3 Tips for Playing Tennis “in The Now”

Mental Strategies to Play in The Moment

The one mental skill necessary for top performance in tennis is the ability to maintain your focus on the present moment.

In order to play your best tennis, you must be able to control your thoughts and focus your attention on the right things.

Phrases such as “playing in the moment” or “being in the here-and-now” refer to an athlete’s ability to let go of past performances or fears about future outcomes and immerse his self in the present moment.

There’s an old saying:

An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. 

It is easy for negative thoughts to infiltrate your head.  In order for you to be a productive tennis player, you need to be able to focus your thoughts on the very things that allow you to play optimally—what we call execution.

Thoughts such as, “Last time I played at this tournament, I played horribly,” “I never have beaten this opponent,” or “I have played poorly lately,” are thoughts focused on past performances.

When a tennis player is preoccupied with past performance, it interferes with their focus on “the current match” or “the current point” and increases anxiety leading to a downward spiral of negative thoughts.

There are three periods of inaction in tennis matches (pre-match, between sets and between points) where it is critical for a player to maintain a “present moment” focus.

The largest chunk of time where you have lots of time to think is before the match. In order to control your thoughts and focus prior to a match, it is important to have a pre-match routine.

In a recent interview, Maria Sharapova emphasized the importance of a consistent pre-match routine:

“I usually stick to a similar routine at all tournaments.  Food is always different based on where you are, but it’s always pretty simple. I like to spend some time by myself to read, to listen to music, and have a good 15 or 20 minutes right before the match of warming up and getting myself going.”

Staying Focused During Your Pre-Match Warm Up:

1. You should seek to develop a warm up routine that you can replicate prior to every match.
2. You want include activities (listening to music, reading) that help you stay loose and calm prior to warm up. However, some players would benefit from getting pumped up to focus their best.
3. You want to stay focused on your warm up instead of worrying about the match outcome. Think: How can I best prepare for the upcoming match?

By controlling your focus and “staying in the present moment,” you will increase both your enjoyment and your level of play.

---

Boost Your Self-Confidence and Focus with Expert Mental Game Coaching Tennis Mindset

Learn how to boost your mental game of tennis and develop the confidence of a champion quickly and effortlessly with tennis mental game coaching!

If you’re not performing up to your potential in matches, most likely your mental game is holding you back. Are you so frustrated with your performance you feel like giving up? Does your confidence evaporate when you play in tournaments? Are you tired of working hard in practice and not getting any results in matches?

We can help you uncover the beliefs and attitudes that keep you from performing to your potential.

Complimentary 15-Minute Coaching Session

Call Us Today to Schedule Your Free 15-Minute Session.
Find Out How You Can Benefit From One-on-One Mental Coaching!

888-742-7225 | 407-909-1700

Please contact us today to learn how mental coaching works and to request pricing on all mental training programs for tennis players. Complete the form below to contact us via email or call us toll-free at 888-742-7225