Much of a tennis player’s life is spent in our own heads. We dream about winning big tournaments, training hard, and turning ourselves into the best player we can be. We replay shots and points we could’ve played differently. This obsession can quickly turn negative, and we become stuck in patterns of thought that don’t serve us. But the players with this obsessive mindset can turn their mind into a tool for growth when they understand how visualization works and the positive impact it can have on their game and development. We are always practicing ‘visualization’ but we’re not always aware of it.

Following up our introduction to mental abilities, we present THE mental ability considered extremely important by world class tennis coaches and players: SELF-CONFIDENCE. Compare it to the fuel in a car. You can have the best car on earth but without fuel, it doesn't move and self-confidence works in the same way for any potential top player in the world. To take a deeper look into self-confidence, we will break down first the SELF and then the CONFIDENCE and how the two become one, to be the most important attribute of any successful athlete and person. Starting with SELF, personal growth is the foundation of becoming a great athlete. We need to acknowledge that in order to get self-confidence and how we can develop it. We also have to grow self-esteem. We need to have a base level of self-esteem, to believe phrases like: ‘I hold value as a person.’ ‘I am proactive in taking initiative every day, from small actions to larger ones.’ ‘I take responsibility for my life and I don’t put my mission on other people’s shoulders.’ Those are three examples of healthy ‘self-talk’ and that’s where personal growth begins. To be the drivers of our own ship and accept that we are able to take actions towards our individual fulfillment as people.

Tennis requires each player to have complete mastery over their physical, mental, and technical parts of the game. It is very important to be aware that all those aspects are communicating with each other, and the mental part is predominant in leading the player to the peak performance. Without teammates, every player must be able to play offense, neutral, and defense; they have to be problem solvers on court to find ways to win – on any given day, against any type of opponent. Coaches can help mold the proper techniques, recognizing that each player has different stroke mechanics than the next. Coaches teach players how to hit slice and topspin, flat and kick serves – all the shots required to be a complete player. The physical aspect of the game was revolutionized in the late 1970s when Martina Navratilova and Ivan Lendl turned themselves into physical specimens, who became dominant because of their strength and stamina. Today, every player is fit; they must be. Now, we see players with full time physiotherapists as permanent parts of their team, further helping players prevent injury and stay on court in their best shape.