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.
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.
