What Tennis Superstars and Smart Investors Have In Common

Tennis, like investing, is about so much more than just a "grand slam." Think about the drama, the personalities and the lessons that they can both serve up from time to time!

From the exciting French Open to the twist and turns of Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and Canada's own Rogers Cup, tennis season can be thrilling and engrossing for diehard and bandwagon fans alike.

But at the centre of it all are the players; incredible athletes with unique styles, approaches and habits that make them fascinating to watch. Like investors, tennis superstars share some common practices between them even as they differ in their individual approaches. Experience and intuition has taught tennis greats when to be aggressive and when to back off, how to leverage their strengths and minimize their weaknesses.

To really break down how alike tennis greats and savvy investors are, we look at three of the most radiant stars on the circuit and what they can teach us about mixing up their assets, finesse and stamina.

Roger Federer

Holding the record for the most Grand Slam men's singles championships, with 20 titles, Federer has always made it look easy. Even as the oldest Slam champion in tennis history (he's 36), Federer floats around the court, elegantly making shots from the baseline or zooming to the net while barely breaking a sweat. Like many investors, Federer will also mix things up here and there, and has the ability to take a long view — even when he has to disappoint fans. Just recently he announced he'd be sitting out this year's Rogers Cup. "...With scheduling being the key to my longevity moving forward, I have regrettably decided to withdraw from Toronto this year, I wish the tournament every success and am sorry to miss it," he told the media. Choosing when to engage in an opportunity and when to step away can be as key to successful investing as to good tennis.

Serena Williams

A power player if ever there was one, Williams embodies individuality, strength and endurance — on and off the court. Williams holds the all-time record for the most women's singles matches won at majors, recently wowing fans with her performance in the finals at Wimbledon despite just coming back from maternity leave. She's stamina on a silver platter and like many great investors, fights hard for her victories. What's more, she succeeds on her own terms, black catsuit and all, just as successful investors figure out their strengths, their limits and what really matters — then pursue their goals with confidence.

Rafael Nadal

Every bit Federer's equal (actually, he's ranked top in the world ahead of Federer at the moment), Nadal's style is more passionate and intensely physical. In place of Federer's polish, Nadal shows grit, chasing down every ball and pounding his opponent with his huge forehand. He doesn't give up, coming back from injury after injury stronger and better, just as a savvy investor weathers the ups and downs of the markets.

What tennis superstar best reflects your investing style? Leave a comment to let us know.