How Your Mentality Makes You a Winning Tennis Player

If you are a tennis player, are you one who merely plays with your physical ability or are you one who combines intelligent play with physical play? If you have a good stroke and possess a lot of speed, endurance and power, that is good; however, it is not enough by itself to bring you a lot of victories. In order to succeed in this game, you must use your mind the right way in addition to having a good stroke and making good shots. You will learn the mental side of tennis.

Tennis is a sport that requires a lot of thinking. It really is a thinking person's game. Using strategy is key to winning a lot of matches. You must be familiar with your opponent's weaknesses and try to figure out how to outsmart him with each play. Keep him guessing what you will do on your next move. It helps to hit the ball to different spots on the court, change speeds, hit different shots, etc. Using your head during each minute of all of your matches will take you a long way.

Having the right attitude is essential. Avoid staying frustrated when a play does not go your way, as this can hinder your concentration. You must also believe in yourself. You must believe that you can beat your opponent and you should not be intimidated by playing her.

Have a killer mentality. It is important to continue attacking your opponent's soft spots and not have sympathy for him. You must also avoid letting a big tournament overwhelm you. In his quarterfinal match during the 2010 Australian Open, Nikolay Davydenko won his first set against Roger Federer six games to zero. He lost the next three sets and admitted that he could not see himself as being a grand slam champion. After winning the first set, he should have maintained his mental edge and held the belief that he could win his first grand slam title.

Finally, it is vital to take risks, especially if you are ahead. If you are leading in a game or set, you should give your opponent hard serves and go for "winner" shots.