--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you can keep playing tennis when…" description: "\"If you can keep playing tennis when somebody is shooting a gun down the street, that's concentration.\" — Serena Williams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6d/serena-williams-1589_concentration_if-you-can-keep-playing-tennis-when-some_2901536.jpg" --- # If you can keep playing tennis when somebody is shooting a… ![“If you can keep playing tennis when somebody is shooting a gun down the street, that's concentration.” quote by Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6d/serena-williams-1589_concentration_if-you-can-keep-playing-tennis-when-some_2901536.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6d/serena-williams-1589_concentration_if-you-can-keep-playing-tennis-when-some_2901536.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6d/serena-williams-1589_concentration_if-you-can-keep-playing-tennis-when-some_2901536.jpg) > “If you can keep playing tennis when somebody is shooting a gun down the street, that's concentration.” [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. Maintaining focus amid chaos demonstrates true concentration. **In simple terms:** Focus despite distractions shows strength. Key Takeaway Train your mind to stay present. Themes sports focus resilience Mood motivational determined Type advice psychological When to use this quote - competition - emergency situations - daily tasks Key Concepts mental training stress management Questions to Reflect On - How do you protect your focus? - What techniques help you stay centered? A Different Perspective Distractions can be overwhelming. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Concentration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concentration/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Tennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tennis/) ## Related quotes > [The hard part is staying at the top. Getting to the top, you got somebody you shooting at. Then when you get to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-ramsey/the-hard-part-is-staying-at-the-top-getting-to-the-top-you-got/) [Jalen Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-ramsey/) > [“The difficulty in shooting a gun has nothing to do with pulling the trigger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-keuser/the-difficulty-in-shooting-a-gun-has-nothing-to-do-with-pulling-the/) A.B. Keuser > [The most difficult thing about shooting guns instantly on film is to not pull a silly face while the gun is going off, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-mirren/the-most-difficult-thing-about-shooting-guns-instantly-on-film-is-to/) [Helen Mirren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-mirren/) > [Some of the events in the Olympics don't make sense to me. I don't understand the connection to any reality... Like in the Winter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/some-of-the-events-in-the-olympics-don-t-make-sense-to-me-i-don-t/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [The shooting of the guns, that was kind of funny, because rolling a cigarette and shooting a gun aren't like normal things for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hailee-steinfeld/the-shooting-of-the-guns-that-was-kind-of-funny-because-rolling-a/) [Hailee Steinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hailee-steinfeld/) > [There's a lot of muscles in your eyes even that you dont ever work, but little human traits like showing signs of exertion while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristanna-loken/there-s-a-lot-of-muscles-in-your-eyes-even-that-you-dont-ever-work/) [Kristanna Loken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristanna-loken/) > [Theres a lot of muscles in your eyes even that you dont ever work, but little human traits like showing signs of exertion while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristanna-loken/theres-a-lot-of-muscles-in-your-eyes-even-that-you-dont-ever-work-but/) [Kristanna Loken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristanna-loken/) > [A good thing is I've been playing tennis I think every day for the last two months. I really haven't had a day off.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-edberg/a-good-thing-is-i-ve-been-playing-tennis-i-think-every-day-for-the/) [Stefan Edberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-edberg/) > [The first rounds of a tournament are always tricky because playing tennis takes a lot out of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/the-first-rounds-of-a-tournament-are-always-tricky-because-playing/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [For me, it is easy, I love sport. Tennis is something I enjoy. I love playing tennis. For me, working out is pure pleasure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-monfils/for-me-it-is-easy-i-love-sport-tennis-is-something-i-enjoy-i-love/) [Gael Monfils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-monfils/) > [The thing I learned from playing tennis is that I know what competition is. I can handle rejection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-zigman/the-thing-i-learned-from-playing-tennis-is-that-i-know-what/) [Aaron Zigman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-zigman/) > [Black people playing tennis, next white people will be tap dancing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/black-people-playing-tennis-next-white-people-will-be-tap-dancing/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I don't always choose to stay fit by playing tennis, because that comes with its own wear-and-tear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/i-don-t-always-choose-to-stay-fit-by-playing-tennis-because-that/) [Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/) > [I feel comfortable on and off the court, happy in my own skin, just really comfortable with the way I'm playing my