Mental Toughness in Tennis
If your coach told you to go for it before a match, how would you interpret those words? What would you attempt to do during the match to execute the go-for-it approach?
Many tennis players interpret “go-for-it” as hitting the ball harder, trying to ace second serves, or attempting to paint the lines on each return shot.
The problem with this strategy is that after several double-faults, inaccurate returns, and unforced errors, not only do you give up on your match strategy, but you also give up on yourself.
Your confidence will plummet. You will stop trusting yourself, your skills, and your ability to win the match. As a result, you self-sabotage your game and drastically underperform.
Going for it means trusting your skills to win, having the confidence to execute your game plan, and leveraging your strengths.
Before matches, you should define what “go for it” means for you. It doesn’t mean playing it safe but it also doesn’t mean playing recklessly.
Some characteristics of the “Go-For-It” mindset include:
- Trusting Your Skills
- Believing in your ability
- Playing to your strengths
- Maintaining a level of positivity even during the rough moments during the match.
- Seizing Opportunities
- Taking calculated risks
- Giving 100 percent effort
At the 2025 Indian Wells, former world No. 4 Holger Rune defeated former No. 1 Daniil Medvedev, 7-5, 6-4, to advance to his first Masters 1000 final in two years.
Rune fell as low as No. 17 in the ATP rankings last year. The victory put Rune in a position to return to the Top 10. After the match, Rune talked about his approach to the match.
RUNE: “It’s about finding the right tempo, and luckily, I’ve got decent leg work to reach many balls, but it was a very specific tactical plan that I made with my coach yesterday evening and this morning. It was all about finding the right pace and the right shots to hit. So many players miss too many shots against Daniil because he gets so many balls back and it makes you want to hit the ball even stronger and go for more. I’m super proud I found the right rhythm, the right tempo, and that I stayed super composed at the end.”
Rune not only put his history with Medvedev behind him, but by implementing his go-for-it strategy, Rune felt in control throughout the match.
RUNE: “Mentally, I want to stay [in the final] like I did today because today was a big match; I’d had two losses against Medvedev in a row. I think, in the past, I wasn’t there mentlally, and it wasn’t about the level. No matter who I play tomorrow, I need to stay focused, composed, and stay relaxed so I can go for it.“
The “Go-For-It” mindset means trusting in your preparation, believing in your ability to perform under pressure, and staying committed to your strengths.
By defining what “going for it” means, you can play with purpose, capitalize on opportunities, and compete at your highest level. When you approach each match with this mindset, you give yourself the best chance to succeed.
Adopt an aggressive yet disciplined mindset. Going for it is about playing with confidence and trust, and making smart decisions.
The key is to have a well-defined match strategy and focus on executing that strategy instead of worrying about the score.When you play with this mindset, you will maximize your ability and compete with the mental toughness needed to win tough matches.
Related Tennis Psychology Articles
- Why Improve Your Mental Toughness Skills
- Mental Toughness Over Mistakes
- Vasilis Mazarakis on Mental Toughness in Tennis
- Download our a FREE Tennis Psychology Report
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