Do You Put Too Much Pressure on Yourself? I love the psychology of tennis during big tournaments. The momentum shifts of a final match, such as Federer and Nadal in the 2009 Australian Open, are so fun to watch. Most tennis fans see the shots and strategy, but
Tomas Berdych defeated Juan Martin Del Potro 6-1, 6-4 to win the Japan Open and capture his first title this year. Berdych had a tough road to the final, with surprising wins over Andy Roddick and Fernando Gonzalez. After the tennis match, Berdych discussed the importance for focus
How well do you focus when feeling under pressure from tennis tournaments or matches? Does your focus wander or do you worry about results of the match such as what if… “I choke the lead away and embarrass myself?” In my work as a tennis psychology expert, many
Many tennis players who are perfectionistic about their approach to tennis choke under tournament pressure. Perfectionism can hold them back from reaching their potential because they become tight, anxious, and over-control their performance. Don’t get me wrong. There are some advantages of perfectionism such as having a strong
Traditionally, mental imagery has been used by athletes to mentally practice motor skills outside of regular practice. It can also enhance your ability to perform motor skills in competition by improving focus; helping you make plans and develop strategies; and programming your body to execute tennis shots. Mental
Often, we hear from parents who worry about young athletes who are hard on themselves, become easily frustrated, and take disappointment home with them. You’re likely familiar with these types of athletes. They’re perfectionists or athletes who display perfectionistic behaviors. Perfectionistic athletes criticize themselves for making mistakes, often