Tennis Mind Game: How to Beat Higher Ranked Players
Matthias Mazur
It's always difficult to play tennis opponents which are
ranked higher than you. Of course, you'll feel excited and
nervous and it's easy to allow your fear to overcome you.
However, there are certain key mental points that you can
use in order to overcome this fear rather than succumbing
to it. Here are those mental points and how to utilize them
to play strategically against a higher ranked opponent.
Realize Who the Pressure Is On
Hey, when you go out there to play this great opponent,
you need to realize one thing. Although you might think that
all the pressure is on you, the fact is it's not. The pressure
is on your opponent because people expect him or her to beat
you. Your opponent knows this as well. He understands that
he's the one who has to 'make it happen' and that he's the
one who's got everything to lose. You, on the other hand,
have nothing to lose and everything to gain by playing strategically
and realizing who the pressure is really on.
You're Not Playing the Player
You're playing their reputation. In fact, you very well
might be just as strong as they are in different areas of
the game. However, because they have a better ranking than
you, they're favored while you are not. So, use this to your
advantage. Realize that they're simply a player just like
you are. They also make mistakes just like you do. Remember
that you're not already defeated simply because they are the
favorite.
Control Your Nerves
If you're playing a higher ranked opponent, you need to
realize one thing: they are used to playing lesser ranked
opponents. They understand that you're going to be nervous
and they have most likely learned how to take advantage of
those nerves. Rather than playing as if you were the weaker
player, just play like if you were playing against any other
opponent. It's easy to allow your nerves to make you feel
like you have to make serious super hits every single time.
Instead, play normally and only make those super hits when
you are absolutely sure that they will be successful.
Don't Show Your Fear
Because your opponent is accustomed to taking advantage
of nerves, you should definitely not show the fact that you're
nervous. There are ways to do this, and one of them is to
minimize the eye contact between you and your opponent. Not
looking at them will reduce the realization that they are
ranked higher and will help you hide the fact that you're
nervous from them. This will give you an upper hand in the
game. In fact, if you appear to be as calm as you can be,
your opponent might start wondering why you're not nervous.
If you're lucky, in turn this will make your opponent get
a good case of the nerves. This will also help you take control
of the game.
In the game of tennis, it's always difficult to play against
opponents who are ranked higher than you. Here are some important
tips you can use to play strategically against a higher ranked
opponent - and boost your winning chances.
Learn more underground mental tennis tips and secrets to
improve your game and boost your confidence on the tennis
court. Click here to become a better player and win the tennis
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