| Tennis is one of the most physically demanding games | | | | may stop the aggressive game play that gave them |
| that there are. Not only does it demand speed, stamina | | | | the upper hand and this can cause trouble. |
| and strength, but it's especially very mentally | | | | Building that Strong Foundation |
| demanding. In order to be a very successful player, | | | | In order to stop this fear from creating these problems, |
| you need to have a very strong mental foundation. | | | | you need to develop a very strong mental foundation |
| Without this, the fear that you experience can shut | | | | which will allow you to overcome that fear and play at |
| down your game play and result in a heartbreaking | | | | your best no matter what is happening. There is a key |
| loss. There are a few things that can happen as a | | | | for doing this, and that is to play in the moment. You |
| result of this fear, and there are ways to overcome | | | | have to avoid trying to play for the next moment, or |
| this. Here are a few examples of both. | | | | trying to plan ahead. You simply have to play for the |
| Causes of Fear | | | | exact moment that you are in, and to block out |
| Tennis is so exhilarating when you're winning and it can | | | | everything else. |
| be so devastating when you're losing. If you're playing | | | | This takes a lot of work, and in order to develop this |
| a great game and begin to mess up or get into a bit of | | | | skill, you play. That's it? Yes, that's it. Playing the game |
| trouble, fear can really cause you to panic and lose the | | | | and losing, experiencing heartbreaks and triumphs and |
| game. This is true even when you would have usually | | | | simply getting a great experience of the game as a |
| gotten away with it. The fear seems to take control | | | | whole gives you this mental strength which allows you |
| and render you unable to play the game as well as | | | | to play in the moment. You'll be at ease, and you won't |
| you normally would have. This is due to having a weak | | | | panic or feel the need to overplay in order to defend |
| mental foundation for playing the game. | | | | your lead. Even the very best pro players had to |
| Another way that the fear can take control of you is | | | | develop this foundation in order to compete at the |
| while you're ahead, and leading in the game. Why | | | | highest level. So, get as much practice as you can, and |
| would you fear that? Well, some people start to get | | | | try to experience different situations by training with |
| nervous when they are winning and they begin to | | | | differenet opponents. This way, you'll always be able |
| defend their lead. This will make them start to play | | | | to play for the moment, and you will always play at |
| cautiously and stop doing the things they were doing | | | | your best. |
| which brought them to the lead in the first place. They | | | | |