Tennis is a MENTAL sport!

[coach]

We all know that to be true but I have realized this recently more than ever.

I played in a tournament a week ago (it had been 2-3 years since I had last played in one). I was so totally intimidated and nervous in the match that I was very ineffective. It wasn't until late in the 2nd set that I relaxed and started playing better and by then it was too late.

At Rolland Garros, Dementiava admitted that the reason she played poorly was because of nerves. Here is a link to an article titled " STAGE FRIGHT OVERWHELMS WOMEN AT ROLLAND GARROS".
http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news?slu...&type=lgns

Myskina too admitted a lot of nervousness.

Today the men were a physical and psychological mess. Despite Corias physical problems in the 4th, he was an animal in the 5th (for the most part). Yet, he tossed in at least one 50 mph serve and he had several that looked under 70 mph (not bad for the women's challenger circuit). Gaudio routinely double faulted in the last set and was broken 3 times-- both looked like they were trying to lose it (at times) as much as win it.

If I were 22 and a pro today, this is what my team would look like:
coach, trainer, nutritionist, SPORTS PSYCHOLOGIST, and maybe priest (or exorcist)

[Frankc]

Good Post - in all my viewing, I have never seen a final with both players so nervous. It was amazing.The cramps seemed induced by nerves. In the fifth, both showed so, so many symptoms of nerves. Perhaps there is another lesson there. We had better realize how much the French Championship means to the World. This is the dream of most of the world. Tell that to ESPN and maybe they will realize that showing International Players pursuing this great dream is really tennis. As if they care...

NERVES...

[!Tym]

I agree on all accounts, but don't forget...NERVES are contagious.

I've seen it time and time again in sports, when one person starts feeling the heebie-jeevies so does the other. Not all the time, but enough to see a pattern. It often boils down to not who deserves to win, but rather SOMEONE has to win.

Haha, I actually remember a very similar situation playing many a ladder match between teammates. When the ladder match was quite important as far as standing went, and personal reps were on the line; it would often come down to a battle of nerves in the end...and no longer about the pure physical act of tennis. The tennis was the sideshow, the real battle was all mental.

The French final reminded me of just those err...fond....experiences. Doesn't matter how high or how low you are on the ladder of tennis, everyone has a mental breaking point.

And once it's reached, all bets are off. It's no longer tennis anymore, it's a game of survival...might as well be two tennis players scampering around with rackets in their hand and their heads cut off. It's called a game of chicken.

[coach]

I am reminded that someone famous in the tennis community once said that (I'm not sure the exact percentage) 60% (or so) of the length of a tennis match is made up of the time BETWEEN points. Gives you a lot of time to think.

[Camilio Pascual]

People who bash the sisters for their play against each other should remember this match.