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Last week I was playing a tournament, and I got all the way to the semis . During my match though, I had a huge breakdown. I lost a tight first set 7-5. I then started to rally hard and got up to 5-3 and had 4 set points for the second set.
On the first set point, he hit a winner. On the next one, we had a long rally and I had the whole open court on my forehand but dumped the net. On the next two set points I hit basic errors and I couldn't get it out of my head.
I went on to lose the set and match 7-5 7-5. I couldn't do anything. That missed set point just kept coming back to me. Every important point I just hit an error. Usually at 5-5, I become more intense and just never miss. This time at 5-5, I was still thinking about that set point and I just couldn't function. It was the worst I have played all year and I just gave him the match. How do I improve this?
leftys_rock
It was just that one point that you dumped the forehand into the net that got in your head right? If it is, just remind yourself, "I have another set point, just convert it." Also, just don't think "set point, OMG, set point!" Just think of it as another point that you will want to win. And also, if in future matches, you let 5-3 get to 5-all, just remind yourself, you are never out of a match until it is over. So just keep fighting and good luck! I used to be a mental headcase on court, but I am pretty good at coming from behind in matches now.
J-man
One trick I know is this. If your up 5-3 reverse the score in your head that it's 3-5 instead of 5-3 that why you don't chocke
dav6789
leftys_rock wrote:
It was just that one point that you dumped the forehand into the net that got in your head right? If it is, just remind yourself, "I have another set point, just convert it." Also, just don't think "set point, OMG, set point!" Just think of it as another point that you will want to win. And also, if in future matches, you let 5-3 get to 5-all, just remind yourself, you are never out of a match until it is over. So just keep fighting and good luck! I used to be a mental headcase on court, but I am pretty good at coming from behind in matches now.
I haven't really had this problem before, it was just last week. I started to panic a bit when it went to 5-4, that I wouldn't get another opportunity to win the set. When it got to 5-5, I felt pressured to win the games. This hasen't happened to me before, I'm usually very cool mentally on court.
I don't think I choked J-man, I just started to panic.
J-man
Well same applys. Just mentally reverse the score and think "oh shot I'm down a break".
leftys_rock
dav6789 wrote:
leftys_rock wrote:
It was just that one point that you dumped the forehand into the net that got in your head right? If it is, just remind yourself, "I have another set point, just convert it." Also, just don't think "set point, OMG, set point!" Just think of it as another point that you will want to win. And also, if in future matches, you let 5-3 get to 5-all, just remind yourself, you are never out of a match until it is over. So just keep fighting and good luck! I used to be a mental headcase on court, but I am pretty good at coming from behind in matches now.
I haven't really had this problem before, it was just last week. I started to panic a bit when it went to 5-4, that I wouldn't get another opportunity to win the set. When it got to 5-5, I felt pressured to win the games. This hasen't happened to me before, I'm usually very cool mentally on court.
I don't think I choked J-man, I just started to panic.
Don't think that you won't have another opportunity to win the set. Just stay positive, and if you miss your chance, just work hard to get another one. It's difficult mentally if you miss chances, but it happens, so you just work your way to another chance. Unless you're a strategizer on court, just kind of blank out when the point starts and just think about getting the ball in.
x.doublea
Well, Dave, I'm sorry that happened to you. However, I think it could be a learning experience for you. I think you sort of said "How could I have missed that?" and sort of became nervous that the opponent would come back. Really, I think that was sort of a 'at the moment' sort of thing, and really, I think the only way you could have prevented it was to just forget the point and move on. I think thinking if it is 3-5 instead of 5-3 is not good, because you can become a bit nervous and just start pushing shots into the court. I think at these moments, you have to embrace the 'Oh well...' attitude (well, sort of).
dav6789
x.doublea wrote:
Well, Dave, I'm sorry that happened to you. However, I think it could be a learning experience for you. I think you sort of said "How could I have missed that?" and sort of became nervous that the opponent would come back. Really, I think that was sort of a 'at the moment' sort of thing, and really, I think the only way you could have prevented it was to just forget the point and move on. I think thinking if it is 3-5 instead of 5-3 is not good, because you can become a bit nervous and just start pushing shots into the court. I think at these moments, you have to embrace the 'Oh well...' attitude (well, sort of).
