Learn to be Mentally Tough to Beat Top Seeds
Have you ever faced an opponent with an impressive win-loss record or a player that was decorated with awards and accolades or a player who topped the rankings for an extensive period of time?
What was your mindset playing against that type of player? Were you in awe of their accomplishments? Were you still able to focus on your game or were you overwhelmed by competing against a player who is highly accomplished?
Sometimes when a tennis player competes against another player who had a very successful career, it can feel as if you are playing against two opponents, the player you are facing and their accomplishments.
It is easy to fall into the trap of focusing on what your opponent has accomplished instead of what you bring to the game. Focusing on your opponent’s accomplishments can leave you feeling intimidated.
In matches such as these, tennis players have the mindset of hanging in as long as possible. Instead of going on the offense, these tennis players are hoping they don’t suffer the huge embarrassment due to a blowout.
Not only does 25-year-old Dominic Thiem know what it is like to play against elite, accomplished opponents, he understands the key to success is to be focused solely on his game.
Thiem earned the No. 5 ranking after beating tennis legend Roger Federer, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, in the 2019 Indian Wells Masters in March.
Thiem followed up that performance by beating another legend, Rafael Nadal in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, in their semifinal matchup at the 2019 Barcelona Open, an event that Thiem went on to win against Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-0.
Prior to Thiem facing Nadal, Nadal had a record of 46-1 and won the event 11 times in his career.
Thiem talked about the potential difficulty facing the tennis elite such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
THIEM: “It’s tough against Roger, Rafa, Novak, and some other guys, because you have to beat not only the player but somehow also the great aura they all have, all these titles they have won. So you have to play somehow double good to beat them.”
Thiem overcame the mystique of playing against those highly-decorated players by having a better mental game. After beating Federer, Thiem credited his mental game, more specifically his ability to focus on his game and stay positive, as the key to victory.
THIEM: “Mentally, it was a really good week, because I stayed focused in all the matches… I was staying positive most of the time, and that’s what I have to keep up now.”
Playing against top tennis players is challenging enough. It is important that you don’t add to the challenge by allowing yourself to be in awe, instead focus on your talents.
Playing Focused Tennis Against Top Opponents:
Instead of focusing on awards, ranking and accolades of your opponents, keep in mind your successes and strengths.
When you step on the court, you have to look at your opponent as another person who is fallible. Anything can happen in tennis when you don’t play in awe of your opponent.
What’s the most important information you need to know about your opponent: ranking or weaknesses? The only thing that’s relevant is your strategy against that opponent.
Learn Proven Tennis Mental Game Strategies To Perform Your Best On The Court!
Are you (or your players) performing up to your ability in competition?
Do you bring your best and most confident game to matches?
I often hear players complain about the following problems when they play in matches…
“I get so tight or tense before matches that I can’t think straight or have any rhythm in my game.”
“I get so frustrated with hitting bad shots or with errors and it snowballs.”
“I expect so much when I play that I unravel and lose confidence when the match does not go as planned.”
“My confidence seems to disappear when I go from practice to matches and I don’t know why.”
Successful tennis players have learned how to perform with ultimate confidence in tournaments.
If you are ready to improve your mental toughness and perform with ultimate self-confidence in matches, Tennis Confidence: Mental Toughness For Tournament Players can help you do this!
- Players: Learn how to take control of your confidence, focus your best, and win more close matches.
- Parents: Help boost your junior tennis player’s confidence for tournaments. Just load the program on your player’s IPod!
- Coaches: Boost your team’s confidence using simple, proven mental strategies.
- Instructors: Learn how to give your students the mental game advantage.
Use Tennis Confidence to help boost your mental toughness in tennis and discover powerful and proven mental game strategies that have helped professional athletes win!
Tennis Confidence: Mental Toughness For Tournament Players
What are mental game customers saying?
“Dr. Cohn did a great job working with my son Joe on his mental skills for tennis. He taught him the mental skills and discipline necessary to move to the next level.”
~Mike Withers, dad of Joe Withers
“Since you last worked with AJ in early September, his National ranking has improved from 349 to 148. His tournament record at one point, since talking with you was 17-4, with 3 of the 4 being in third sets or tiebreakers and 2 of those matches being the same player, whom he has since beaten (you may recall he was on an 0-9 losing streak when we contacted you). His tie-breaker record is at least 90% through last weekend when he won the 18s District tournament with a semi and final match tiebreak win. Your help has definitely improved AJ’s results and his on-court demeanor has substantially improved.”
~Dawn Woodman, A.J.’s Mother
Disclaimer
*Testimonials found on this site are examples of what we have done for other clients, and what some of our clients have said about us. However, we cannot guarantee the results in any case. Your results may vary and every situation is different. No compensation was provided for these testimonials.
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