Just signed up for my first Tournament.. any tips?

AlpineCadet

AlpineCadet

Hall of Fame
Tips for playing under pressure

Hi, well I just registered with the USTA and signed up for a tournament. I'm pretty nervous already! I've never been in a tournament before, and I'm not really sure how things will go, or what to expect. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!

THANK YOU!
 
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Just relax out there....have fun...and play your game. My first tourny I played, I was also very nervous and I was getting beat...then I started relaxing and got into a rhythm and i ended up beating the guy :) You will always take away something from it too so enjoy it bud and good luck!
 
just remember your not playing federer.
they are human and beatable, use your nerves to an advantage. try ur best to hold serve and be consistent. play smart tennis.
ummmm what else...... thats about it and good luck:)
 
AC, just keep us updated on the results, all the best. iirc, you are the one who beat Skraggle in a one-setter recently.
 
Whenever you feel something is wrong with your game, start moving your feet, it is usually what first freeze. Remeber never stop moving your feet. Also in between points do long movements with your arms too loose them up, it helps to avoid the "cocodrile stroke style", it is like your arm get shorter and you start to mishit. Well at least that is what alwas happens to me and the ways i deal with the situation.
 
Enjoy it. This isn't Wimbledon and it doesn't really matter if you win or lose, you are out there for fun and personal improvement.

Take plenty of water with you, put your sunscreen on before you get dressed, and don't get so nervous that you don't eat something before you play.

I'm playing a tournament match tomorrow too, even though I have hardly played tennis all year. It's going to be about 100 degrees on court. I'll be laughing at myself the whole time. :)
 
Go FEEEEEEEEE!!!!

Go AC!!!!


I love tournaments...just remember...you're out there playing *tennis*! There are few better ways to spend a day IMO! Win or lose...have a blast! :)
 
Don't think about your match too seriously. Try thinking of it as a practice match with your friend. Have fun, and don't get down on yourself if youre not playing well. Remember what you did wrong and try to correct it for the next tournament. Good luck!!
 
Think of your money....

Don't waste it by losing and getting mad. Have fun and make sure you get your share of experience. If you're having fun, think of your match at the same time and see how you can improve.

:) If you get experience, you didn't lose anything.
 
Play smart! Don't go out there and just hit out on everything and act all upset like you usually don't miss hoping that people watching will think they're watching a really good player having the worst day of his life.

Don't rush between points, take close to maximum time, and...

WORK THE POINTS.

You're likely to come up against some semi-match tough players, they're probably going to be more consistent and play smarter than people you're used to banging against just for fun. Don't let this alarm you. Don't get so nervous or intimidated that you just start going for winners.

Anyway, take it slow, take deep breathes, enjoy being young and on a tennis court, and be prepared to work points, don't try to play like James Blake. Also, if you have time, hit tons of serves the days leading up. If you can just protect your serves, you can hang with guys who are "much better." In the tie-breaker, it's all about guts, get to the tie-breaker and you can steal sets and matches from "better" players.
 
Be prepared for/according to the number of matches you're expected to play for one day.
And "move your feet and have fun" sounds great.
 
I can't wait to play tournies when i get better. What level is it?
 
Have fun and don't expect too much of yourself. I used to be really cocky, and I'd go in and get owned cuz I'd always just smack the hell out of the ball till it went in as a winner. Play at the level you should play at. Don't be a pusher, but know your limits.

ALso, if you lose, don't worry. I lose so often it's not even funny. Just have fun, hit within your limits, make a new friend (if he's not a jerk), and tell us how it went.
 
Have fun, you have nothing to lose.

About being nervous, here are some tips:
As your warm up don´t make errors, play with some margin over the net. It´s very important not to make errors in the first 3 games. Also, keep that 1st serve percentage high.

But you´ve got nothing to lose so have fun.
 
Oh my goddess, I need someone to teach me a decent return of serve. Blergh, too hot for me today, I am so out of shape. I retired, but I had fun and I like the young woman who beat me so I might ask her if she wants to hit this summer. Yay tennis, I miss playing regularly and need to get back out on court again. :)

I wonder how Alpine Cadet is doing (or did)?
 
Ah Fee, at least you went out and did it! And, I'm sure I don't have to ask this...but did you put on your sunscreen? Hmmmm???? *eyebrow*

Return of serves are hard to practice...because you need that other person to serve to you, and I find I'm very often without that other person when I practice!!! Darn this tennis that needs two people!!!
 
DONT put sunblock on your forehead(it will run into ur eyes lol and it burns)and DONT drink a bunch of coffee (1 cup is fine) or eat right b4 u go out there ...these things plus being too nervous led to me recieving a double bagel my first time lol
 
Of course I did. I put my sunscreen on before I even put my clothes on, including my forehead. I also put it around my eyes without any problems. When you let it sink in and set, sweating is not a problem.

Topaz, you are right about practicing returns of serve, but I have to find a way to do it if I want to play tournaments for some other reason than making a 'donation' to my local club. ;)
 
Fee said:
Of course I did. I put my sunscreen on before I even put my clothes on, including my forehead. I also put it around my eyes without any problems. When you let it sink in and set, sweating is not a problem.

