Mental Resilience in Tennis

By: R. Thomas

​Tennis is considered to be one of the most tactical and mentally demanding sports. Along with its need for speed, agility and endurance, its tactical, mental, and strategic side makes it a perfect blend between both physical and mental power, as both play a crucial part in a player's performance.  
Tennis involves a great deal of endurance in matches that can last over multiple hours. Running back and forth, swinging the racket left and right and sliding along the vivid red courts, takes a great deal of strength and ability. Skills like having a strong serve, an overwhelming smash, lethal volleys, and of course, the basic forehand and backhand, are all attributes which compose a great player physically; however, strength alone is not near enough what is needed to succeed in the sport... 
 
The mental part of the sport is vital for a title or even recognition in tennis. Concentration, controlling nerves, mental pressure, and strategies all play a part in a single match. In addition to competing against your opponent, you are competing against your own mistakes as well. Unlike other sports, what decides whether you are successful in this area is essentially how many mistakes you make; thus, concentration is crucial. Along with controlling your thoughts and nerves, the raging crowd, which might not be cheering for you, are very nerve-racking. Over several years, professional players, coaches and even health advisers have come up with several strategies to help control the mind. Here are a few of the most important and successful tips: 
1.     Slow down - take a breath between points.  
2.     Learn how to control your breathing. 
3.     Have fun - games are meant to be fun.  
4.     Mindfulness practices before important matches and training.
 
In conclusion, tennis is a very demanding sport and requires high abilities. Its challenging composition of physical and mental strength is normally what drives it to be such a competitive sport. At the end of the day, the best players are those who can seamlessly balance training both the body and the mind and use this as an advantage on the court. Finally, some wise words to consider whether you are soon going into a new match, or thinking about joining the sport are: "I don't focus on what I am up against. I focus on my goals and try to ignore the rest"- Venus Williams.