Nerves???????

Question

ok well i tend to get really nervous before a tennis match! and i was wondering how you guys stay calm??(during and before the match.)

I am really thankful for all those who try to help:)

Answer 1

Breathe as if you had asthma, take really deep breaths, this will help calm your nerves.

Sing a tune quietly to yourself during the match, it uplifts your spirits, and you don't think about how nervous you really are.

Don't be intimidated by your oppenent, think as if you're playing a two year old, you will ease through every point not feeling obligated to be so serious.

After every point put it behind you, as if it never happened, win or lose.

And finnaly take your match a point at a time and you will be fine.

Otherwise, before the match, do something that simply makes you less nervous, whether it's listening to music, talking to your friends (Don't talk about the match), or simply scout out your oppenent, and exploit their weakness during match play.

Hope this will help, your mental game is the most important part of tennis.

Good Luck!!

Answer 2

You need to play a lot of matches and you will begin to calm down. Try to focus on your game plan while in a match, don't worry about making errors.

Answer 3

I agree with everyone here. For some reason it seems that music helps. I listen to a song before I play, and I think that helps because then during the match I'm not thinking too much about each shot. Especially for 2nd serves or easy shots, many people tend to think too much, and if I'm thinking about a song in my head, every shot is just like I'm practicing, and there isn't any pressure.

I would say take less time thinking about your shots, when you make a mistake, the only thing to worry about is how to correct it for the next time, but never dwell on a bad shot, just how to make it better. After your mentally correct your mistake, go back to normal and dont think about it anymore

Answer 4

Before the match, listen to music. During the match, concentrate on winning.

Answer 5

Sounds like JamesBuddy63 has been reading "Winning Ugly" by Brad Gilbert.  Me too.  I would recommend this book highly to all tennis players regardless of experience level, it has tips for helping overcome pre-match jitters.

Answer 6

it's part of being "match tough". there are a million and one opinions (techniques) to beat nerves, but there is no one specific technique that works for all people.

however, in broad sense, there are two ways to better prepare yourself for such anxiety and they are as follows:

1- play lot's of competitive tennis where you are forced to deal with pressure

and

2- be in tip-top physical condition. there are plenty of instances where nerves could have resulted in my losing to an inferior opponent, but my conditioning saw me through.