Mastering the Moment

Throughout a tennis match, a player has to manage his or her mental and physical “state”. Tennis players constantly have to battle their mental state that may at times steer them off course and take them out of the moment at hand, forcing them to worry about results or things outside of their control. As a match becomes tighter, the ability to stay truly present in the moment can become harder and harder. A lot of times, tennis players, including myself, can see the finish line, yet there is a lot of tennis to be played before walking up to the net to shake your opponent’s hand. In situations where players have critical break point chances, are serving for the set or match, or are deep in a third set, players can begin to lose perspective of the moment at hand and be overcome by emotions, doubt, and outcomes.

In these bigger moments when the stakes are high and the match is close, I love that there is no one else you can turn to in order to take the shot or control your mental and physical state. Tennis is a sport in which you are truly alone and must deal with this intricate balance between your internal and external focus. In a lot of sports, a coach can call a timeout inside the two-minute warning or with 30 seconds left to draw up a key play that might win the game or match. Yet, in tennis, at least outside of college tennis, there is no coach to turn to other than you.

In these bigger moments, the keys to success lie in realizing that we are human and that we may have both doubts and thoughts that are outcome-oriented. Thoughts that are outcome-oriented are too focused on the outcome of the match (winning) and the implications of the match (advancing in the tournament or going home empty handed). What players need to do is ACCEPT that these thoughts are simply just thoughts and are entirely in one’s control. Therefore players can either let these thoughts go or give power to them. As soon as a player begins to let these negative thoughts overcome his or her mental state, they will face an internal mental struggle that has a trickle down effect thereby negatively impacting your shot-selection and physical ability on court.

Instead of internalizing everything in the bigger moments, a very subtle adjustment is needed. Tennis players including myself will always have thoughts or doubts that may creep in, but we need to acknowledge that they are okay, but also manage them instead of falsely believing we can fully get rid of them. As a match gets tighter, I know that I can begin to be more internally aware of the situation and moment at hand, which is not the right mindset. Instead, shifting the focus from internal to external in these bigger moments is the key to success. Proactively shifting one’s focus to anything outside of yourself, such as picking a spot on the fence, a tree outside, feeling one’s strings or grip, or your feet on the ground can all be effective ways to stay present in the moment. In other words, players need to “dumb themselves down” in these bigger moments. A lot of times, players including myself, always reflect on the pressure, doubt, and feelings that we have, yet forget that there is a player directly across from us who is battling very similar thoughts.

There will be numerous points in a match where the momentum shifts between yourself and your opponent, but the player who is able to stay present and master the big moments will be the one who comes out on top. I know that I personally have had numerous instances where I get close to the finish line and start thinking about the importance of the match and the outcome. One such instance was my most recent tournament…

It is the Quarterfinals: the score is 6-5 in the second set, I just got a decisive break to take the lead and am right where I want to be. I am serving to force a third set against the #1 seed, a formerly ranked ATP pro. As we change sides and I am walking up to the line to serve at 6-5, I can feel myself shifting away from being “in the pocket” with a process-oriented mindset and reverting back to outcome-oriented thoughts. As my mental state begins to shift, I can feel my body getting a bit tight, my feet begin to feel heavy and my rhythm is out of sync.

In these moments, it is impossible to get rid of all your thoughts and not think about results. What is possible is recognizing your thoughts are simply just thoughts and that you have to manage them. In turn, you should focus on what is most productive in the moment. Instead of allowing yourself to get caught up in your mental state and worrying about the result, you need to proactively shift your focus to anything outside of yourself instead of internalizing everything.

Instead of trying to “do more” in the bigger moments – whether that is hitting bigger, going for lines, or trying to change your strategy – it is important to remember what got you to that break point or lead late in a set or match. A lot of players, including myself, will try to change tactics and complicate their game plan, when they just need to keep doing exactly what they did to get them to that point. An acronym that encompasses this perfectly is: KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid. In these big moments, I know that I have had numerous matches where I have tried to “paint lines” or slap a winner early in a rally, when instead I should have stuck to my original game-plan, which was hitting high and heavy cross-court then waiting for a short sitter to attack.

Ultimately, tennis is a sport in which players are forced to not only be in top physical shape, but also to master their mental state day in and day out. Everyone will have instances where their timing is off, they feel sluggish, or they are just having a bad day. However, what differentiates good players from great players is that great players find a way to master their state and win even when something is off or not going their way. Tennis requires mental tenacity, perseverance, dedication, and an ability to constantly come back to the present moment even after a badly missed shot or lost opportunity.

In these bigger moments, a lot of people can let the opportunity at hand get the best of them. Though it does not always guarantee a successful outcome, I believe that focusing more on things outside of my head and staying “in the pocket” usually gives me a better chance of winning.

I want to end this week with a quote that I think encompasses what it means to master the moment. Billie Jean King, one of the greatest female tennis players of all time, said, “pressure is a privilege – it is what you do with it that matters.” She is spot on in that tennis players live to be in these moments when the stakes are high and the pressure is on. The great players rise to the occasion and do not let the pressure inhibit their state and game plan. Rather, they step up and execute when they need to. 

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