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TENNIS
French Open Tennis Championships

Tennis stars find off-court happiness equals on-court success

Nick McCarvel
Special for USA TODAY Sports

PARIS – Two weeks ago, when Andy Murray had won his second consecutive clay title with a first-ever victory on said surface over Rafael Nadal in Madrid, the British star wrote this on the TV camera lens: "Marriage works."

Andy Murray has been playing lights out since he got  married.

It was a taste of Murray's patented sarcasm that has become well known in tennis, but it was also partly – or perhaps mostly – true: Married on April 11 to longtime girlfriend Kim Sears, Murray is now 10-0 on the clay this season, and enters Sunday's French Open as one of two unbeaten players this year on the dirt –- alongside Novak Djokovic –- in the men's draw.

It begs the question: Does off-court happiness mean on-court success?

"I think people don't always appreciate that (for professional athletes), there is another part of our lives that is very important to performance," explained Murray after his win in Madrid. "If you're happy away from the court and your private and personal life is good, that will help everything. (It) helps your mindset, helps the way that you train… everything. So, that is obviously very good right now (for me)."

In October, world No. 1 Djokovic's wife Jelena gave birth to a baby boy, Stefan, and since then the Serbian has been on a tear, winning 44 out of 46 matches, a fifth Australian Open title and arriving here in Paris on a 23-match win streak.

"I hope that it's going to affect positively on my career," a wistful new dad in Djokovic said six months ago.

And so far for Novak the father, so good.

"A lot of times, when these players are at peace and happy, there's some research now that says when you're feeling happiness or excitement, you can perform better," said Dr. Larry Lauer, a Mental Skills Specialist in Player Development for the U.S. Tennis Association. "Not just in tennis, in any sport."

Of course, any sport – including tennis – is about ability and attrition, hard work and execution. Some players see their off-court life as just that: Off court, and completely separate from their tennis.

"When I'm on the court, nothing else matters," said British No. 1 Heather Watson, the world No. 43. "I could be having the worst time ever off the court, but it would just disappear as soon as I'm on the court because all I'm focusing on is the tennis."

Lauer and his staff at the USTA want their players happy off the court as well, however, and it's something coaches are encouraged to check in about on a regular basis.

"We care about the players. It's about their success and well being," Lauer said in a phone interview with USA Today Sports. "If I see something unusual going on, they seem to be stressed or angry or emotional, I'm not going to look at only the on-the-court sources, I'm going to look at changes in life. It could be a relationship or family things or numerous other factors. We understand that our players having outside relationships and that much more than just their tennis is going on in their lives."

For Roger Federer, the 17-time major champion and a married father of four, he's felt a boon from his big-life occasions, too.

"When something major happens, that definitely can inspire you. Having kids, getting married, that can do that to you," Federer said last week in Rome. "When it's going that well, as it is for Andy, it's a beautiful thing. He should ride that wave as long as possible."

Lauer points to off-court stability, and the importance of balance for a player's emotions away from tennis.

"For Novak and Andy, there is a sense of stability and peace (now), but I'm sure they felt stressed about those moments in their lives in the lead-up," he said. "If you're able to perceive that stress in a positive way, then you … know that there are only good things coming from it. When you have a family, it gives a greater depth of perception of achievement and success. Your tennis becomes just that, tennis, and in a way allows them to play with less pressure, I think."

PHOTOS: 2015 French Open

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