Nervous before the match?

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 doesn’t take over. From my own experience, I don’t usually feel too nervous before competing, but even then, I can notice it in my shots. For example, my ball toss on serve might not be as accurate as it should be, which immediately makes my serve worse. When I feel this, the first step is to admit it and accept that it’s happening, and then I look for a solution. Tip number one: keep your feet moving—this always helps me because I focus on movement and not on the nerves. Second: keep your game simple—play crosscourt instead of down the line, aim for bigger targets, and avoid risky shots like drop shots until you feel more relaxed. Third: control your breathing and use a simple routine between points to reset, slow your mind down, and bring your focus back to the present moment.

Tip #1: Keep your feet moving

Focus on your footwork; shift your mind away from the nerves and onto something you can control.

Tip #2: Keep your game simple

Aim for bigger targets instead of the lines.

Tip #3: Focus on your breathing and routine

Slow your breathing down between points. Take a deep breath, exhale, and reset.