Mind
Training for Tennis
- Tip 18
Handling
Those Big Match Occasions
http://www.tennispsychology.com
There
are 3 golden rules to playing tough matches.
One
to ensure you always make a good start.
Another
is to ensure you are not intimidated and that you focus throughout
the match.
And
the other is to ensure you take every opportunity when it comes
along by remaining mentally strong and competitive throughout even
the toughest matches.
In
big matches remember that your opponent is always just
as nervous as you are, and possibly even more so - so don't worry
about your nerves because a) they are natural, and b) they will
go away with the longer you play.
So
knowing that you are probably going to be nervous when you are beginning
the match, it is absolutely crucial to play a particularly consistent
and intelligent brand of tennis in the first game or two
that will help you to get over your nerves, while at the same time
also giving your opponent's nerves maximum opportunity
to de-rail their game in the early stages.
The
way to do this is virtually make no errors whatsoever in
the early games of the match (or as little as possible)
- simply keep the ball going and play yourself into the match,
as this will also allow your opponent to have more chances to make
errors and get upset with themselves in the early stages of the
match.
This
can be their undoing as the match wears on. Once you have the first
few games under your belt, you can relax and go for more shots and
increase the tempo as the match progresses.
They
used to say this about the great Ivan Lendl in the 80's - that his
opponents would get to two-games-all with him in the first set and
feeling like they were doing well, and they were surprised that
Lendl wasn't hitting the ball as hard as he was renowned for.
Thirty
minutes later they were walking off the court dazed, having lost
6-2 6-0 - as Lendl, after initially warming his game up "through
the gears" in the first four games as he always did, then stepped
it up and played the enormously aggressive, controlled power game
he was well known to play.
So
the first rule is - don't try and peak too early. Instead, warm
your game up through the gears and play yourself into the match.
Secondly,
focus only on the ball - not on your opponent, their reputation,
the score, or the crowd. All you are ever playing is a
ball that is down your end of the court - always remember that you
are not playing an opponent, you are playing a ball!
This
helps a lot of players overcome the intimidation factor when they
suddenly realize that the reputation of their opponent actually
means nothing - as it is still only a ball you need to
deal with, not your opponent. This is why your focus on the ball
is highly important - because that is your opponent.
Last
of all, always hang tough and never give up, no matter how hard
it may get - as you simply never know just what is going on in your
opponent's mind.
Tthey
might be worried about a niggling injury you don't know about, or
they may be getting hot or tired, or they may not be feeling as
hugely confident as you think they are, or they might be worrying
about something or someone off the court, etc etc.
You
just don't know what's going on in their head - they may be about
to roll over and hand you the match, and you may not even know it.
Opportunities
tend to strike very quickly so you must be mentally alert, eager,
and ready to seize them whenever they arrive. This is what separates
the great players from the good players - they always take their
opportunities.
These
three golden rules will ensure you will always make a strong, solid
and consistent start to all your matches, and that you remain focused
and immersed in the match all the way through (and no longer worried
about reputations).
They
will ensure you remain tough and fiercely competitive right until
you shake hands as a winner at the end of the match. This is a formula
for success - try it and see how it works in your game.
