Mental Tips for Tennis Matches

• Stay positive before, during and after your match.
• Listening to music before your match can help you get going!
• If playing doubles, work as a team, motivate each other with positive words and encouragement.
• Ignore external factors, e.g. what’s happening on another court, people watching or too much chatting from your opponent at changeovers ?.
• Focus on the next point and not the previous point.
• Have a plan in your head for the next point. E.g. decide where you want to hit your serve or return.
• Especially at big points such as 40-30 or 30-40, take your time and don’t rush.
• Remember to breath, smile, to help your relax.
• Focus on hitting a good first serve or doing whatever you can to get a return back in play, you have a much better chance of winning these games.
• Give your best no matter what the score is. You can comeback from any score so never give up.
• Use serve and return routines.
• Use visualisation. For example if you miss a shot, imagine how to hit the ball correctly.
• If you win the 1st set, think that it is the start of the match again. The danger is you can relax too much and let your opponent back into the match.
• If you lose the first set or are down by a few games, sometimes sticking to the basics such as get the ball into play can get you into the match. It could also be you are letting your opponent/s attack too much.
• Give your all into your coaching and practice so that you can perform in your matches.

Enjoy! Remember tennis is fun and that’s why we play! All you can do is give your best. ?