Everyone has an opponent that, somehow, seems to have your number. Even though you may have fairly even skills, they always come out on top. After a while you dread playing them just because of the self doubt and damage losing does to your confidence. You know the problem is mental but that just makes it harder to fix. Here are some tips to help.

Narrow your focus. Between points, keep your eyes on your strings, the ball, your feet, anything but him/her. You want to stop thinking about your opponent by focusing on neutral things that won’t trigger negative/distracting thoughts.

Strive to have no emotional reaction to a lost point no matter how bad the error or good their shot.

Lastly, force out any thoughts about the score, who’s winning/going to win, etc. This is very difficult. It’s useful to fill your mind with ways to execute your game plan or rituals/mantras of…watch the ball, stay loose, etc. Remember to keep these thoughts neutral. I have a saying, if your thought has a tone that can be followed with the words “..you idiot!”, then they are not neutral. For example if your tone to yourself conveys, “Watch the ball you idiot!”, then you are adding stress and negativity not calmness and neutrality.

Stay focused and use the tips above to beat your tennis nemesis. You might even realize that the real nemesis is in your own head

Did you know that more traffic accidents happen at slower speeds? Why?
Distractions. The mind wanders when it thinks it has plenty of time to react.
Tennis players fall victim to the same problem when hitting slow balls.

When hitting a faster ball, you automatically focus on the incoming ball and the task of returning it. When
“waiting” on a slower ball you might start considering all the options and lose
concentration. Given enough time, some players even start doubting their strokes
and short arm the shot(tighten up and swing tentatively).

Set up a practice match with a friend that you know hits
slower shots and work on your focus and concentration. Remember, practice
focusing as much or more on the slow ball so you can avoid “accidents” on the
court.