Demystifying Mental Toughness 071 Mastering the Mental Side of Tennis
We're in the height of the summer of sport here in the UK where Wimbledon is currently being played. For those that aren't familiar with Wimbledon I'm talking about a grand slam tournament in the sport of tennis. Accordingly, in this episode, I delve into the psychological side of tennis. It's a game that I follow closely, and it's a game in my mind, which is hugely psychological where matches ebb and flow and can be lost in the blink of an eye. My guest, is also a racquet sports specialist and well respected Sports Psychologist, James Lau.
In the episode, we unpick typical mental game challenges that tennis players face and how to best support players overcome these challenges. We also discuss the legends of tennis, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, the mental qualities that they bring to the table and what we can learn from them.
Key Learning Points:
- The relationship between your thoughts and how you behave on the tennis court is important if you want to channel your drive and motivation to be able to express yourself freely.
- Consider how you use your time between points to help you regain your composure.
- Do you have a simple and clear pre-shot routine before you serve or return?
- Djokovic has an inner confidence that he can get any serve back, when returning.
- Nadal is so consistent in the way he prepares and goes through his routines.
- Having a mindset to play your natural game is hugely helpful.
- Federer handles pressure amazingly, appears very calm and nothing changes.
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