Let the opponent win a battle so I can win the war

by Felipe Santos
(Piedade, Sao Paulo, BRASIL)

During a tennis tournament, I was playing for second or third time in official tournament, so I didn't have a good ranking, I was qualified as a beginner.

I was training with some other friends who have a good rank and I won some sets and a lost some others. I knew that I have a good level of play.

My opponent had a good rank and he saw that he had to play a beginner player, and I believe that he thought it will be en easy game.

So, during the first set the game was equal, both of us holding our serves and with some difficulty I won by 6-4.

In the second set I think I lost the focus and he became more consistent and he was wining by 4 games to 0.

What happened?

I though to myself that I could let him win the second set by 6-0 and then I will start the third set serving.

And that's what I did.

I lost the last two games playing the most aggressive and difficult strokes (trying winners, drop shots, etc) and relaxed my way to feeling better in the final set.

It looked like I abandoned the game, and I believe the he was thinking that too. My body image was bad, but my mind was already in the third set.

Final score: I won by 6-4, 0-6 and 6-0 !!!