How Do Tennis Players Stay Mentally Strong Under Pressure?
All tennis players—pros included—face moments of doubt, frustration, and adversity during matches. When players fixate on what’s going wrong, their game unravels. But by shifting to a solutions-oriented mindset, they stay composed, adapt their tactics, and focus on what they can control. Whether it’s taking a breath between points, simplifying their strategy, or building on what’s working, these actions help players compete with clarity and confidence. Mental toughness in tennis isn’t about avoiding mistakes—it’s about responding to them with purpose. Staying solutions-oriented is a skill, and it’s one that can be trained.
What does it mean to be “solutions-oriented” during a competitive tennis match?
Too often, players don’t stop thinking of what isn’t working or mistakes earlier in a match. They are over-focused on problems: “My first serve isn’t working,” “I keep hitting my backhand long,” or “Every time I rush the net, my opponent just lobs it over my head for an easy point.”
When you focus on problems, your body will tense up. You hit more unforced errors. You become easily frustrated. You feel emotionally drained and struggle to regain your momentum.
Conversely, finding solutions is a mindset centered around adapting, adjusting, and overcoming.
- Adapting means recognizing and responding to the specific circumstances unfolding in the match, whether it’s weather conditions, your opponent’s strategy, or your energy levels.
- Adjusting involves making smart, tactical changes to your original match strategy in order to shift momentum and take control of the match.
- Overcoming is putting the past points behind you, ignoring the scoreboard, and placing your complete focus and effort into winning the current point.
The “finding solutions” mindset is empowering. When you are focused on finding solutions during a match, you gain a sense of control over your game and remain confident in your ability to win points.
WTA player Laura Siegemund, 37, defeated six-seed Madison Keys 6-3, 6-3 at the 2025 Wimbledon tournament.
Siegemund, ranked 104th, had never made it past the second round of Wimbledon in previous attempts. In fact, in 28 previous Grand Slam appearances, Siegemund reached the third round only once in 2020.
The match was a contrast in styles: Siegemund’s spins and slices versus Keys’ power. In the end, Siegemund found the solution to Keys’ power game and hit 20 fewer unforced errors than Keys.
SIEGEMUND: “At times, it wasn’t the best quality, let’s say. But I managed, and in the end. It’s just important to find solutions, and I did that well. Kept my nerves in the end. There are always nerves. If you don’t have nerves in this moment, you’re probably dead.”
The “finding solutions” mindset during a tennis match is a skill that separates good players from great competitors. Instead of dwelling on what’s going wrong, shifting your mindset to problem-solving keeps you engaged, confident, and poised.
Success in tennis involves more than just talent. It often comes down to your ability to adapt, adjust, and overcome, even when the odds seem stacked against you.
4 Strategies for Focusing on Solutions During a Match
Tennis isn’t just about physical skill—it’s a mental battle from start to finish.
When the pressure rises or things start to go wrong, how you respond makes all the difference. The players who succeed are the ones who focus on finding solutions in tennis, not just reacting to problems.
Here are four key strategies to help you stay calm, think clearly, and compete with confidence.
1. Reset Between Points
One of the best habits you can build is taking a mental reset after each point. Win or lose, take a deep breath and release whatever just happened.
You can’t change the last point, but you can absolutely influence the next one. Use this time to calm your body and refocus your mind.
Ask yourself, “What’s my intention for this next point?” This keeps you from carrying frustration forward and helps you stay locked in on what matters most—the present moment.
2. Tweak Your Tactics
If your original game plan isn’t working, don’t get stuck trying to force it.
Great players make adjustments mid-match. If your opponent is reading your second serve, try adding more spin or changing your placement. If your forehand isn’t landing, play with more margin or use your backhand more often.
Finding solutions in tennis means being willing to adapt, not panicking when something isn’t clicking. You don’t need to change everything—just make one smart tweak at a time.
3. Simplify Your Game
When things get chaotic, simplify. Tennis can feel overwhelming when you’re overthinking every shot or trying to guess what your opponent will do next.
Instead of complicating your decisions, go back to your strengths. Hit your best serve. Use your go-to patterns. Stick to shots you trust. Simplicity builds rhythm and confidence. You don’t have to play perfect tennis—you just have to play your tennis.
The more you trust your game, the more effective you’ll be under pressure.
4. Ask Yourself, “What’s Working?”
It’s natural to notice what’s going wrong. But what if you trained your brain to look for what’s going right?
Maybe your footwork feels sharp. Maybe your returns are solid. Maybe your energy is high. Find something that’s working and build on it. This small shift in mindset helps you stay motivated and proactive. Instead of getting stuck in what’s broken, you’re reinforcing what’s helping.
That’s the heart of finding solutions in tennis—using what you’ve got to create momentum.
Solutions Win Matches
Matches don’t always go smoothly. You’ll face missed shots, tough opponents, and unexpected challenges. But how you respond is what sets you apart.
When you focus on finding solutions in tennis, you stay in control of your attitude and decisions. Reset between points, adjust your tactics, simplify your game, and recognize what’s working. These strategies aren’t just about improving your results—they’re about building a champion’s mindset.
Next time you step on the court, take these tools with you. Compete with purpose, adapt with confidence, and trust yourself. You’ve got this.
FAQ — Staying Solutions-Oriented in Tennis
Q1: What does it mean to be “solutions-oriented” during a tennis match?
A: Being solutions-oriented means focusing on what you can do to adjust, adapt, and move forward in the match—rather than dwelling on mistakes or what’s going wrong. It’s about staying mentally flexible and actively looking for ways to improve each point, even in pressure situations.
Q2: Why is it harmful to focus too much on mistakes during a match?
A: When you dwell on errors, your body tenses up, your confidence dips, and your focus drifts to the past. This leads to more unforced errors and emotional fatigue. Shifting to solutions keeps your mind in the present and your body in rhythm.
Q3: What’s a simple way to reset between points?
A: Take a deep breath, use a towel or bounce the ball, and say a calming cue word like “reset” or “next point.” This quick routine helps you release frustration and refocus before each point.
Q4: How can I adjust my tactics without overcomplicating my game?
A: Look for small, intentional changes—like moving your return position, using more topspin, or aiming for higher-percentage targets. Keep the adjustments simple and centered on your strengths.
Q5: What if I’m not sure what’s working during the match?
A: Start by asking yourself: “What’s felt solid today?” It could be your footwork, your second serve placement, or how you’ve handled certain rallies. Identifying even one strength can help you regain confidence and shift momentum.
Q6: Is the “solutions mindset” something I can train?
A: Yes! Like any skill, being solutions-oriented takes intentional practice. Start by reflecting after matches, rehearsing reset routines in practice, and building awareness of your mental patterns. Over time, your response to adversity will become more automatic and effective.
Related Tennis Psychology Articles
- How to Overcome Fears During Tennis Matches
- The Mindset of Top Tennis Players – Coco Gauff
- Playing Under Tough Conditions
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Mental Coaching Programs for Tennis Players
Mental game coaching can help athletes develop mental toughness to improve their skills and overcome mental barriers, such as confidence, concentration (focus) or lack of composure. To become mentally tough, you need to learn how to replace unhealthy attitudes and beliefs and replace them with healthy ones in order to achieve your peak performance.
The goal of mental game coaching is to teach athletes to be more confident, improve their focus, stay composed under pressure, practice more efficiently and develop better service and pregame routines.
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.