Keeping Your Cool

Let’s be honest, tennis is a frustrating game. On many occasions in my tennis career I saved myself some work and just let my opponent defeat their self.  It’s the easiest way to win a match.

A major key to the game of tennis is keeping your cool and mentally staying calm. In order to give yourself the best shot at winning a match you must keep your composure on the court. It is inevitable that you will not hit a perfect shot every time; not even the pros can do that.

The best thing to do when losing a point is to not show your opponent any emotion. Think about it… I strive off of others’ emotions on the court, and when I see someone lose their cool over a point I add a new arsenal of weapons to my game. For instance, I gain motivation when I see how mentally down this player is. In addition, I learn which things to do which will cause this break down. Now, inside your head you may be going crazy over that last point, but when the person you are playing sees you smiling looking quite worriless it leaves little confidence for your opponent to gain.  

Play smart not only during the points, but also in between points. You’ll be amazed how frustrating you can become to your opponent when you keep your cool.