Strategies to Push Through Fatigue in Matches
Drained… Exhausted… Beat… Worn out… Gassed… Extremely tired…
Do any of these words describe a match you recently played?
How did you handle playing with fatigue?
Were you able to dig deep and find a way to keep competing for every point or did you succumb to the tired feelings and slowly watch your game slip away?
There is no doubt that tight matches, long matches, several matches with minimal rest or grueling matches can be quite exhausting.
Feeling exhausted is as much mental as it is physical.
When playing in long, competitive matches, your inner voice can be your toughest opponent, “I’m too tired. My arms are heavy. My heart feels like it is going to jump out of my chest. I just want this to be over.”
These negative reminders add to that sense of fatigue you feel.
That negative chatter becomes quite convincing to the point where the only thing you can focus on is the fatigue you are experiencing.
When you are fatigued, the answer is not trying to convince yourself that you are not fatigued…
The key is to convince yourself that you can play at a high level despite being tired.
When it comes to grueling matches and fatigue, there are several realities:
- Both players are experiencing similar circumstances. Each player will be experiencing some degree of fatigue.
- You can still play well tired. You may not have your “A” game but you can always give “A” game effort.
- Someone is going to win and that winner will be the one who focuses on competing rather than fatiguing.
Even though you just want to hit the shower and head home, wouldn’t it be more rewarding to hit the shower as the victor than the one who crumbled?
Tennis player Kiki Bertens refused to allow fatigue to detract from her game at the 2018 Western & Southern Open.
Bertens overcame fatigue and top-ranked opponent Simona Halep 2-6, 7-6, 6-2 to win her first career title.
Bertens was one point away from losing during the second set but she rallied to win the tiebreak and pull off the biggest win in her career.
While talking to her coach Raemon Sluiter, Bertens caught herself thinking about the fatigue she was feeling, then refocused her attention on competing.
BERTENS: “I think it was such a tough match, and after winning that second set I knew anything is still possible. Just keep on going. And then I had a chat with Raemon at 2-1 and I was, like, I’m dead. He’s, like, looking at me. Then I said to myself, No, I can do this. Let’s go for it.”
In her post-match interview, Bertens revealed how she was able to get past the fatigue factor and regain her focus with the help of her coach.
BERTENS: “Raemon also just said, That’s why you put all that hard work in. I was, like, Yeah, I know this feeling. I had this feeling before in the practices. So I know that I can keep on going. It’s for a title, so of course you can always give a little extra and just go for it. And that’s what I did.”
Pushing past the exhaustion and keeping her mind focused on the goal of winning rather that of just being “done” was the key in helping Bertens pull out an amazing victory.
Pushing Through Fatigue:
Challenge yourself in your training sessions. Make those sessions have a purpose. Train harder than you compete. Be ready to stay in long point and long games.
When you’ve battled through fatigue in practice, you’ll be ready to battle hard in those same conditions during matches.
When you think you can’t go another point or game, remind yourself of Mahut and Isner match in the 2010 Wimbledon with a final set of 68-70!
For more strategies on building mental toughness in tennis, check out our audio and workbook program, “Tennis Confidence”:
FAQ: Fatigue in Tennis Matches
Is fatigue during a tennis match mostly physical or mental?
Both, but the mental side matters more than most players realize. Negative self-talk like telling yourself you are too tired or cannot keep going intensifies how exhausted you actually feel.
Is my opponent as tired as I am?
In most long or grueling matches, yes. Both players are experiencing some degree of fatigue, so it is not a disadvantage unique to you. It is a shared condition, and you can manage it better than your opponent does.
Can I still play well even when I’m exhausted?
Yes. You may not have your best game available when fatigued, but you can still bring your best effort, meaning full commitment and focus, even if your physical execution is not at its peak.
What should I tell myself when I feel too tired to compete?
Replace the negative chatter with an effort-focused reminder that you can still compete hard point to point, regardless of how your body feels.
Related Tennis Psychology Articles:
- How To Overcome Fatigue And Finish Strong
- How to Play to Win in Tennis
- Coping with Tough Conditions in Tennis
- Download our a FREE Tennis Psychology Report
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