What is the ideal mindset for playing tennis?
WITH WIMBLEDON now in its second week and catching the imagination; many readers may feel inspired to adopt tennis as a hobby, or even to pick it back up during the upcoming summer. A key principle to the sport however, and to any sport, is more than what people assume. The mindset of a tennis player is arguably the most important skill to maintain when competing.
Readers could have the most precise forehand, the strongest backhand, the fastest serve, the perfect physique; but none of that matters if they can’t keep control of their emotions which enable them to utilise these skills to their potential during their career.
There are many thing readers can do as a tennis player to prepare for an important match, or any match that’s important to them. This doesn’t just include warm-ups, enhancing your techniques, analysing your opponent’s techniques, building muscle, practicing moves and eating healthy.
Although it’s vital to train your body, it’s just as vital to train the mind in order for them to work in tangent and help each other. Readers will also need the mindset to be motivated to train physically, and need to train physically in order to have the capabilities to match this.
Self-confidence is a key trait, both to reassure the player and to intimidate their opponent with emanating body language and attitude. Self-confidence provides players with solace of their abilities no matter if winning or losing – they still have the knowledge of being a good player.
Managing emotions is dire for a good, controlled performance. Emotions tend to spiral quickly, causing a loss in focus and a crumbling mentality, which is why it’s important to prevent this by learning to keep emotions in check. Most of the time, emotions that spiral out of control create a false impression of players to themselves others; distorting the perception of the game.
Visualising where players want to be will always give the motivation to chase success – losses aren’t setbacks, they’re obstacles to learn and develop from before overcoming them.
Rafael Nadal, a world-famous tennis player, was interviewed after his win against Roger Federer. He was asked if this victory made him a better tennis player, and his answer was a credit to the mindset values when winning or losing at tennis – “you need to know who you are before and after the match”. This is a reminder for players to stay true to their core mentality values and not define themselves by success or failure.
PICTURED BY PIXABAY: Readers may wish to enjoy the game of tennis due to warmer weather and the ongoing Wimbledon tournament, which is being broadcast free-to-air on the BBC and is now in the second week.
