| It's always difficult to play tennis opponents which are | | | | defeated simply because they are the favorite. |
| ranked higher than you. Of course, you'll feel excited | | | | Control Your Nerves |
| and nervous and it's easy to allow your fear to | | | | If you're playing a higher ranked opponent, you need to |
| overcome you. However, there are certain key mental | | | | realize one thing: they are accustomed to playing the |
| points that you can use in order to overcome this fear | | | | less favored players. They understand that you're |
| rather than succumbing to it. Here are those mental | | | | going to be nervous and they have most likely learned |
| points and how to utilize them to play strategically | | | | how to take advantage of those nerves. Rather than |
| against a higher ranked opponent. | | | | playing as if you have no chance in winning, play like |
| Realize Who the Pressure Is On | | | | you are playing any other opponent. It's easy to allow |
| Hey, when you go out there to play this great | | | | your nerves to make you feel like you have to make |
| opponent, you need to realize one thing. Although it | | | | serious super hits every single time. Instead, play |
| might feel like all the pressure is on you, it's not. The | | | | normally and only make those super hits when you are |
| pressure is on your opponent because people expect | | | | absolutely sure that they will be successful. |
| him or her to beat you. Your opponent knows this as | | | | Don't Show Your Fear |
| well. He understands that he's the one in the spotlight | | | | Because your opponent is accustomed to taking |
| and that they are the ones with everything to lose. | | | | advantage of nerves, you should definitely not show |
| You, on the other hand, have nothing to lose and | | | | the fact that you're nervous. There are ways to do |
| everything to gain by playing strategically and realizing | | | | this, and one of them is to minimize the eye contact |
| who the pressure is really on. | | | | between you and your opponent. Not looking at them |
| You're Not Playing the Player | | | | will reduce the realization that they are ranked higher |
| You're playing their reputation. In fact, you might be just | | | | and will help you hide the fact that you're nervous from |
| as great as they are in different areas. However, | | | | them. This will give you an upper hand in the game. In |
| because they are ranked higher than you and are | | | | fact, if you appear to be as calm as you can be, your |
| more popular, they're favored while you are not. So, | | | | opponent might start wondering why you're not |
| use this to your advantage. Realize that they're simply | | | | nervous. If you're lucky, in turn this will make your |
| a player just like you are. They also make mistakes | | | | opponent get a good case of the nerves. This will also |
| just like you do. Remember that you're not already | | | | give you the upper hand in the game. |