Why should tennis players keep their emotions in check
Have you ever played a match when a few bad line calls or several unforced errors sent you to the “bad place”?
The bad place is where you flip out, throw your racquet, scream out in frustration, or argue with the umpire.
How did that meltdown impact the rest of the match?
For one, allowing your emotions to intensify distracts you from playing the match and hinders your ability to make clear, quick decisions.
Secondly, negative emotions trigger a physiological stress response that ultimately interferes with your physical game
When intense emotions take over:
- Your breathing quickens and becomes shallow
- Your heart rate increases, depleting your energy stores
- Your muscles tighten, affecting your ability to swing smoothly and powerfully
However, the most overlooked mental consequence of letting your emotions show or becoming visibly upset is that your opponent takes notice. When you act out in frustration and anger, you send a nonverbal message to your opponent that they have you on the ropes.
This motivates and gives your opponent confidence to seize control of the match and go for the knockout punch. You can apply many mental strategies to regain your composure, but what can be done to prevent emotional outbursts in the first place?
The goal is never to let your opponent see you upset. In tennis, you either have a mental edge in the match, or you give your opponent a mental advantage.
In other words, tennis is both a physical and a mind game. Keeping a calm and composed demeanor can be intimidating to your opponent. It sends a message that you are in control no matter what happens on the court.
When your opponent sees you as unflappable and confident, it can put psychological pressure on them. So, after an unforced error, losing your serve, or a bad line call, ask yourself, “Do I want to give my opponent the edge by showing them I’m upset?”
Keeping this question in mind will help prevent emotional meltdowns on the court. In the fourth round of the 2024 Wimbledon major, 19th-seeded Emma Navarro beat reigning US Open champion and second-seeded Coco Gauff in straight sets, 6-4 6-3
During the match, Gauff slowly unraveled and had a heated exchange with her coach, Brad Gilbert, yelling at him, “Tell me something. You guys aren’t saying anything.”
Gauff was visibly frustrated with her performance and emotionally charged throughout the second set, finishing with 32 unforced errors.
In her post-match interview, Navarro talked about the game within the game.
NAVARRO: “I love matches like that where it feels like it’s not just a hitting or striking competition. There’s strategy involved, and it feels like a chess match or something, so that was really enjoyable for me.”
Not only did Navarro take notice of Gauff’s frustration, but Navarro saw the outburst as an opportunity to seize the match.
NAVARRO: “I don’t normally give the other side of the court too much energy. I keep it on my side of the court. (But) I guess seeing her kind of frustrated and looking at her box, putting her arms up in the air — it’s definitely a little bit of a confidence boost. I guess it maybe gave me a little bit of momentum and just some energy that I needed.”
Tennis is both a mental game and a physical game. It’s not enough to focus only on your physical training; you must pay attention to your mental game.
To prevent your emotions from spiraling out of control or acting out on the court, you need to make a conscious decision to maintain composure.
Just asking yourself, “Am I willing to give the edge to my opponent?” can help you stay poised and mentally engaged in the match.
Related Tennis Psychology Articles
- How to Manage Your Emotions on the Court – Video
- How to Control Emotions on Court
- Manage Emotions in Matches
- Download our a FREE Tennis Psychology Report
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