--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't go there thinking I'm going to…" description: "\"I don't go there thinking I'm going to lose. I never go into a tournament thinking that. I'll do the best that I can. I need to be at my peak and my be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/serena-williams-1589_do-the-best_i-don-t-go-there-thinking-i-m-going-to-l_443424.jpg" --- # I don't go there thinking I'm going to lose. I never go… ![“I don't go there thinking I'm going to lose. I never go into a tournament thinking that. I'll do the best that I can. I need to be at my peak and my best is holding up the trophy. Anything less I wouldn't be really excited about. So that's all I can focus on.” quote by Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/serena-williams-1589_do-the-best_i-don-t-go-there-thinking-i-m-going-to-l_443424.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/serena-williams-1589_do-the-best_i-don-t-go-there-thinking-i-m-going-to-l_443424.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96b/serena-williams-1589_do-the-best_i-don-t-go-there-thinking-i-m-going-to-l_443424.jpg) > “I don't go there thinking I'm going to lose. I never go into a tournament thinking that. I'll do the best that I can. I need to be at my peak and my best is holding up the trophy. Anything less I wouldn't be really excited about. So that's all I can focus on.” [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Competing with confidence, focusing on peak performance rather than fear of loss **In simple terms:** Focus on doing your best, not on losing Key Takeaway Aim for peak performance Themes confidence focus competition Mood determined focused Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - sports tournaments - career milestones - personal challenges Key Concepts mental toughness goal setting self belief Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to be at your peak? - How can you stay motivated without fixating on outcomes? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on winning can cause stress ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Do the best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/do-the-best/) [Excited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excited/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Holding Trophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holding-trophy-1373946/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Lose Tournament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose-tournament-1543630/) [Loses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loses/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Tournament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tournament/) [Tournament Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tournament-thinking-2250757/) [Tournaments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tournaments/) [Trophies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trophies/) [Trophy Wouldn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trophy-wouldn-3884654/) ## Related quotes > [I don't go thinking I'm going to lose. I never go into a tournament thinking that. I'll do the best that I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/i-don-t-go-thinking-i-m-going-to-lose-i-never-go-into-a-tournament/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [I need to be at my peak and my best is holding up the trophy. Anything less I wouldn't be really excited about. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/i-need-to-be-at-my-peak-and-my-best-is-holding-up-the-trophy-anything/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [During a tournament, I'm not thinking about mechanics at all. I'm in scoring mode.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-els/during-a-tournament-i-m-not-thinking-about-mechanics-at-all-i-m-in/) [Ernie Els](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-els/) > [If you go into a tournament thinking that you're not going to do anything, you might as well not be there because you won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-vardy/if-you-go-into-a-tournament-thinking-that-you-re-not-going-to-do/) [Jamie Vardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-vardy/) > [In a way getting fired up for these matches is what makes the Premier League the hardest tournament for me. Knowing I can lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lewis/in-a-way-getting-fired-up-for-these-matches-is-what-makes-the-premier/) [Adrian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lewis/) > [You can definitely lose a tournament. You can't win it on the first day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-korda/you-can-definitely-lose-a-tournament-you-can-t-win-it-on-the-first-day/) [Nelly Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly-korda/) > [When I come into a tournament, I'm expecting to win. That's my philosophy. I can't go to a tournament thinking, 'I'm going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/when-i-come-into-a-tournament-i-m-expecting-to-win-that-s-my/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [A lot of tournaments that I can remember I made a few bad shots and I was afraid I would lose the tournament and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/a-lot-of-tournaments-that-i-can-remember-i-made-a-few-bad-shots-and-i/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [I wanted my faith to look the same to everyone else and to be the same for me regardless of what was going on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-warner/i-wanted-my-faith-to-look-the-same-to-everyone-else-and-to-be-the/) [Kurt Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-warner/) > [It's always a dream to sign a big contract, but the main dream is winning a championship and holding that trophy up with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tannehill/it-s-always-a-dream-to-sign-a-big-contract-but-the-main-dream-is/) [Ryan Tannehill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tannehill/) > [For sure, I don't do the right work but I feel holding a trophy or doing well doesn't satisfy me any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-tomic/for-sure-i-don-t-do-the-right-work-but-i-feel-holding-a-trophy-or/) [Bernard Tomic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-tomic/) > [Standing on the court and holding up that trophy - it's so great you want to keep doing it over and over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-duncan/standing-on-the-court-and-holding-up-that-trophy-it-s-so-great-you/) [Tim Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-duncan/) > [Once you play a tournament, you're playing against the golf course, you're playing against yourself and trying to do the best you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/once-you-play-a-tournament-you-re-playing-against-the-golf-course-you/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [The tournament means so much to me as well as the things I do in Africa. I thought it could also work well