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John Newcombe Biography

Tennis player

John Newcombe, born on May 23, 1944, is an iconic Australian tennis player. He achieved great success in the tennis world, winning multiple Grand Slam titles and becoming one of the greatest tennis players of the 20th century.

Ability Balls Court Senses Opponents Tennis Cheating Strings Tennis Courts

Author:John Newcombe

“There was kind of a code that you had as an Australian that you never left the court losing unless you had blood all over you. That's the sort of toughness you need to compete on the world stage and I feel that our kids today just don't have it.”

World Needs Feels Kind Kids Today Left Blood Stage Losing Court Code Over You Australian Toughness

Author:John Newcombe

“People think this is all about the top players hitting tenins balls and they talk about technique and strategy and how important that is. But they don't understand the essence of competition. This is one-on-one, two players out there fighting each other with everything they have, trying to bring the best out of themselves. And the difference at this level of the game is all in the head and in the heart.”

People Thinking Trying Heart Two Important Fighting Games Differences Levels Player Essence Balls Strategy Competition Technique Hitting One On One Fighting Each Other

Author:John Newcombe

“So there was a fire inside me. And that fire inside you, it can be turned into a negative form or a positive form. And I gradually realised that I had this fire and that it had to be used in a positive way.”

Way Form Used Fire Negative Realised Motivational Tennis Fire Inside

Author:John Newcombe

“By the time I got to the hospital, I certainly realised that I had a problem because I couldn't write or print at that time, which lasted luckily only about four months. I'd gone numb here and on my tongue and the right foot a little bit.”

Writing Littles Problem Bits Gone Four Feet Months Little Bit Tongue Print Hospitals Realised Numb

Author:John Newcombe

“The strongest and most dangerous enemy you will ever face is a negative attitude. Learn to recognize when it is trying to invade your body and mind, then simply refuse it entry.”

Trying Mind Body Faces Sports Attitude Enemy Dangerous Negative Refuse Your Body Strongest Inspirational Sports Mind And Body Entry Negative Attitude

Author:John Newcombe

“I'd also made the first tennis team. I was number two player in the school at 11 years of age and that didn't sit very well with people.”

People Years Firsts Wells Made Two Age School Numbers Player Team Tennis Tennis Team

Author:John Newcombe

“I was in the main draw from the start, my opening match was on Court One against Jan Eric Lundquist of Sweden who was about eight in the world at the time.”

World Draws Court Eight Opening Eric Sweden

Author:John Newcombe

“I had started my love affair with Wimbledon.”

Affair Love Affair Wimbledon

Author:John Newcombe

“I was a pretty feisty young kid.”

Kids Young Feisty

Author:John Newcombe

“I chose to stay with tennis and they didn't understand that at the school.”

School Tennis

Author:John Newcombe

“They wrote it that my moustache was insured for 13 million.”

Millions Moustache

Author:John Newcombe

“You know, I was a regular on the Friday afternoon drill squad. Um, which... The year after I left school, I went back and thanked the sergeant major because I was so fit.”

Knows Years School Left Fit Majors Afternoon Friday Drills Squad Sergeants Happy Friday Friday Afternoon

Author:John Newcombe

“A few of us who are around the sixty mark don't play that much these days and if you are taking on a couple of guys in their forties it is very difficult.”

Ifs Play Guy Difficult Couple Mark These Days Forty Sixty

Author:John Newcombe

“That match was late evening and I had the experience of the electricity of the Centre Court because it was packed, a full house for the whole match. It had been a great year for me, first time there and I had the full taste of Wimbledon.”

Years Firsts Whole House Taste Late First Time Court Evening Electricity Centre Wimbledon Great Year Full House

Author:John Newcombe

“I wouldn't, a little bit frightened but throughout my life I'd learnt that when you're in the serious situations, you've got to try to stay calm. Because that's the way you get out of them.”

Way Trying Littles Bits Situation Serious Little Bit Calm Frightened Stay Calm

Author:John Newcombe

“You know, I eat, I ate pretty well anyway so, I'm basically living the same, I just curtailed the stupidity.”

Knows Wells Stupid Stupidity

Author:John Newcombe

“At Wimbledon, the ladies are simply the candles on the cake.”

Tennis Cake Candle Wimbledon

Author:John Newcombe

“Your game is only as good as your second serve”

Games Tennis

Author:John Newcombe

About the Author

Born: May 23, 1944
Known for: Tennis player
Quotes: 19

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