tennis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-barty/i-feel-comfortable-on-and-off-the-court-happy-in-my-own-skin-just/) [Ashleigh Barty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-barty/) > [Before I got addicted to comedy, I was seriously thinking about playing tennis full time. I joined the tennis team and played with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrot-top/before-i-got-addicted-to-comedy-i-was-seriously-thinking-about/) [Carrot Top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrot-top/) ## 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 Concentration quotes > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [It is a good practice to write at least on page of mantra daily. Many people get better concentration by writing than by chanting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/it-is-a-good-practice-to-write-at-least-on-page-of-mantra-daily-many/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [“Exceptional work is always associated with periods of deep concentration. Nothing excellent ever comes from a scattered effort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/exceptional-work-is-always-associated-with-periods-of-deep/) [Kevin Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/) > [Mental attitude and concentration are the keys to pitching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferguson-jenkins/mental-attitude-and-concentration-are-the-keys-to-pitching/) Ferguson Jenkins > [The essence of the stage is concentration and penetration. Of the screen action, movement, sweep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/the-essence-of-the-stage-is-concentration-and-penetration-of-the/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [I can let go of a lot of stuff, but I focus on things I think I should, like dancing, because it takes 100…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuan-yuan-tan/i-can-let-go-of-a-lot-of-stuff-but-i-focus-on-things-i-think-i-should/) [Yuan Yuan Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuan-yuan-tan/) > [“Apply the blacksmith's homely principle when you are speaking. If you feel deeply about your subject you will be able to think of little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/apply-the-blacksmith-s-homely-principle-when-you-are-speaking-if-you/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [Mindfulness develops attention, concentration and the ability to simply be present with little or no future orientation, past orientation or goal orientation—choosing to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gawler/mindfulness-develops-attention-concentration-and-the-ability-to/) Ian Gawler > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Recently a study proved that working from a larger, less cluttered computer screen increases concentration. I could have told them that. And yes, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-schiff/recently-a-study-proved-that-working-from-a-larger-less-cluttered/) [Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-schiff/) > [If writing with a goal - whether it be evangelistic, apologetic, or didactic - implies propaganda, then all recorded history is propaganda. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/if-writing-with-a-goal-whether-it-be-evangelistic-apologetic-or/) [Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/) > [... programming requires more concentration than other activities. It's the reason programmers get upset about 'quick interruptions' - such interruptions are tantamount to asking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/programming-requires-more-concentration-than-other-activities-it-s/) [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) > [Any piece of knowledge which the pupil has himself acquired- any problem which he has himself solved, becomes, by virtue of the conquest, much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/any-piece-of-knowledge-which-the-pupil-has-himself-acquired-any/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Our mind is a flowing something. It oscillates. Concentration is merely the continuous return to the same problem from a million angles… So my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-laubach/our-mind-is-a-flowing-something-it-oscillates-concentration-is-merely/) [Frank Laubach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-laubach/) [Browse all 1,154 Concentration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concentration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you can keep playing tennis when somebody is shooting a gun down the street, that's concentration.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Serena Williams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/if-you-can-keep-playing-tennis-when-somebody-is-shooting-a-gun-down/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Concentration" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/if-you-can-keep-playing-tennis-when-somebody-is-shooting-a-gun-down/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6d/serena-williams-1589_concentration_if-you-can-keep-playing-tennis-when-some_2901536.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6d/serena-williams-1589_concentration_if-you-can-keep-playing-tennis-when-some_2901536.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6d/serena-williams-1589_concentration_if-you-can-keep-playing-tennis-when-some_2901536.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you can keep playing tennis when somebody is shooting a gun down the street, that's concentration.” — Serena Williams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Serena Williams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you can keep playing tennis...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/if-you-can-keep-playing-tennis-when-somebody-is-shooting-a-gun-down/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/if-you-can-keep-playing-tennis-when-somebody-is-shooting-a-gun-down/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```