Topaz, you are right about practicing returns of serve, but I have to find a way to do it if I want to play tournaments for some other reason than making a 'donation' to my local club. ;)
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It was the weakest part of my game today as well...darn it! :)

I always seem to have issues with the sunscreen getting into my eyes (and contacts), so I do the visor plus sunglasses routine.
 
There are a couple of things you can do about sunscreen in your eyes (women have a few more options).

1. Revlon colorstay foundation with SPF 15. Just use it around your eyes, let it set, powder over it and head on out.

2. Neutrogena ultra dry touch sunblock, put it on early and let it dry. Set with a pressed powder. (men can do this too if they get a woman to buy them translucent powder)

3. Stick sunscreens on top of your regular sunscreen. Again, put it on early and let it dry. Set with a bit of pressed powder if you want (but I've never needed to do that).

The key is putting the sunscreen around your eyes early enough to let it dry and set into your skin and that helps it not run into your eyes. Sticks work because they are waxy and they just don't budge much. Whatever you use, clean it off as soon as you are done playing and out of the sun, to avoid breakouts. :)

Never rub your eyes if you get sunscreen in them. Blink a lot, dab them with towels or wet cloths, or flush with water.
 
^^^ (sunscreen in eyes)

I use California Baby suncreen (w/ citronella). It's water
proof and I put it all the way up to the edge of my eyes.
Never had a problem. You can get it an various health/nutrition
stores in socal like VP Nutrition, Whole Foods, etc.

When it's really sunny out I usually wear a hat, sunglasses
and a long sleeve shirt. sometimes pants, too. I'm basically
a fashion eyesore.
 
some tips:

Walk onto the court with your best "Keyser Soze" limp.
Keep it until the warmup and then suddenly lose it.

If you have to pass gas, do it right before the changeover.

Lot's good tips from others so far.

When you're behind in the game, or down 15-40, etc.
don't start trying to blast your way back into the game
(either via serves, returns, etc). Make your opponent work
for it.

Just because your opponent is at the net, it doesn't mean
you have to hit an outright clean winner passing shot.
If you're not in position or don't have a good look, then
just make him hit another volley. If you're way out of
position, throw up a high lob.
 
Thanks for all the great words, everyone! I'm hoping I'll be relaxed enough to fully compete, and not be worried about what's on the line ($400 USD!)
 
Just relax and play your game. My first tourney, first match i lost first set 1-6 because of the nervous-ness, and then won 7-5, 6-1.

So don't worry too much, have fun and play your game.
 
If you get hooked don't lose your cool. Along the same lines don't try and paint the line on a crucial point.
 
Just remember to have fun. No one out there is going to win the US OPEN, and everyone gets nervous>>> even your opponent.

remember to bring a back up frame. :)

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.
 
1. Have fun and don't worry too much about winning.
2. Be well prepared - bring everything you need - drinks - snacks - towels- get rackets strung if needed - extra can of balls -extra shirts and socks -etc.
3. Invite some of you buddies out for support.
 
drink coffee and or power aid, take bananas

have other two back up radicals strung with different tension and gauge, just in case balls start flying on you.

If you do not have a great serve let him serve first and try your hardest to break first. keep your elbows in with short strokes while ROS and just try to get the ball in play the first few games.

If things do not work out the first set or the beginning of second set, change strategy, Serve and Volley, attack his serve and come in, slice and dice, moon ball BH and come in etc... anything throw him off.
 
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^ In college, my breakfast of choice was half a toasted bagel, half a banana, and a cup of coffee. Too much coffee and I got nervous though. Just enough to get you a bit wired.
 
35ft6 said:
^ In college, my breakfast of choice was half a toasted bagel, half a banana, and a cup of coffee. Too much coffee and I got nervous though. Just enough to get you a bit wired.
Click to expand...

excellent advice, something toasted (bread, bagel, muffin), 1/2 banana and 1/2 cup coffee, correct if you are too wired you might tighten up.
 
AlpineCadet said:
I don't think it matters. I learned a lot from losing, and I hope it help makes me better.
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That's cool man, we all do. Hope you keep playing tournaments, it helps you deal with nervousness which can cripple even very good players. Took me awhile to deal with it. Just wondering how you did.
 
GRANITECHIEF said:
AlpineCadet,

Can you tell us, in vivid detail, about how your match went?
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You want details? Okay, but I'm pretty sure it's gonna be very boring to read. :lol: Well, I was pretty nervous the night before, and I went to bed early but didn't fall asleep until 4am! Woke up around 7:30am and didn't eat much because I wasn't hungry.

My opponent was a lot taller than me, probably around 6'2". He hit pretty flat, and didn't overpower me during our whole match. The sun wasn't in my eyes, and the courts weren't too fast. I was up 2-0 in the first set, but started to fall apart when he won the next 3 games. I had all these strategies in mind before I entered the match, but as soon as the scores got close, I sort of went into autopilot and started hitting the same way I that normally do. I guess at the 4.5 level, I have to adjust my game and get every ball in play, while choosing placement over power. I just couldn't perform at that level, and I guess I need to improve my consistency and old habits.

I hung myself in the second set pretty easily, and was anxious for the match to be over around 0-3. I know I didn't try my best, and that I gave up too easily, but it was definitely one of my better tennis days considering I experienced/learned new things.
 
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