Mental Toughness

"Are You Worthy To Be a Champion"

Many tennis players learn from their losses, take ownership of their shortcomings, and prepare to win the next match. Here are some super easy ways to enhance your mindset during tennis matches — just like the pros do!

 

  1. Make your own special "between points" routine.
    After every point, do the same little things every time to calm down and get ready for the next one.
    For example: Walk to the back of the court with significant, happy steps, bounce the ball exactly 5 times, look at your racket strings for a second, take one big, deep breath, and say quietly in your head "Next point!" or "Just hit the ball."
    Doing this same thing every time helps your brain stop worrying and feel strong and ready again.
  2. Practice when it feels complex and scary — on purpose!
    In practice, make it feel like a really important match. Play tie-breakers, pretend it's the last game of the set, or say, "If I lose this point, I have to run extra!"
    When you practice feeling nervous often, it stops feeling so scary in real matches. It's like training your brain to say, "I've done this before — I got this!"
  3. Only think about things YOU can control
    You can't control if your opponent hits a great shot, if the ball bounces funny, if it's super windy, or if someone in the crowd cheers loudly.
    But you CAN control: trying your best, staying positive, moving your feet fast, and following your plan.
    When something annoying happens, just ask yourself super quick: "Can I fix this?" If not, let it go fast and think about the next ball!
  4. Talk nicely to yourself — like a good friend would
    Instead of saying mean things in your head like "I'm going to mess up again," say helpful things like:
    • "One point at a time"
    • "I've practiced this a lot."
    • "Keep going strong!"

Roger Federer — On Letting Go of Lost Points

“In my career, I have won almost 80% of my matches. But I’ve only won 54% of the points I played. You have to accept that you’re going to lose points. The best players are the ones who move on quickly and focus on the next point.”