Failure to convert a great lead, please help!

[ark_28]

In the last couple of weeks I have played 4 singles league matches against guys pretty much on my level give or take, I have won 2 and lost 2 but I have noticed one worrying pattern.

In each match I have lost concentration and let a great lead slip. The first of these matches I won the 1st set 6-2 against a steady player I was seeing it like a football had a good game plan just didn’t let him play his game or give him rhythm. Had a lot of chances to break start of the 2nd set, I did not went with serve I lost my serve at 4-5 and obviously the set 6-4 he then won the decider on a tiebreaker.

The next match I won the first set 6-1 again very aggressive hitting felt very comfortable this guy is a pretty attacking player but I just felt like he thought he had to go for too much and just lost his way a little. But 1st game of the 2nd set I played a game with more unforced errors than I had all 1st set, he won it 6-4 and in the end I was lucky to pull out the decider 6-3 it was just one break.

Then a match I won the first set 6-2 had match points at 5-4 2nd set, on his serve lost the set on a tiebreak and then lost the final set 7-5 the guy said to me after the match “I am not sure how I won this match”

Finally last night, played against a guy that I was expecting a very tough match against big hitting baseliner with a big serve but first 9 games I played some of my best tennis went up 6-0 3-0, next thing I knew I was back at 3-3 and fighting off break points, he took me to a tiebreaker and I had to fight off 3 set points before taking the match 6-0 7-6/

I know these are all decent players, so the fact I am having close matches with them is not a concern at all, but the fact I have been in very dominant positions and then either lost or got into a dog fight is.

I know that they can improve during the match but still for this to have happened to me 4 times in recent weeks tells me that I am clearly not doing something right as I feel my conversion should be better .

Whatever I am doing wrong I would like to put right but based on this where could me problems lie? And what can I do to put this right?

Any help or ideas would be great!

 

[Limpinhitter]

As you now know, a lead in tennis is largely irrelevant. Treat every point exactly the same no matter what the score is. Focus on executing your shots, one shot at a time, and on executing your gameplan, one point at a time.

 

[thug the bunny]

If you were 2-2 against players who were at your level, then pretty much everything is as it should be. As Limp says, the progression of the matches is irrelevant.

Look at it in a more positive light: instead of saying you blew big leads, say instead that you had the skills to get out in front right from the start.

You sound experienced enough to know that maintaining the mojo is very tenuous, and even pros don't have complete mastery over it.

 

[Bergboy123]

I have a similar problem. I ALWAYS seem to lose a game, or even multiple games, when I am up 5-0. It's gone beyond the point where it's nerves, I think it's almost funny now. I rarely ever pull out a set 6-0. I don't even understand it anymore...

 

[Devilito]

A lot of times when you’re up 5-0 it’s not that you’re playing awesome, it’s that your opponent is sucking and missing everything. When they get down 5-0 they give up, stop being nervous, loosen up and as a consequence start playing better. This surprises you and you start getting nervous and missing shots while they’re making shots and being more consistent. It’s quite common at lower levels to blow leads because of this. At higher levels it’s why having a good serve is very beneficial to close out sets.

 

[Limpinhitter]

I have a similar problem. I ALWAYS seem to lose a game, or even multiple games, when I am up 5-0. It's gone beyond the point where it's nerves, I think it's almost funny now. I rarely ever pull out a set 6-0. I don't even understand it anymore...

It's easy to understand. At 5-0, you are now under pressure to win. That pressure causes you NOT to execute your shots and your gameplan the way you were without the pressure. If you forget about the score and just execute, the score will take care of itself.

 

[Larrysümmers]

were you ever looking ahead?if you look ahead, up or down, then it's probably going to end up bad. you just have to forget about the score at the time, i know its easier said than done, and play on ball at a time.

 

[Caesar]

I don't really regard the OP's problem as serious, given he acknowledges he's playing players close to him in level.

You just have to acknowledge that tennis is not like other games, due to the set structure. If you lose 0-6 you're no further behind than if you lost 6-7, and same goes if you're ahead. The match ebbs and flows much more than other sports.

If you were up 5-0 and struggling to close out sets, that's when I'd be worried. But there is no shame in dominating half a match against a worthy opponent, then having a dogfight for the second half that you come out second best on. That's just tennis - you can play better, win more points, and still lose the match.

Incidentally, I often have matches like this against players I'm evenly matched with. I tend to start better than most people, so often I will close out the first set comfortably before they get grooved. The second and third sets are typically much closer, and more reflective of our actual level relative to each other. Sometimes I come out on top, other times I don't.

 

[ark_28]

Wanted to thank everyone who gave me tips and feedback on here!

I actually played a match tonight and it was in the league but against the guy i mentioned as losing to having held match points!

This time I won the 1st set 6-2 had break points 2nd set to go 3-1 didnt take it got broken, for him to go 3-2, I then got my game back at took a 5-3 lead but was broken 30-0 up serving for the set, I then mamanged to break him despite him having a lot of game points to make it 5-5 so I won 6-2 6-4.

Am pleased with this result because it very nearly became a dog fight but this time I shut the guy out, what I found was my natural game is very attacking, and on a fast indoor court like I play a lot this style if I am on can do a lot of damage, but I dont know it subconsiously I tend to find myself once a set up just backing off playing this safe kind of tennis, today I kept telling myself, "all out attack" whenever I played that way the match felt like it was on my racket but as soon as I started playing safe he was moving me around really well and working the gaps, so taking it to him was what I had to do to have any chance