How Do You Grade Your Focus in Matches?
Summary
Elite competition tests more than technical skill—it tests mental focus. This article explains why playing focused tennis is critical against top opponents and outlines practical strategies to sustain concentration, reset quickly, and compete confidently under pressure.
Elite competition doesn’t just challenge you in your technical, physical, and tactical game. Competing against top players tests your mental game: your ability to focus, play confidently, handle intense emotions, and fight for points.
Highly contested matches have a way of exposing weaknesses in your mental game, especially when it comes to FOCUSING.
If you are not locked in early in the match and focused on playing to your strengths, you may become overwhelmed by your opponent’s ranking or record.
If you do not focus on playing your game, you may become intimidated by your opponent’s powerful strokes and lose confidence after dropping a set.
If you are unable to immerse yourself in the current point, you may melt down or become frustrated after a few bad line calls or unforced errors.
Competing against elite competition requires a high level of focus and mental engagement. This is not to say that you may have a few mental lapses. It is impossible to stay 100 percent focused throughout tough matches. However, when you train yourself to focus, you will be able to sustain it for longer periods and regain it quickly after lapses.
The mental skill of focus keeps your head in the game and helps you battle for each point. It’s only when you are locked in on competing for points that you can win points, take sets, and beat elite players.
At the 2026 United Cup, former World No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas finished with a 3-0 singles record, including a win against Taylor Fritz. The 6-4, 7-5 victory over Fritz was Tsitsipas’ first Top 10 victory in more than 18 months.
After the tournament, Tsitsipas reflected on the positives and his ability to stay calm and focused throughout the match.
TSITSIPAS:
“I feel like you really get tested in the most brutal and intense ways against players that have been very consistent in the past couple of months. I couldn’t allow myself to disconnect at any given moment during the match [against Fritz]… My focus levels were there. I was trying to read play, trying to read the court and see what patterns he might start building up and liking a little bit more. I tried to stay away from those and played my game. Very offensive tennis. I dominated from the baseline at times. I felt like I was pretty solid in those rally exchanges. I’m very glad about my performance. It is one of those wins that adds to my confidence.”
The most demanding competitions test more than physical skill. They test your ability to stay in the match mentally. Tough matches challenge your focus, your ability to focus over long stretches, and your ability to re-focus after a brief lapse.
When you lock in against elite competition, you are better able to manage your emotions, find solutions, adapt your game if necessary, and play focused tennis under pressure.
Winning tennis is playing focused tennis.
3 Tips for Playing Focused Tennis Against Elite Competition
1. Practice Sustaining Your Focus
After training sessions, grade your level of focus on a simple scale (for example, 1–10). Be honest. Each practice, aim to beat your previous grade—not by being perfect, but by staying engaged longer. This trains your mind to hold focus during long rallies and pressure moments against elite competition.
2. Learn How to Refocus
Awareness is the key to refocusing. Losing focus is normal, but staying unfocused is costly. When you notice your mind drifting—toward a bad call, an error, or the score—use a cue word or phrase such as “This point” or “Refocus” to anchor yourself back into the present moment.
3. Play Your Game
Instead of focusing on your opponent’s ranking, power, or reputation, commit to your strengths and match strategy. Confidence grows when you trust your game plan and compete on your terms. Playing focused tennis means investing your attention where it belongs—your patterns, intentions, and effort.
FAQ – Playing Focused Tennis Against Elite Competition
Q: Why do I lose focus more often against elite opponents?
A: Elite players apply constant pressure, which increases emotional intensity. This pressure exposes mental habits. Training focus helps you stay engaged longer and recover faster when your attention slips.
Q: Is it realistic to stay focused for an entire match?
A: No. Even the best players experience lapses. The goal is not perfect focus but quicker refocusing. The faster you reset, the less impact a lapse has on your performance.
Q: How can I refocus during a match without overthinking?
A: Use simple cue words or routines between points. Keeping it short and repeatable prevents over analysis and brings your attention back to the present.
Q: Does playing focused tennis really affect confidence?
A: Yes. Focus and confidence reinforce each other. When you stay locked into each point, you feel more in control, which naturally boosts confidence—regardless of the score.
Related Tennis Psychology Articles
- Tennis Podcast: Take Your Practice Game to Competition
- 4 Mental Keys to Closing Out a Tennis Match
- Tennis Podcast: Taking Practice Strokes to Competition
- Download our a FREE Tennis Psychology Report
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Tennis Confidence: Mental Toughness CD and Workbook Program
“Tennis Confidence 2.0” audio and workbook program teaches you how to overcome a lack of focus, low self-confidence and other mental game obstacles you experience when you play in tournaments. Learn practical mental game strategies to help you take your practice game to matches and use all your strokes.
“So far the program has been going really well! My son is doing the workbook and listening to the audio part and has been enjoying it! He has played better the past couple of weeks and he said the program is helping him focus and not get quite so frustrated.”
~Tara Mariano, Sports Parent
Dr. Patrick Cohn is a tennis psychology expert with Peak Performance Sportss, LLC. Learn cutting edge mental strategies based on 35+ years of experience in mental performance coaching with professional to junior competitive tennis players. He is the author of The Mental Edge for Tennis 2.0 audio and workbook program.