What's the longest match you played?

[dlam]

I been finding its very difficult for me to concentrate on my match and take mental breaks as much as possible during change over
What is the longest you stayed mentally in a match and what kind of techniques do you use to stay focused?

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Real USTA/league matches or not?

I once lost a 3hour league match. 5-7 6-7. I learned a lot from that lost.

[dlam]

Real matches only not pickup match

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by dlam

Real matches only not pickup match

Ok, then yeah, a 3 hour 5-7 6-7 match. Offense (me) vs. a grinder.

Thoroughly annoyed, but learned a lot. I just kept telling myself:

I can't stay 5-10feet behind the baseline and trade moonballs with this guy, and let him dictate play. Because that's not my game, I have to assert myself be aggressive. If he runs down my otherwise winners, then he's a better player than me.

[Rjtennis]

I find that my concentration/intensity increases during long tough matches. During changeovers, I try to focus on what patterns have been successful for me and how I can execute them in the upcoming games.

[asusundevils1971]

Originally Posted by dlam

I been finding its very difficult for me to concentrate on my match and take mental breaks as much as possible during change over
What is the longest you stayed mentally in a match and what kind of techniques do you use to stay focused?

The longest match I have played was in a tournament last March. It was four hours long and I won it 7-6 6-7 7-6. The problem was, I had to play the final just under a hour later. During the match try and keep the same schedule between points and don't let the last point get into your head good or bad. Don't get too high when you hit a great shot and also don't get down when you may miss an easy shot. When you start thinking, that is when you will start losing!!!. On changeovers, put the racquet down grab your towel and drink and relax for that minute. Slow down your breathing and try and stay on your schedule that you use. Also if you have friends, girlfriends and family members watching, don't look at them during the match and just focus on playing your opponent. I hope this will help.

[dode]

My longest match (since I started playing again anyway) was at USTA Nationals last year. We played for so long that they started the banquet dinner without us! It was about 3 hours and 20 minutes and we won in a 3rd set tiebreaker.

John

[dlam]

Originally Posted by asusundevils1971

The longest match I have played was in a tournament last March. It was four hours long and I won it 7-6 6-7 7-6. The problem was, I had to play the final just under a hour later. During the match try and keep the same schedule between points and don't let the last point get into your head good or bad. Don't get too high when you hit a great shot and also don't get down when you may miss an easy shot. When you start thinking, that is when you will start losing!!!. On changeovers, put the racquet down grab your towel and drink and relax for that minute. Slow down your breathing and try and stay on your schedule that you use. Also if you have friends, girlfriends and family members watching, don't look at them during the match and just focus on playing your opponent. I hope this will help.

Thanks
most of this i do
Ill try to take a break at changeover and put my racket down and just repeat the score in my head and relax. I dont do enough of that.
as far as my breathing goes, after a long exhauting point I usually try to slow my breathing down before my serve or slow my breath down before i grip again for the return of serve, that helps me relax and get ready for the next point.

[mikeler]

I had a local 4.5 league years ago that had 16 players in it. The winner of each group of 8 played in a final. I won my half and played a 3.5 hour match where I lost 6-4 in the 3rd set. My opponent won a $150 gift certificate and I got a $50. It was the largest prize I had ever played for.

It was worth it though because I found another good person to play and we became good friends. Our boys are the same age so maybe they will be battling on the court soon. His son is way more into tennis than mine though.

[Tammo]

Probably 2 1/2 hours 6-4 6-4 beat my brother two year older. Pro the toughest match I've everp played

[gregor.b]

3 1/2 hours in a second round. Lost 7-6 in the third. Then the guy had to play the second seeded who was ranked top 50 in Australia with a 15 minute break. Ouch! Relaxing at changes was real important to help re-focus during the match.

Also, focusing on really stroking through the ball, not just smacking the crap out of it.

[mmk]

My longest was only 3 hours, but my opponent retired after the last game, which lasted 45 minutes.

[mxmx]

3 hours more or less...but continuous tennis matches on that same day of around 7-8 hours with minor breaks inbetween - one gets to a point where its beyond tired and you almost don't feel it anymore.

[Mongolmike]

Originally Posted by mxmx

3 hours more or less...but continuous tennis matches on that same day of around 7-8 hours with minor breaks inbetween - one gets to a point where its beyond tired and you almost don't feel it anymore.

Same here. Not sure of my longest individual match, but in the final day of a singles and doubles draw of a tourney... the day started at 8am with a doubles match, played through the day in both the singles and doubles draw, and the finals singles match started at 5pm. At that point I'd say my body/game was only around 60%... I was afraid to even run hard for fear that I would tear some muscle somewhere. It was a battle of the mind.

After the match I said to a friend, "You know, if this was just a regular day of friendly tennis, I woulda quit playing 7 or 8 hours ago."

[tdhawks]

This past summer in the 90 degree heat, semi-finals of a USTA tournament. Lost 6-7 (11-9), 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (16-14), 3h 30 minutes. It was terrible.

[mxmx]

Originally Posted by Mongolmike

Same here. Not sure of my longest individual match, but in the final day of a singles and doubles draw of a tourney... the day started at 8am with a doubles match, played through the day in both the singles and doubles draw, and the finals singles match started at 5pm. At that point I'd say my body/game was only around 60%... I was afraid to even run hard for fear that I would tear some muscle somewhere. It was a battle of the mind.

After the match I said to a friend, "You know, if this was just a regular day of friendly tennis, I woulda quit playing 7 or 8 hours ago."

Well....thankfully my last matches were doubles. I can do endurance doubles more than I would singles....Mentally, there is someone to almost distract you and keep you company :P

[Alchemy-Z]

Single Match

4 hours 12 minutes at a tournament on clay (semifinal) win

7-6 (11-9) / 6-7 (7-4) / 19-17 3rd set tie break

had finals at 9:00am the next morning showed up and got stomped 6-3 6-3...thought my legs were going to fall off.
all I had was a serve left.


in a day around 8 hours had 3 matches Mens singles quarter final/ Mens doubles semi final / mens singles semi final.

[cknobman]

3 hours 50 minutes

3 set match lost 4-6,7-5,6-7

[Govnor]

about 2.5 hours against a pure no holds barred pusher. It was laughable and I very nearly lost (he had a match point). I vowed that would never happen again, I haven't played anyone near this guys level of pushing since, but when I do, it's going to be drop shot + lob x infinity.

I think it was good for my mental game though, I became a stronger player in many ways that day.

[Larrysümmers]

i dont play usta matches, but i lost a really long 5 set match that was about 4 hours. the longest i went in HS was 2+ hr 3 set match in the first round of a tournament, i lost.