Yes I kept getting nervous that I would miss this opportunity and lose the match. Usually I am cool on court and just play 1 point at a time. This time, I was shaky and I just couldn't play. I was so angry after the match I just couldn't believe that happened. I think I will have to pace myself better next time.
x.doublea
I know this sounds a bit funny, but, sometimes, channeling your disappointment at the right moments on something like a racquet can actually make you feel better. Although, of course, it's not good to do that, but doing something to get rid of your emotions might actually work. For example, once, I played a kid who cheated as hell, but ounce I framed an overhead and sent it flying to the back, I whipped my racquet down to the ground, which I normally don't do. It actually helped me refocus and win the match. That shot could have easily made me lose it. Not suggesting that you throw your racquet, but doing something like that can help....
dav6789
x.doublea wrote:
I know this sounds a bit funny, but, sometimes, channeling your disappointment at the right moments on something like a racquet can actually make you feel better. Although, of course, it's not good to do that, but doing something to get rid of your emotions might actually work. For example, once, I played a kid who cheated as hell, but ounce I framed an overhead and sent it flying to the back, I whipped my racquet down to the ground, which I normally don't do. It actually helped me refocus and win the match. That shot could have easily made me lose it. Not suggesting that you throw your racquet, but doing something like that can help....
Yeah that's a good idea. I sometimes smack the balls to the other side of the court or into the fence when I have finished my serve game. I sometimes throw my racquet right into the net. Or I somtimes throw my drink bottle
leftys_rock
dav6789 wrote:
x.doublea wrote:
I know this sounds a bit funny, but, sometimes, channeling your disappointment at the right moments on something like a racquet can actually make you feel better. Although, of course, it's not good to do that, but doing something to get rid of your emotions might actually work. For example, once, I played a kid who cheated as hell, but ounce I framed an overhead and sent it flying to the back, I whipped my racquet down to the ground, which I normally don't do. It actually helped me refocus and win the match. That shot could have easily made me lose it. Not suggesting that you throw your racquet, but doing something like that can help....
Yeah that's a good idea. I sometimes smack the balls to the other side of the court or into the fence when I have finished my serve game. I sometimes throw my racquet right into the net. Or I somtimes throw my drink bottle
Or, take a page out of Mauresmo's book from the Wimbledon semi; give a loud scream to get it out of your system.
x.doublea
I personally don't like to scream on a court. Like, when professionals scream, it's fine, because the crowd sort of covers it up. If you scream at a club, you sort of look (and sound) really silly.
dav6789
LOL I don't like to scream or draw attention to myself, but I sometimes end up shouting out loud.
x.doublea
I almost never shout, but sometimes I start complaining to myself in Cantonese.
leftys_rock
If I botch a point or something, I have a tendency to talk to myself to get focused. And usually, between points, I walk to the fence to get a ball and do small fist pumps to myself to just keep my spirits up. And usually, even if i'm kind of tired, I do some jumps on the baseline to look like I have a lot of energy, to make them think that I am full of energy and i'm ready to take this to a tiebreaker, third set, etc. But my most important thing after I lose a big point, I think that it is not over until it is over.
x.doublea
Me too, I never give up on a match. Often, I get myself into a hole during matches, so I can't afford to tank.
dav6789
I used to hate being down in a match and I sometimes just gave up. Now, I actually quite like being down in a match, it really gets me going. Obviously I prefer to get a good start though.
x.doublea
I would love to, but often, I only really get going three-four games into the first set. I can't really afford to always climb back from 0-4 down....
leftys_rock
It's kind of odd, I always get a slow start in a match, i'm usually down 0-3 before my shots get going and I win in a tiebreaker or something.
. During my match though, I had a huge breakdown. I lost a tight first set 7-5. I then started to rally hard and got up to 5-3 and had 4 set points for the second set.
