What a week (or two) it has been! I’m talking about the weather – hasn’t it been hot!

I can’t remember when it has been so hot for so long since I came to Forbes more than 35 years ago.

Perhaps it is a sign of the times, I’ve got a bit long in the tooth and gone a bit soft.

Well what have our readers been doing during their free time in this weather?

I am not square-eyed (that’s what I tell people anyway) nor am I an afficianado of tennis. However, I have found myself glued to the Australian Open on more than one occasion.

Even if you only pay scant attention to the game, you will have noticed in the news or daily papers how our men’s singles fared.

Unfortunately it has not been their performance in tennis that attracted the most attention, it has been their behaviour.

I won’t beat around the bush, I am of course referring to Messrs Tomic and Kyrgios. I am not indulging in tall poppy syndome or Aussie bashing here, but even blind Freddie (my apologies to those of you with visual impairment) would notice the difference between the afore-mentioned and the well-known Federer, Djokovic and Nadal.

These gentlemen are not only a pleasure to watch, they remain humble in victory or in defeat.

Even newcomers such as Monfils, the Zverev brothers and Nishimori to name a few are such a pleasure to watch, both for their spectacular performance and in their immaculate behaviour.

You remember that I resolved to use the letters in the alphabet – as inspired by Prof Afferbeck Lauder – to continue my column this year.

Let’s start with the letter A for attitude. Attitude is the tool in our relaxation class. Of course, at the end of the day everything depends on attitude, but let’s revisit and reiterate what I mean by attitude.

The first is the physical attitude which pertains to the physical position that we adopt when we practice relaxation. This attitude or physical position is akin to Asana for those of you familiar with yoga meditation.

The physical Attitude is adopted to facilitate the training of the no less important mental attitude which embraces Attention, Awareness, Affect, Annoyance and Aggravation, Analysis, Appraisal, Appreciation, Action, Acknowledgement and Acceptance. 

Well, what has attitude got to do with the price of fish, I hear you asking. Or more to the point, what has it got to do with tennis? Well, a lot actually.

I have no doubt about the ability of Messers Tomic and Kyrgios, otherwise they would not have got to where they are now.

However they have to appreciate, acknowledge and accept that they play tennis at an elite level – they play not only for themselves but for the sport, for the tennis greats before them, for the people who love tennis and the people supporting them.

They might be “celebrities” but celebrity status is not a license to behave as you please. In fact you must respect and defend that status. 

Perhaps many of us are guilty of worshipping celebrities, heroes or what have you excessively and take the view that they can do no wrong.

It has been stated on a number of occasions that they are still very young and that they have plenty of time to improve. 

What about the Zverev brothers, I would say. They are ‘only’ 19 years old and yet they show a much more mature attitude.

Our players have promised to get better prepared next time. To have a better coach, train better etc. 

Well I have no doubt that with better coaching, training, care of their health and fitness, they would perform better. I wish them well.

Better coaching, better discipline and training would no doubt make them better performers.

The above combined with a better attitude would make them great tennis players.