* I am sharing this article I was asked to write for the ATP ‘Global Professional Tennis Coaches Association, the world's best tennis coaches on the ATP and WTA circuits, for their players.   Article © 2000 - 2035 Craig Townsend / Its Mind over Matter.  All Rights Reserved.

Coaches Article

Winning Through Pure Relentlessness - Even When Your Player is Not Playing Well

One of a player’s most powerful weapons on court is one that most do not fully utilize - their ability to win matches through pure resilience, mental stamina and relentlessness.

Resilience wins matches even when they’re not the best player on court that particular day. It also provides an extra hurdle for their opponents to worry about – as even if they work out how to deal with the player’s actual hitting style, they still have to deal with their relentless persistence that refuses to give in.

And when two players bring similar levels of physical fitness, confidence and talent to a match, this mental quality is often the absolute decider which separates two players.

This goes way beyond just being ‘determined’ to win – obviously every player already has truckloads of that. Instead, this means the player bringing a type of an unstoppable ‘bulldog’ mentality to the court, that can be sensed by their opponent and begins to steadily wear down their confidence, belief and mental stamina, as the match wears on.

It is a mindset which can eventually build a quiet reputation among the players in the locker room, which can lead to opponents feeling slightly intimidated long before they even walk onto court – and for a tennis player, that is pure gold (and probably worth an early break of serve for your player, while the opponent is dealing with their early nervousness).

Another analogy might be being the ‘Terminator’ on court, the unstoppable machine from the Hollywood movie – being a player who simply never stops until they succeed (and more importantly, being perceived that way by their opponent – who begin to wonder what it takes to get their opponent to question themselves).

The resilient player is machine-like in their efficiency, relentless and unwavering in the pursuit of their goal, and totally unquestioning of their own talent or ability to win a match.

Through constant daily reinforcement of this mentality during training, this player creates an unstoppable mindset that simply never questions itself, refuses to give up (at any stage, regardless of the score), refuses to let up (until the match is won), and refuses to give opponents oxygen for even a single point during the entire match.

In the same way a builder uses a constant level of pressure to crack through rock – even the most difficult opponents will eventually crack, when unrelenting pressure is applied to them throughout an entire match.

A classic example is the amazingly common match scorelines you see that reflect a tight tussle followed by total domination - such as 7-6 (10-8) 6-1, where seemingly nothing separates the two players during the first set, and both players having opportunities and set points along the way.

And yet.. 15-20 minutes later both players are walking off the court, the victor and the vanquished – because the losing player’s game, confidence and mental composure completely unraveled, collapsed and imploded in a flurry of uncharacteristic errors, after they lost the first set.

Sure, the player who won the first set may have played better to run out the second set, but usually these results are brought about by the dramatic confidence lapse from the losing player.

The resilient and relentless player never lapses, even for a moment – if they are down, they simply fight harder, play better and smarter, maybe introducing some variation to their tactics or strategy… but one thing is for sure, they will never, ever give up... not even if they have to save 22 match points to win the match. They do whatever it takes. They will adapt, improve – and wherever it is humanly possible, they will find a way to win.

Common Match Scenarios

Another extremely common match scenario is where the resilient player has been totally outplayed and quickly overwhelmed 6-1 in the first set, by brilliant and powerful tennis (from Player 2), who is then threatening to break early and run away with the second set for a straight sets win.

But the resilient player refuses to roll over and die – instead they dig in, fighting off multiple break points and finding ways to begin holding serve, and slowly clawing their way back into the match, to eventually force a tiebreak. (This pure mental tenacity is the only quality that would have saved this player from collapsing to a 6-1 6-1 loss, after losing the first set so quickly).

So they begin the tiebreak – and even though the momentum remains with Player 2, the resilient player has been noticing growing signs of frustration steadily building in their opponent throughout the second set, with increasing racket bounces and angry muttering each time they missed yet another opportunity to close out the match.

This player instinctively knows that if they can just continue stay with their opponent, and maintain consistent pressure – it’s quite possible that their opponent’s game and mental state might just suddenly implode.

And sure enough, it happens - a few minutes later, after Player 2 misses more opportunities to finish the match in straight sets, they finally beginning to wilt under the unrelenting pressure by the resilient player – and suddenly.. Player 2 cracks, losing the set with an uncharacteristic double-fault and a wild unforced error – usually followed by angrily stalking to their chair, and maybe giving their racket some further harsh treatment.

