| It's always difficult to play tennis opponents which are | | | | Control Your Nerves |
| ranked higher than you. Of course, you'll feel excited | | | | If you're playing a higher ranked opponent, you need to |
| and nervous and it's easy to allow your fear to | | | | realize one thing: they are used to playing lesser |
| overcome you. However, there are certain key mental | | | | ranked opponents. They understand that you're going |
| points that you can use in order to overcome this fear | | | | to be nervous and they have most likely learned how |
| rather than succumbing to it. Here are those mental | | | | to take advantage of those nerves. Rather than |
| points and how to utilize them to play strategically | | | | playing as if you were the weaker player, just play like |
| against a higher ranked opponent. | | | | if you were playing against any other opponent. It's |
| Realize Who the Pressure Is On | | | | easy to allow your nerves to make you feel like you |
| Hey, when you go out there to play this great | | | | have to make serious super hits every single time. |
| opponent, you need to realize one thing. Although you | | | | Instead, play normally and only make those super hits |
| might think that all the pressure is on you, the fact is it's | | | | when you are absolutely sure that they will be |
| not. The pressure is on your opponent because people | | | | successful. |
| expect him or her to beat you. Your opponent is | | | | Don't Show Your Fear |
| aware of this as well. He understands that he's the | | | | Because your opponent is accustomed to taking |
| one who has to 'make it happen' and that he's the one | | | | advantage of nerves, you should definitely not show |
| who's got everything to lose. You, on the other hand, | | | | the fact that you're nervous. There are ways to do |
| have nothing to lose and everything to gain by playing | | | | this, and one of them is to minimize the eye contact |
| strategically and realizing 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 | | | | help you take control of the game. |
| defeated simply because they are the favorite. | | | | |