An active presence in Chicago and Hinsdale, Illinois, Roger Clarke instructs sports enthusiasts of all ages on the intricacies of tennis as a pro at the Hinsdale Country Club. Roger Clarke emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive outlook on the court, with an understanding that mistakes and losses are part of the process of becoming a better all-around tennis player. 

In the book “Game, Set, Match: A Tennis Book for the Mind,” UCLA tennis coach Billy Martin describes one common issue of college players being stuck in a mindset that reflects the pecking order established in their early teens. If they consistently lost to a player a year or two older than themselves in the past, they may still psychologically believe that they are incapable of beating that player. Even if their skills have improved and are now on par or superior, this can be a significant handicap to closing out a match. 

Martin relates this to his own experience as a young pro coming into his own and competing against former idols such as John Newcombe and Arthur Ashe. It took him supreme focus to concentrate on the game at hand and trust in his own skills, rather than relying on preconceptions.