good-tennis-player-or-the/) [Jo-Wilfried Tsonga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-wilfried-tsonga/) > [I am happy with being a tennis player and the choice I took when I was 12. But clearly, if I wouldn't have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-nadal/i-am-happy-with-being-a-tennis-player-and-the-choice-i-took-when-i/) [Rafael Nadal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-nadal/) > [If I weren't a tennis player, I'd probably be a psychologist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-ivanovic/if-i-weren-t-a-tennis-player-i-d-probably-be-a-psychologist/) [Ana Ivanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-ivanovic/) > [I'd much rather people knew me as a good tennis player than as an aboriginal who happens to play good tennis. Of course I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-d-much-rather-people-knew-me-as-a-good-tennis-player-than-as-an/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) ## More by John Isner > [You know, Slams are tough. It's the most physical, in my opinion. You're playing three out of five.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/you-know-slams-are-tough-it-s-the-most-physical-in-my-opinion-you-re/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [There are a lot of things that go on between the lines of a tennis court, mentally, physically and whatnot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/there-are-a-lot-of-things-that-go-on-between-the-lines-of-a-tennis/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [For many years, tennis was the most important thing in my life. That was great. Nothing wrong with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/for-many-years-tennis-was-the-most-important-thing-in-my-life-that/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [The best thing about being 6'9'' is that it helps with my tennis game, especially with my serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/the-best-thing-about-being-6-9-is-that-it-helps-with-my-tennis-game/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [My favorite tournament is the U.S. Open because the atmosphere is great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/my-favorite-tournament-is-the-u-s-open-because-the-atmosphere-is-great/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [Any time you get to come to New York and be near New York City, that is a very cool opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/any-time-you-get-to-come-to-new-york-and-be-near-new-york-city-that/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [I know where I'm ranked, but I don't look at it that much, I don't study it that much. You really can't look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/i-know-where-i-m-ranked-but-i-don-t-look-at-it-that-much-i-don-t/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [I always ask for the exit row when flying. Airlines are pretty accommodating and most of the time I'll get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/i-always-ask-for-the-exit-row-when-flying-airlines-are-pretty/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [You're going to lose points and gain points throughout the year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/you-re-going-to-lose-points-and-gain-points-throughout-the-year/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [People seem to think when you lose a match it's because you are not working hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/people-seem-to-think-when-you-lose-a-match-it-s-because-you-are-not/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [A lot of times when I'm confident and relaxed on the court, I'm going to be a pretty tough out. But when I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/a-lot-of-times-when-i-m-confident-and-relaxed-on-the-court-i-m-going/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [When I fly overseas, I usually fly business class. If not, my knees are going to be at my chin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/when-i-fly-overseas-i-usually-fly-business-class-if-not-my-knees-are/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [I was always a late bloomer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/i-was-always-a-late-bloomer/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [I can't beat guys consistently playing like I'm 5-foot-10.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/i-can-t-beat-guys-consistently-playing-like-i-m-5-foot-10/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [The good wins are still great, and you are on cloud nine when that happens, but the losses sting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/the-good-wins-are-still-great-and-you-are-on-cloud-nine-when-that/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) [Explore all 105 John Isner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) ## More Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/) [Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/) [Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a tennis player, or any professional athlete, our career has a shelf life. 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