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Submitted by: Ken DeHart

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Imagine an hour glass, wide at the top and bottom with only room for a few grains of sand to come through the middle. When you are winning, you many have lots of possible thoughts that could cross your mind - like all the sand in the top of the hour glass. But you are focused and only one or two grains of sand will pass through the middle at a time. This is like having very few thoughts during your match and playing "in the zone". Your opponent who is losing is like the bottom of the hour glass - collecting all the grains of sand and getting frustrated. So many things - why am I losing, my shots don't work today, this is embarrassing and etc. At a crucial point in the match, usually 4-1 or 5-2, a strange thing happens. The player who has been losing and having all the "disconnecting" thoughts finally decides, "that is it, I am just going to go the the net, hit every ball up the middle, or slice every ball and etc." They suddenly quit worrying about losing and decide upon a point of strategy - right or wrong. The hour glass suddenly flips up-side-down. The player who had all the disconnecting thoughts now is on top and now is focused on only 1 thought, strategy or tactic. Suddenly, only a grain of sand or two passes through the middle and they begin to "enter the zone". The player who was on top now starts to think, "get this game and close it out, I will win the first set and get to lead off serving in the second set, I have never beaten this player, I can't wait to tell my coach how well I played and etc". Now as the hour glass flipped up-side-down, the player who had been on top is suddenly on the bottom with all the disconnecting thoughts having been turned loose - like the story of Pandora's Box. Now they are aware of the opponent gaining games and momentum in the set. It becomes very difficult to stop the player coming from behind who had faced losing and found courage. Having faced their fate and deciding to not give in, they now choose one basic plan. The momentum swing usually will continue until the catching up player gets even in the match. At that moment you will sense a quiet sigh of relief. This is now your moment to make your move - to turn the hour glass up-side-down again in your favor. This "hour glass" story happens in most every match and with club players to professionals. You must face the "monsters in your mind" many times to be able to recognize what is happening and how you can manage it. That, unfortunately is "experience" and you only get it by experiencing "it". Been there - done that and will probably do it some more..... Ken DeHart PTR & USPTA Master Professional USA High Performance Coach www.kendehart10s.com

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Submitted by: Tomaz

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Great example Ken, thanks! I remembered how I actually dealt with these situations: when I was 4:0 up, my belief of winning the set was much bigger than when the score was 1:0. At 4:0 I can almost see the finish line - winning the set. The danger is of course that you are looking at the finish line and not on the track. ;) Meaning, you forget to focus on the strategy and you focus on the outcome. You'll lose focus and start playing poorly. But if you can just ride on this energy - on this belief that you are so close to winning - then this works extremely well. I remember fighting even more, playing aggressively and not giving my opponent any chance. Instead of thinking "I don't want to lose from 4:0."... I was thinking:"You are NOT going to take this away from me!" Can you feel the power and resilience of such a thought? Imagine how you play after thinking this...

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Submitted by: Karem

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You guys are right! Great advice for Nicolas. I hope he reads your messages and does better. It is like Tomaz says, your mind can be your best friend or your worst enemy. I have played tennis all my life (I was top 50 in juniors-ITF ranking and played for a division 1 school in the US). I am glad I found this website. As a hobby, I write the monthly newsletter for my tennis club and I write articles every month and this website gives me great inspiration for my articles. Nicolas, just stay focus in the present...if you go to the future and think about the result you know you will shrink your arm and start TRYING too much to win and consequently you will not play your best. That happens a lot...it happened to me once at a COSAT final against an Argentinian girl many years ago: Victoria Beortegui. I was winning easy and when I was like 4-0 in the second set I started to think about the interview, my friends being happy for me, the trophy, the ranking, etc...all of a sudden it was 4-3...so I realized I had to just play and forget about the past or the future...just keep playing my game...I know it sounds easy but if you really focus on the present and you are able to quite your mind you can do it and you will play in the zone more often and really enjoy being there in the pressure moments...you have to enjoy the pressure, taste it and be happy when you are under pressure. A true champion plays its best when he is under pressure. Buena suerte Nicolas y practica silenciar tu mente y dar el 100%, and remember focus on things you can control...you cannot control the score so when you are 4-0 next time just stay in the present...if you are thinking about the score and the future, take your time...maybe have a towel on the back of the court and use it...move your strings, bounce the ball, do whatever it takes to get those thoughts out of your mind and be ready to play free on the next point. Suerte! Karem

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