Do you play better tennis with or without spectators?

[athiker]

Wait...I just checked my checkbook and I don't see any ATP check deposits. Actually, I've only played tennis in front of a few people once in a while. I think I play better, it probably makes me focus a bit more b/c I guess my inner egotistical self actually does care what people think and I want to impress them to the extent possible. I think that's been true for all the sports I've played over the years, I play better in front of people. I would probably not want to admit this in person however.

After-all isn't sport performance? Why do we care if we win? We are performing for at least the player on the other side and getting some satisfaction out of beating them, yes? We all may want to win to different degrees, and give different effort towards that goal, but its a rare person that does NOT want to win.

Now put me on a truly big stage and I might get nervous I suppose. Hard to say, what size crowd crosses the line from pushing one to play better or causing nerves. Also maybe sport specific, big football crowd for example much different that big tennis crowd I think. Bigger factor may be simply confidence in one's skill from sport to sport.

[J011yroger]

Originally Posted by athiker

I block people out...so much so that I couldn't even tell you if I've played on front of people or not. For all I know I'm an ATP professional and all my matches are in front of 1000's in person and millions on TV. I just don't notice at all.

Unfortunately I also block out the paycheck lol.

J

[pabletion]

I absolutely love it, and feel great when theres spectators.
Theres no greater feeling than winning a great point and have people outside watching it and clapping your effort.

[DownTheLine]

Well since I am an attention ***** I love it when people watch my matches. The only time I hate it when the thought goes thru my mind "You'll look better if you put a little more pace on the ball" or something stupid like that, that takes me out of match thinking.

[USERNAME]

For me the only person I mind watching me is my Dad. Not a huge problem cause he does not watch to many of my matches, but when he does I just get nervous.

[DownTheLine]

Originally Posted by USERNAME

For me the only person I mind watching me is my Dad. Not a huge problem cause he does not watch to many of my matches, but when he does I just get nervous.

I have the same problem. :/

[LeeD]

Love it when I play well, hate it when I suck.

[0d1n]

I play better when I'm well rested, had a good warm-up and I had some good practice sessions before the match I'm playing.
Spectators don't matter, it's not like I'm playing on the Wimbledon center court anyway, there will be a few spectators at some of the amateur tournaments I play in ... but nothing to get "goose bumps" about...
Now ... if there are some young and pretty twin sisters in the crowd ...that might affect me. Not really sure if it would be in a positive or a negative way, I haven't seen them in the crowd yet .

[tennis_ally2009]

If there is only a few spectators, it makes no difference. But if theree is a fair amount, then i do hot dogs for every shot

[LeeD]

"young, pretty twin sisters" would affect all us guys, but maybe not the girls here.

[J-Mac]

I get a bit tight when my team is watching me. If I don't know who they are then I usually play better.

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