You already know the rest of the story - the resilient competitor breaks early in the third, and efficiently runs out the final set 6-1 (just as quickly as the first set had been lost) - with the frustrated Player 2 dwelling on their missed opportunities. So the scorecard says “Game, Set and Match: Resilient Player – 1-6 7-6 6-1” – but the story behind the match, from the perspective of each player, is more revealing:

Match Summary (Player 2):
“I blitzed it in the first set, played great. I missed a few opportunities in the second set, but still played well. In the tiebreak I choked and blew a fuse – and the third set I just handed to them, because I <expletive deleted> sprayed errors everywhere. Horrible”.

Match Summary (Resilient Player):
“There was nothing I could do about the first set, they just played too well. Second set – I just hung on, stayed with them, and waited for opportunities - but none came.. until the end of the tiebreak, and they suddenly gifted me the set. I couldn’t believe it. Third set I maintained the pressure, and they just came apart. A satisfying win”.

Results like these happen every single day on the tour. The qualities of resilience and relentlessness are literally match-winning qualities – because they allow players to win matches when they are not playing their best, or even when their opponents have started the match in a blitz of incredible high-caliber power.

The thing to remember is the opponent can only grow stronger if they are provided ‘encouraging’ signs of frustration from your player – either vocally, or through their body language, and play – but otherwise, the opponent has no idea how your player is feeling on court.

And that’s exactly the way you want to keep it – your player should hand them no clues about any anger or frustration they may be feeling, and make the opponent think your player is an unstoppable machine – one that will only get stronger, and never stops until they succeed. This is a fabulous way to steadily increase the pressure on their opponents, as the match goes on.

As former player and previous Davis Cup coach John Fitzgerald once said “you have no idea just how close your opponent is to losing the match, when they have match point”.

Meanwhile, the opponent is often giving out lots of free, valuable and helpful feedback to your player at various times of the match – tell-tale signs such as racket bouncing, shoulders slumped, walking slowly, head down, screams of frustration, etc.

This is the way you want the match to be – one way traffic communication-wise – ie. the opponent is giving your player lots of feedback, motivation, energy and belief - while your player gives them no fuel in return, whatsoever – except for a ‘sinking’ feeling they experience every time they see your player’s increasing confidence and belief.

Positive body language also makes your player stronger on court as well – because though the mind controls the body, positive body language can also fire up the mind (which of course, then fires up the body, and so on – so it creates a positive ‘circuit’ of energy).

Here are some bullet points for your player to become ‘the relentless machine’ on court:

• Always maintain constant and relentless pressure on their opponent – focusing deeply on each point, never letting up, never giving up.

• Most essentially - ensure they practice and train the same way. This will make this mindset automatic and instinctive in matches, instead of something they have to try to do.

• Always try to stay with your opponent on the scoreboard, as this maintains the constant pressure on them.

• Keep all signs of anger or frustration hidden, to avoid giving the opponent a psychological lift - and instead channel this energy into their game.

• Winners generally walk faster on court. Moving confidently between points and games has a powerful effect over your player’s own mental attitude and performance, and sends ominous signs to their opponent.

• Always keep their pace in between points and games fast and confident - with head and shoulders up, never slumped.

• When changing ends, get them to walk confidently and quickly, and not display any tiredness - show the opponent they have lots of energy in the tank (even if they don't).

• Even if they are not winning the match, ensure they act like they are - never show signs of weakness, such as frustration or tiredness – yes, even if you are coming back on court after treatment from the trainer. This body language sends out confusing signals to the opponent, and it’s great for keeping your own player motivated. Their opponent will eventually begin to wonder what it takes to get to them.

To recap - get your player to mentally become "the machine" on court – no matter whether it is in practice, matches, and most importantly, in their opponent's eyes – no-one wants to play a machine. And it will give the opponent plenty more to worry about, than just your player’s game.

"The Mind controls the body, and the Mind is Unlimited"

The best of success, Craig Townsend

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"The Mind controls the body, and the mind is unlimited". Craig Townsend

Article © 2000 - 2035 Craig Townsend / Its Mind over Matter. All right reserved