What Tennis Taught Me About Handling Pressure?

I’ve always loved two things: tennis and design. At first glance, they couldn’t be more different, right? But yesterday, when I was down match point and had to return serve to stay in the game, it hit me—both are all about problem-solving under pressure. In tennis, every point is a mini-crisis. You’ve got seconds to size up the situation, decide on a shot, and make it happen. And sometimes, when you’re in a tight spot, a little creativity can flip the whole match in your favor. Design has its own version of that. Think of those moments in a project review when feedback is flying, time is tight, and everyone’s looking at you for answers. You have to stay cool, figure out what’s really being asked, propose solutions, and maybe even push back—all in real-time. Just like in tennis, staying calm and thinking creatively can turn challenges into wins. Turns out, tennis and design aren’t so different after all.