You just started your match… and somehow you’re already down 0–3. How did that happen so fast? I’m sure this has happened to you before. It’s happened to me too, more than once. So how do you stop it? Most of the time, it comes down to nerves. And when we’re nervous, we rush. We speed everything up—our feet, our swing, our decisions. The key is simple: slow down. At the beginning of a match, you’re still warming up and feeling out your opponent. There’s no need for low-percen

We all get nervous sometimes before a match or even before practice. It’s completely normal, and it’s okay as long as you know how to deal with it so it doesn’t affect your game too much. In this post, I’ll share a couple of simple tips to help you reduce your nervousness and stay in control. I can tell you that everyone feels it sometimes—even professional players—and you can often see how it affects their game. The best players, however, know how to manage it quickly so it

The changeover between games in tennis lasts 90 seconds, and it occurs after every odd-numbered game: 1, 3, 5, and so on. The break between sets, on the other hand, lasts 2 minutes. While 90 seconds may seem short, it’s actually plenty of time. Most recreational players use it just to grab some water or have a quick snack, but this break can be much more than that. During those 90 seconds, regardless of whether you’re winning or losing, take a moment to summarize what’s worki

When we’re losing, we rush. We rush to finish points. We rush between points. We rush to the baseline just to serve and get it over with. The score starts slipping away, and before you know it, it’s 0–4, and the match feels like it’s flying by. That is exactly when you need to do the opposite. When nothing is working, and games are going quickly, you have to interrupt the momentum. Walk to the fence. Take a deep breath. Look at your strings. Create a small pause between what

We all know that feeling. You hit a double fault… and suddenly your serve no longer feels reliable. You get tight. You start doubting. You stop trusting your motion. And then what happens? You start changing things. Adjusting the toss.Slowing the swing.Guiding the ball instead of swinging freely. But here’s the truth: Mid-match technical changes usually make it worse. They mess up your timing, your rhythm, and your confidence. Instead, after a double fault, focus on this: Pau