Tips and Pointers

4 Ways to Maintain a High-Level Match

What typically separates elite players and mediocre players is the ability to compete at a high level consistently. This includes eliminating slow starts and performing at higher levels from start to finish.

Inconsistent performers are players who may get easily distracted or fade away, especially if the score is lopsided in their favor. For the inconsistent performer, footwork and stroke production/consistency wax and wane throughout the match. These players may hit a string of winners but then go off on an unforced error bonanza.

Simply telling yourself to double your footwork, or forcing yourself to take extra steps to the ball is one of the most effective methods of overcoming early jitters, tightness, or inconsistent play.

Before each match, you should feel ready to compete physically and mentally. If you are not ready physically, you will not be ready mentally and your performance will reflect it.

Re-focusing on the strategy or game plan throughout the match is another easy method of getting back on track. Focusing on the game plan you and coach have outlined offers a distraction from previous points/games/sets and gives you a future oriented task to move forward with.

You might notice one common thread among all these suggestions: each is a controllable factor. Tennis is full of uncontrollable areas, but performance and effort is not one of them. Ultimately, you are the one to decide how to respond to situations faced on the court.