together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/the-tournament-means-so-much-to-me-as-well-as-the-things-i-do-in/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [My coach has said to me, "When you win a match or a tournament, you don't even think about it - the very next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/my-coach-has-said-to-me-when-you-win-a-match-or-a-tournament-you-don/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) ## More by Serena Williams > [The knee just isn't 100 percent. It's hard to be out there when you know that you can't play at your best and could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/the-knee-just-isn-t-100-percent-it-s-hard-to-be-out-there-when-you/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [I'm thankful to my family, friends, and fans for all of their support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/i-m-thankful-to-my-family-friends-and-fans-for-all-of-their-support/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [Most people that do play nowadays hit really hard. It was good to get someone that hit really hard early on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/most-people-that-do-play-nowadays-hit-really-hard-it-was-good-to-get/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [ I never left my roots. You can identify me as someone that didn't become high and mighty. Humility is a defining \[trait\] all of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/i-never-left-my-roots-you-can-identify-me-as-someone-that-didn-t/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [I'm definitely not at my best. Honestly, I'm under 50 percent. But I've won stuff under 50 percent before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/i-m-definitely-not-at-my-best-honestly-i-m-under-50-percent-but-i-ve/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [I always say if I play my best it's difficult to beat me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/i-always-say-if-i-play-my-best-it-s-difficult-to-beat-me/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [I'm an athlete and I'm black, and a lot of black athletes go broke. I do not want to become a statistic, so maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/i-m-an-athlete-and-i-m-black-and-a-lot-of-black-athletes-go-broke-i/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [ If anything, we haven't changed much since we \[with Venuse Williams\] were kids. We really are the same people. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/if-anything-we-haven-t-changed-much-since-we-with-venuse-williams/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [Everyone in this room knows that Venus is probably one of the greatest people on the tour. She's really great. She's super professional. Complete…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/everyone-in-this-room-knows-that-venus-is-probably-one-of-the/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [I just never give up. I fight to the end. You can't go out and say, 'I want a bag of never-say-die spirit.' It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/i-just-never-give-up-i-fight-to-the-end-you-can-t-go-out-and-say-i/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [I don't like to lose-at anything... Yet I've grown most not from victories, but setbacks. If winning is God's reward, then losing is how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/i-don-t-like-to-lose-at-anything-yet-i-ve-grown-most-not-from/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [I feel like I'm really young and I'm only thinking about my career and continuing playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/i-feel-like-i-m-really-young-and-i-m-only-thinking-about-my-career/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [For the younger sisters, we always look up to the older sisters because they're always ahead of us and they always win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/for-the-younger-sisters-we-always-look-up-to-the-older-sisters/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [Tennis is my job, but it's not my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/tennis-is-my-job-but-it-s-not-my-life/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [I am here to play women's tennis. I'm a lady. Predominantly, most of the time I always like to play ladies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/i-am-here-to-play-women-s-tennis-i-m-a-lady-predominantly-most-of-the/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) [Explore all 225 Serena Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) ## More Do the best quotes > [I want to do the best job I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/i-want-to-do-the-best-job-i-can/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [You should do whatever language you feel is the perfect language for you to sing in and then try to strive to do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrique-iglesias/you-should-do-whatever-language-you-feel-is-the-perfect-language-for/) [Enrique Iglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrique-iglesias/) > [The value that I found in interviewing was for an educational experience, just to know that history itself is subjective, that you can't say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/the-value-that-i-found-in-interviewing-was-for-an-educational/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [I had the attitude that I would work with this present-day material and do the best I could to describe it with photography, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-eggleston/i-had-the-attitude-that-i-would-work-with-this-present-day-material/) [William Eggleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-eggleston/) > [I'm an improviser at heart, when I'm writing, I'm improvising in my head. When you're an improviser on stage, you can never be precious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-armstrong/i-m-an-improviser-at-heart-when-i-m-writing-i-m-improvising-in-my/) [Scot Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-armstrong/) > [The only thing I can do is wipe my arse, brush my teeth, turn up and do the best work I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hardy/the-only-thing-i-can-do-is-wipe-my-arse-brush-my-teeth-turn-up-and-do/) [Tom Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hardy/) > [I know there are a lot of expectations of me, and I will do the best I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-beltran/i-know-there-are-a-lot-of-expectations-of-me-and-i-will-do-the-best-i/) [Carlos Beltran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-beltran/) > [It's about prioritizing. Just take it one step at a time. Do the best that you can. I'm a mom and I have two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimora-lee-simmons/it-s-about-prioritizing-just-take-it-one-step-at-a-time-do-the-best/) [Kimora Lee Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimora-lee-simmons/) > [You can do the best science in the world but unless emotion is involved it's not really very relevant. 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