50 Tennis Quotes for Winners and Dreamers

May 18, 2025

These quotes capture the spirit of pushing through obstacles and fighting for victory.

"You have to believe in yourself when no one else does." – Serena Williams
"What you feel doesn’t matter in the end; it’s what you do that makes you brave." – Andre Agassi
"I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." – Michael Jordan (applies across all sports)
"Champions keep playing until they get it right." – Billie Jean King
"The mark of great sportsmen is not how good they are at their best, but how good they are at their worst." – Martina Navratilova
"I play each point like my life depends on it." – Rafael Nadal
"Losing is not my enemy… fear of losing is my enemy." – Rafael Nadal
"I always believe if you’re stuck in a hole and maybe things aren’t going well, you will come out stronger." – Roger Federer
"Tennis is mostly mental. You win or lose the match before you even go out there." – Venus Williams
"The serve was invented so the net could play." – Bill Cosby (humor with truth!)

Great tennis is a mental battle. These quotes reflect the power of focus and attitude.

"Tennis is a perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of total tranquility." – Billie Jean King
"To uncover your true potential, you must first find your own limits and then have the courage to blow past them." – Picabo Street
"You are only as strong as your mental game." – Unknown
"In tennis, you can win and still not be happy." – Novak Djokovic
"You don't have to be perfect, just relentless." – Unknown
"The mind is everything. What you think, you become." – Buddha (adopted by many athletes)
"Sometimes it’s not about winning, it’s about not giving up." – Unknown
"Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong." – Peter T. McIntyre
"Pressure is a privilege." – Billie Jean King
"Success is a journey, not a destination." – Arthur Ashe

Perfect for young players and fans who dare to dream big.

"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." – Arthur Ashe
"Dreams don’t work unless you do." – John C. Maxwell
"Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." – John Wooden
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." – Eleanor Roosevelt
"Work until your idols become your rivals." – Unknown
"Great things never come from comfort zones." – Unknown
"Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself." – Gail Devers
"The harder you work, the luckier you get." – Gary Player
"It always seems impossible until it’s done." – Nelson Mandela
"Fall in love with the process, and the results will come." – Eric Thomas

Timeless words from icons who’ve shaped the sport.

"I fear no one but respect everyone." – Roger Federer
"I always wanted to be the best. That was my main goal." – Novak Djokovic
"I hate to lose more than I love to win." – Jimmy Connors
"Just go out there and do what you have to do." – Martina Hingis
"Being champion is all well and good, but you can’t eat a crown." – Althea Gibson
"You can’t always be the best. But you can do your best." – Unknown
"A champion is simply someone who did not give up when they wanted to." – Tom Landry
"If you don’t practice, you don’t deserve to win." – Andre Agassi
"Success is a journey, not a destination." – Arthur Ashe
"I don’t have to be what you want me to be." – Muhammad Ali (applies to all athletes)