How to Beat the One That Always Beats You

How to play... and try to win against that opponent who always beats us and complicates our game plan?

The 10 Possible Ways to Victory

1. Accept that we will be nervous, made anxious by the occasion; Make sure that this doesn't keep us from developing a "game plan". Being positive and optimistic is fundamental!
2. Enter the court ready and willing to play with great intensity (Mental AND Physical), keeping our feet moving at all times. Standing still without "fighting" will not help our cause!
3. Compete for EVERY point, taking "face on" every challenge that our rival presents us with. Try - if at all possible - to stay close in the score, not allowing our opponent any chance to "run away with it".
4. Be aggressive with our first serve; "Pushing" with our serve will do nothing but make us play fearfully and second guess everything we do for the rest of the point. Obviously it will be very important to develop a second serve with great placement and spin.
5. Do not try to hit "winners" on return of serve. Here is the Golden Rule: it doesn't matter how the point begins... making your opponent play the SECOND ball after the serve will be of such importance for your own confidence.
6. As much as possible, try to play within your ability. In crucial games and points do not try and hit shots that you don't hit well or that you have not developed and therefore don't feel confident executing. For this it is crucial to "know" your own game and accept your limits.
7. Attempting "low percentage" shots will not do anything other than increase your percentage of losing against this opponent. A solid defense and good cross-court shots will help a ton!
8. It will be extremely important to observe when and if your opponents attitude takes a dip. We should be able to "read" these moments in the game and take advantage of them to the maximum. Our rival is human and can have a bad day too!
9. Be ready to run down every ball and show your adversary that he/she will have to make great shots to beat you. If your adversary is very aggressive and hits shots with lots of pace, it is important to recognize that these kind of players tend to hurry themselves and lose patience with long rallies. If we demonstrate a solid play, we can take the wind out of their sails!
10. Finally: The odds are stacked against us. The odds are in favor of our rival... theoretically, the phrase "we have nothing to lose" is applicable, right? Why not try with great patience, intelligence and determination to place the pressure all on the shoulders of the opponent? He/She is the favorite... so let's exploit that "extra" pressure for our own benefit!

Following these simple guidelines you may just walk off the court smarter and better in a defeat. Or, who knows??? Maybe you will walk off the court as a winner against this opponent for the first time!