How to play confidently, even when you know you'll lose?

[LGQ7]

My last match in my Meetup group. My Elo rating was 1603. My opponent's Elo rating was 1784. Mathematically I had only a 26% chance of winning. I also color code the ratings based on the video game International Karate for the Commodore 64. I was barely a brown belt, I'm the next to the last brown belt, I could've slipped into purple belt. He's a solid black belt.

First game he won easily, 21-13, counting ping-pong.
2nd game, he won 21-19.
3rd game was a draw 20-20.

I wanted to go 1 more game, but he stopped. I could've beaten the next game, I would have been in pain for the rest of the week, but still I could've won. I did my best and that's all that mattered. I felt like I was in Rocky I.

The funny thing is: The Elo Equation counts my draw and equal to his 1 win. In a sense, I did win when I went the distance.

 

[acintya]

well i mastered two handed playing on both sides, but I am now learning everything from ground up and playing a onehanded forehand. Why? Because I like it more, i love the way. I am not so consistent with OHFH but who cares? maybe i will loose some games, but at least i will have fun and learn something new.

try new ways to play, try new tricks, dont just do things because that way you maybe will have more chances - you must improve if you want to beat this guy. I am now at a state that even if I would got beat by a twelve year old kid i wouldnt cry. its just tennis. learn, improve, fail, learn, improve, fail, learn, improve, fail.......and someday - you will maybe win - and if you will not... its not the end of the world.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

That's what irked me quite a bit in that match. I had him on the ropes, I was up 3-0 at one point and then he suddenly started playing better.

Well, you can't control how well your opponent plays. If he suddenly ups his level, that doesn't say anything negative about your play. Focus on what you're doing well and leave the irkedness behind.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Yeah, he is better than me, but not all around. My backhand is better than his, as are my slices and my serve.
His net play is a little better than mine. His forehand is huge, though, much better than mine, and his movement and athleticism is better than mine as well.

Try to use your strengths to attack his weaknesses while at the same time avoid his strengths and protect your weaknesses.

It sounds obvious but you haven't written anything thus far which tells me you've consciously tried this approach.

 

[Limpinhitter]

Yesterday I was playing a match against a player I'd never won against. I've never even come close to winning against him. The best I've ever done was lose 6-4, 6-0.
I also hate his guts, as he was really unkind to me when I started out.
I was totally dead, mentally. I had no confidence in any of my shots. I got to the point where I just wanted the match to end already, and I even started tanking. It was ugly.
I was being a total ass.

How can I stop myself from imploding and stay confident in my shots?

If you put all of your focus and effort into execution of your shots and your game plan, and put everything else out of your mind including the score, you have done all you can do to win. Focus on execution and let the score take care of itself.

 

[torpantennis]

It's a good time to work on specific things like trying to time his serve for a strong return or trying to return his groundstrokes to a specific location. If you know you will lose, then rather than aimlessly proceeding, why not have a training/learning goal in mind.

Yep, this is the mentality I have vs. players I know I won't win. Going for a good training makes it trivial to give it your all one point at a time. That maximizes my level of play and makes me play one of my all time greatest matches vs. these guys, always. Why can't I hold this similar and simple mentality vs. guys I "should" beat.

 

[Simon_the_furry]

Try to use your strengths to attack his weaknesses while at the same time avoid his strengths and protect your weaknesses.

It sounds obvious but you haven't written anything thus far which tells me you've consciously tried this approach.

I try to. I was trying to come into the net by putting a short, low slice to his backhand side, which I know he doesn't like very much.
I don't always get the opportunity to do that, though, and eventually he adjusts.