We all like to think that we can control what happens on the tennis court. Unfortunately, a lot of what happens is not totally under your control. The opponent, conditions and luck all contribute to how you hit your shots and whether you win or lose the match.
As a player, you should expect that there are going to be difficult moments during a match. If you are ready for some of the adversity that inevitably occurs when you are competing, it will help you handle it better. The best players in the world are incredible at moving forward after a disappointing shot or point. They play the next point almost as if it never happened. If instead, they were to dwell on the bad bounce, let cord, or the opponent hitting their shot right on the line, their ability to play the next point would be drastically affected.
Try to come up with a plan to shrug off the disappointments. Remind yourself of the basic ideas that will help you play the next point well-watch the ball, get ready for it to come back, and use your regular swings as much as possible. I recommend trying to put yourself back in a winning position if you are initially unsuccessful. If you do not convert on a break point, try to get back to another break point. The same goes for match points. If you miss a certain shot, give yourself a simple thought to make that shot the next time.
You will never be able to control all of the crazy things that happen during a match. Practice your approach to handling whatever may happen and remember to expect to have some struggles. By improving your ability to deal with adversity, your overall play will get better and you will have a much better chance to win the match.
Steve Annacone, USPTA Elite Pro, is the Director of Annacone Tennis, www.annaconetennis.com and MyHamptonspPro, www.MyHamptonsPro.com throughout the Hamptons, NY. Sam Alexander, Steve, and Gill Gross run the TOP (Tennis Optimization Players-Top Team) program at the Tucson Jewish Community Center (Tucson, AZ) for high level players ages 8-18. Please contact Steve at sannacone@tucsonjcc.org or 865-300-7323