Mental Toughness on Court

One of the toughest things to do during a tennis match is to remain competitively calm and relaxed.Those that do it best usually win their fair share of matches, while those who are mentally weak meltdown at crucial times.  These are a few steps to controlling your mental state while on court.

• Eye Control- Keep your eyes from watching things that break your concentration. Watch the strings, the ground, the ball etc.
• Rituals- Follow a specific routine or ritual on return of serve and before serving.
• Pace- Control the pace of the match, within your limits, that best suits the situation and your comfort level.
• Breathing- Control your breathing between and during points. Take deep breaths when in trouble.
• Intensity- Project high positive energy even if you don’t actually feel energized.
• Calmness and Relaxation- Actively relax your muscles between points. Try to project the image of being relaxed and calm. Never let your opponents see you sweat.
• Self-talk- Shut off all negative comments during play. Have specific positive self talk statements to replace any negative talk that goes on in your mind.
• Attitude- Maintain and sustain a positive mental attitude. Be in control of your thoughts and your responses.
• Enjoyment- Maintain a balance of fun and enjoyment. Project a challenged and winning attitude at all times. Savor the battle.
• Manage mistakes- Show no emotion on mistakes and make certain you clear any negative feelings before the next point.  Don't drop your head and let them know they are winning the battle.

4 STAGES BETWEEN POINT RESPONSE

Most professional tennis players take their short time between points to reset their mind.  Nothing can be done about the previous point now, so let go and move on.  Here are 4 stages to put into your game to help you reset and recharge your mental state.

1. Positive Physical Response- Make a quick decisive move as soon as point ends.  Andre Agassi did this best after each point.  Moving to pick up a ball or changing sides helps to put the past behind you.

2. The Relaxation Response- Let your body recover from physical and mental stress.  Shaking your arms or dropping your shoulders can instantly let the stress go.

3. The Preparation Response- Establish in your mind exactly what you plan on the next point.  Know where you are going to hit the serve or return and focus on the task at hand.

4. The Automatic Ritual Response- An automatic move that deepens concentration and prepares you to play. Straightening your strings, bouncing on the balls of your feet, etc.  Even having key words that refocus you makes a big difference at crunch time.

I hope that these will help you in your next match.  If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below.