How do I win again?!!

[cshokraii]

I am a 32 year old former college player at a division 1 school. Whithin the past 9 years i've played sparingly but have tried to mount a few comebacks. All of which have failed!! I'm playing guys at the 4.0 and 4.5 level and losing. What seems to happen to me everytime is that I will fall behind early comeback and take a lead then lose the lead again. Almost all of my matches go 7-5 or tiebread in the first set no matter who I play. My matches arent fluid, I feel like I forgot how to play and I have no confidence. Yesterday I played a 4.0 guy in the first round of a tournament and was up 5-3 in the first set, I had a set point on his serve and my serve. He ended up winning both and the match 7-6 6-4 even though I was up 4-3 in the second as well. Anyone out there know what I should do i'm lost here?!??!?!?

[superman1]

ALL mental. Just stay focused for every point and don't be afraid to go for your shots on important points. It would help if you explained why you're losing those important points. Are you missing or is the other guy lifting his game? If you're missing, it could help to just put more spin on the ball and give your opponent more junk. And a surprise serve and volley or chip and charge never hurt.

[cshokraii]

I'm not a serve and volley player so I would never come in on crucial points. When I lost the set points I missed one forehand in the net and the other was a slice backhand wide.

[cshokraii]

I usually feel the pressure on important points. I used to always be so good in the clutch but now all I do is push the ball and play defense and hope the other guy misses.

[nickybol]

Know how to relax and lose stress. Pay attention to breathing and visualisation. Mental attributes need practice too.

[looseswing]

Perhaps you need to get out and practice more? It seems like you have not played for a while and are trying to get back in the game. If this is the case you should first regain your strokes before jumping into tournaments.

[goober]

Perhaps you need to get out and practice more? It seems like you have not played for a while and are trying to get back in the game. If this is the case you should first regain your strokes before jumping into tournaments.


I agree with this. You should take 3 months or so and get your strokes down and play some practice sets before you jump back into tournaments.

[Trinity TC]

Yah, it's always tough to return to the game after being out for centuries. All the stuff that used to come naturally just ain't happening. Good news is that it gets better because you've been there and done it before.

Every former NCAA Division 1 that I know of had a weapon. What was yours? Do you still have it? Probably not. That big forehand (or whatever you had in college) is probably long gone because the thing with your pet shots is that if you don't use 'em...you lose 'em. You really need them if you're at game point or set point for you because let's face it...the guy across the net is stepping it up ten notches because he doesn't want to lose the set. What have you got in return? Do you have that good reliable first serve on game point that you used to have in college or is your opponent climbing all over a second serve that you've hit right into his wheelhouse?

In the final analysis you are losing because you fail to execute on one point. Just think about it...you win that one point and we aren't having this discussion. One point, bro'. Just think about being resourceful for that one point. You'll be surprised at what you might pull out of the bag.

Remember you can be choking for the whole set...but if you get to set point for you...you can still pull it out and win. Doesn't matter how ugly it is either.:p

[varuscelli]

I'm not a high-level player (at best, somewhere between 4.0 and 4.5), but my question would be how many times a week are you playing, on average? Or, how many hours of court time per week are you getting in making a comeback? I think to hit any kind of groove (especially if you were/are a relatively high-level player), you have to have a relatively good amount of court time in "recent" play.

So I guess what I mean is when you say you've tried to mount a few comebacks, what does that mean in terms of the real time you're putting toward mounting those comebacks? Quite a bit of court time in tuning up or just jumping into tournaments without the benefit of doing things to get back into your groove?

(I realize I'm not addressing the question from a standpoint of having real expertise related to the topic, but from my own experiences with intermittent play over the years at my own level.)

[Slice Approach]

I understand where you are coming from as I was in the same situation about 4 years ago. The main thing you lose after taking some time off are your footwork and sense of timing. These will take awhile to get back.

I know it is frustrating to lose to a player you would have beaten easily 9 yrs ago. Those midcourt balls that you used to crack for winners now go out or in the net and your confidence is rattled. I remember about 4 yrs ago wondering how something that had always been so easy for me had suddenly become so difficult.

You may have to swallow your pride as you continue to practice, play matches and improve. Don't put too much pressure on yourself to regain your old form overnight. Remember to have fun out there...maybe join a group of friends on a 4.0 team for awhile. Eventually the other teams will accuse you of "sandbagging" and you will be moved up.