Remember
also that it's not just a matter of whether you're physically ready to
return your opponent's service - this is not good enough - it's whether you're
100% mentally focused to play the point (or not) that matters.
Tennis
is a game of switch on, switch off concentration - where you focus
during the point, and then relax in between the points - only to
re-focus again as the next point is to begin. Make
sure you never play a point without fully 100% switching on first.
Most
of all, ensure you are no longer thinking about a previous point when you
begin the next! As soon as a point is finished - it's modern history. Forget it
and move on to the next point.
The
mindset you need is to play each point as if it's the only point in
the match. We never have the luxury of thinking cumulatively in tennis
- because as soon as we do, we very quickly lose concentration.
Practicing
and developing mental strength is very important - as it can help you to beat
players who are technically better players than yourself! Yes, it's
true, you can beat better players quite often.
For
instance, how often do you see flashy players begin a match playing
unbelievable levels of tennis - only to dissolve into a mass
of frustration and unforced errors by the end of the match? Often!
You see this commonly at any tournament, no matter how high the
standard.
This
shows that the best hitters are not necessarily the mentally
strongest - in fact, they rarely are. The great hitters
usually rely on their awesome power to win points, but when
the match gets close and the pressure builds up - they often
crack like cookies!
Practicing
tiebreakers can also be a great way to de-sensitize yourself
to pressure, and toughen you up mentally, so you are able to
continue to successfully execute
your shots when the pressure is on.
Tiebreakers
are classic times in matches when players 'go into their shell'
and stop playing with the same flair that got them there
in the first place. This is a form of choking which often
causes a player to play too safe.
I'm
not saying, of course, that you should go for huge winners in tiebreaks
- just play your own game to the best of your ability, unhindered by the
pressure of the situation. This mentality can only be built up over time with
experience and of lots of match play, both in tournaments and also in practice.
As
a child Tiger Woods, the great golfer, used to practice his shots while his father
would often drop the golf bag, cough loudly or make all kinds of noise during
his shots, purely to help toughen his concentration up so that it could
never be interrupted. It worked!
So
begin working on developing more of your mental toughness in matches over the
next 12 months - believe me, you will reap the benefits in the years to come.
