How much do you hate losing?

[Paul Murphy]

I hate losing but particularly when I'm in a position to win.
A couple of weeks ago I was up 3-0 and had my opponent 30-40 only to lose in a breaker.
That kind of loss I really hate.

[Angle Queen]

Good thread and a lot that I can agree with. My favorite line, these days is, "I can be here...or home cleaning toilets." (cleaned up, depending on the company). But it's true. I'm competitive as the next person but, in the end, it's just tennis. My paycheck will not change at the end of the day.

Particularly don't like losing to something I don't like (personality-wise) or someone I think I could/should/have beaten or when my loss means the team lost....but it's a perspective thing. Friends or family members with terminal illnesses, heck even your own sick kids, are there enough funds to pay the bills and food in the fridge...all of that's more important than any final score. I always sleep well at night...having played that day, regardless of the outcome.

[dizzlmcwizzl]

For three straight years on my first league team not won of my wins made a difference in the match outcome .... every time I won it was a lopsided match score (4-1 or 5-0 one way or the other).

However, every time I personally lost, the team lost 3-2. So not only did I fail to contribute to wins, but I took personal responsibility for each loss.

----

[Mick]

not so much because i know there are a lot of people who are better than me. I just try to play my best. If the other guy beats me then good for him.

[usta2050]

Not much if I were playing against Pacman

[v-verb]

I don't care so much losing as playing badly.

Tonight was a disaster - and when you're playing doubles you feel that much worse as you've let down your partner.

Next week I'm going to come out blazing - we'll see what heppens

[TomT]

Originally Posted by will3689

Just played a match in my local tennis league and lost two very close sets and had two set points in the second set but bottled them both. I know we play this game for fun and i did really enjoy the match but i cant stop thinking about them two set points and what i shoud have done differntly. Was thinking does anyone else lose sleep over losing a match or is this just me?

Well, I've never lost sleep over losing at anything. But I can empathize with your discomfort over losing a very close match. I've blown more set and match points than you can shake a stick at.

You probably just tightened up a bit on those set points because you really wanted and were really trying to win. That's not a bad thing. Happens to everybody from time to time. Hey, that's what makes competition fun and interesting, and challenging.

Hopefully you're a better and wiser player because of your experience, both winning and losing.

Kipling ...

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same


If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss.

...

Don't worry about the past. It doesn't exist any more. But remember it, because it's what we learn and grow from.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by LeeD

I only care about how I play.
Winning or losing matters little.
If I make a bunch of mistakes and win, it's cause for concern.
If I play really well and lose badly, no biggee, that means the opponent just played better.

Originally Posted by LeeD

IF any of you care much about winning, go out and play lousy players every match. That gives you a better chance of winning.
OR, you can play against BETTER players as often as possible, giving you a great chance to lose, but also a chance to improve your tennis.

I like your attitude. This is how I'm approaching my return to tennis (after almost 40 years of not playing) as a relatively old guy. I'm having a lot of fun. Not winning much, but, I think, slowly improving. Playing against better players elevates and, I think, improves all aspects of my game.

[TimothyO]

In rec league play you can't focus on WL. In any given division at low-mid level (3.0-3.5 or so) you encounter so much skill diversity you shouldn't get cocky over easy wins nor depressed over big losses. But that's nit the same thing as fighting hard to win and trying hard to improve.

I focus on skill improvement relative to those I can beat at will, those who challenge me, and those against whom I have no hope. There are players who proved a challenge two years ago that I can beat at will now. Others I have no hope of playing let alone beating but still enjoy watching for clues on how to play better. For me a loss to a better player should provide an opportunity to learn. A win over a weaker player is a chance to work on tougher shots.

And I focus on skill improvement independent of competition. I get as much pleasure practicing and improving my serve as I do winning a match. I used to fear serving and now I truly relish it.

We're rec players. We don't have sponsors or fans and don't play for prize money. Nobody will remember our records or care about them. I doubt many of us can name our local city champion for a given level in a given rec league for a given season (in ATL for singles we have Peach Tennis, T2, Ultimate, USTA, and League at the very least...I can't name one city champ at ANY level). I've never read an article in a local paper about rec league results. The only I see that is on the rec league website!

All that being said whether I win or lose I enjoy a post match analysis to figure out why. It's like a puzzle and figuring out those answers provides clues to how to play the next match.

[winstonplum]

Originally Posted by TomT

Well, I've never lost sleep over losing at anything. But I can empathize with your discomfort over losing a very close match. I've blown more set and match points than you can shake a stick at.

You probably just tightened up a bit on those set points because you really wanted and were really trying to win. That's not a bad thing. Happens to everybody from time to time. Hey, that's what makes competition fun and interesting, and challenging.

Hopefully you're a better and wiser player because of your experience, both winning and losing.

Kipling ...

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same


If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss.

...

Don't worry about the past. It doesn't exist any more. But remember it, because it's what we learn and grow from.

I like it.

[Marcus2137]

Depends on how I play.

I could be loosing but playing well and I'll be in a great mood.

OR I could be winning but playing crap tennis and ready to go home and try another day.

[Winning Ugly]

The consensus seems to be that as we get older, we hate playing poorly miuch more than we hate losing.

I hope that is true, because having been bumped up this year I will do a lot more losing -- but, I hope to continue to improve my play...

[3fees]

Take a loss as lesson and dont make the same mistakes twice,, keep your cool and the better opp will fall from grace..lol