The world’s best tennis players are coming to New York City soon to compete in the U.S. Open, one of the top tournaments. The grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center will once again be filled with tennis enthusiasts for several weeks as the field of players narrows down to the finals in singles and doubles. Throughout the rounds of matches, players will showcase exceptional skill and stamina, resulting from relentless practice and mental toughness. But in my experience, two other characteristics often separate the very best from the rest: humility and love.

Humility keeps us open to learning, even when we’ve reached the pinnacle of our field. It helps us hear constructive feedback and accept help without defensiveness. Love, in this context, is about genuinely caring for others—valuing their contribution, investing in their growth, and encouraging them in times of challenge. Together, humility and love form the foundation of a connection culture, one in which people bring out the best in one another.

The importance of humility and love in creating and sustaining a champion was illustrated at the 2025 Wimbledon tournament and as well as through Andre Agassi’s comeback in the late 1990s. Here’s what I observed during those two great moments.

A Different Kind of Champion’s Speech

At this year’s Wimbledon awards ceremonies, I saw humility and love on display in a way I hadn’t seen before in tennis. The finalists in both men’s and women’s singles took time not only to thank their own teams for their help along the journey, but also to acknowledge and congratulate their opponents’ teams for making it to the finals as well as the skill of their opponents.

In an individual sport like tennis, this public acknowledgment of the people working behind the scenes is notable. It’s not just one coach these days. A team may include a strength coach and sport psychologist. Amanda Anisimova, the women’s finalist, was especially emotional as she thanked her mother, saying, “My mom’s put in more work than I have, honestly.” That kind of gratitude is a hallmark of champions whose hearts are as strong as their serves and forehands.

The Agassi Example

In late 1997, I met and spoke with Andre Agassi when he was playing a tennis tournament in Burbank, California. He was already one of the greats, having reached the finals at the French Open in 1990 and 1991, then won Wimbledon in 1992, the U.S. Open in 1994, and the Australian Open in 1995. He took home the gold medal for the U.S.A. in Men’s Singles in the 1996 Olympics.

This was during a period, though, when Agassi had fallen from being one of the top players in the world to being so lowly ranked (141st) that it was difficult for him to get into major tournaments. He had the skills but just wasn’t playing anywhere near the top of his game. In an interview in March 2025, he shared honestly, “I got to number one in the world, and people must've thought I was living the dream, but I was probably the most disconnected, unhappy person in a lot of ways.” Despite how it might have appeared, the fame and pressure had left him feeling isolated from others and actually unfulfilled.

The Burbank tournament, part of the ATP Challenger Tour, was the turning point. Agassi won the tournament and went on to return to the ranks of the top tennis players in the world. In the span of the following year, his rank rose from 110 to 6. After his dramatic comeback, he went on to win the French Open in 1999, becoming the fifth man to ever win all four Grand Slam tournament titles. At his retirement from professional tennis in 2006, his tally of Grand Slam victories had risen to eight.

What happened? Agassi attributed his comeback to the guidance, support, encouragement, and love he received from his wife (tennis great Steffi Graf, whom he wed in 2001), his coach, and other family members and friends. Before that time, Agassi had isolated himself. He was trying to self-help his way back to greatness. It is likely that he had grown lonely. When Agassi humbled himself to accept coaching and connect relationally with a group of individuals whom he loved and who loved him, that’s when the magic happened.

At the tournament, I remember seeing Agassi walking around and talking with people. There were several policemen there, and I observed him chatting with each one of them. When fans wanted an autograph, he patiently waited and signed each program or tennis ball. Agassi was humble and more grounded than I had expected.

Agassi’s comeback illustrates a truth that applies far beyond sports: even the most gifted individuals perform better when open to and supported by a committed, caring team.

Applying the Lesson

The moments I witnessed at Wimbledon earlier this year and Agassi’s comeback story provide a living example of the heart of a champion. Champions:

• acknowledge the people who make their success possible,
• show gratitude and love in word and deed, and
• build and maintain a culture of connection in their teams.

As the U.S. Open begins, keep an eye on the players who do more than hit great shots—they recognize the people who helped them get there.

Whether you lead an organization, play a sport, or strive to excel in any field, remember this: your journey will be richer, and your performance stronger, when you develop humility, express love, and nurture the relationships that help you thrive.

When success comes, don’t just accept the trophy (or promotion or prize)—share the recognition with the people who made it possible.

About the Author

‍Michael Lee Stallard, MBA, JD, is a thought leader, speaker and leading expert on how human connection in workplace cultures affects the health and performance of individuals and organizations. In addition to Fired Up or Burned Out, he is the primary author of Connection Culture: The Competitive Advantage of Shared Identity, Empathy, and Understanding at Work.

Photo by Prashant Gurung on Unsplash