Shin Tennis no Oujisama

it has both sports, shounen, school, and comedy genre in the story 

the whole major series is about goals in life and struggling to achieve that goal and hardships along the way and never giving up :)  

Like funny, but developed characters pursuing their goals? Both series will cater to your needs then. We get to see a lot of competition, but also get to know the characters outside the matches. There is also real team spirit and the relationships between the players also develop. Both have a great sense of humor as well. These animes really raised the level of the 2012 winter line-up.  

mental struggle and improving the skills and the thrill is similar although one is indoor sport and other is outdoor but both are same in sense of spirit :)