Tournament Tennis - How much fun?

[smoothtennis]

As I mentioned to you guys earlier this year, this is my first year back playing tournaments in 8 years. So I played now I guess....like 5 or 6? I learned a lot, gained great experience, and learned not to play as tight.

So I have a question for you tournament tough veterans who do well in regular tournament play.

How much fun do you have playing the matches? And here is what I mean. The first level of tournament play for me, was trying to play a match, and not wanting to win so badly that I was TIGHT. Then not playing with FEAR of losing as my number one thought, which makes one just as tight, LOL!

I have lost enough this year to not fear losing, I know I can lose, that's fine. I won enough to know I can win. What should my mindset really be now? I want to play to win, but I don't want to let that dominate my thoughts. Honestly, I want to play tournaments to have FUN. To hit my strokes, make my plays, do what I train to do. And that usually translates into winning. I mean, honestly, get real, who doesn't really want to win?

So how do you guys that play well in tournaments, balance playing to win with actually enjoying the experience? I think you guys know what I mean right? You have to maintain a certain amount of good strong focus. Maybe another way to phrase it is, do any of you guys/gals that win a lot, actually go out and play your matches without being on edge nerve wise?

 

[luckyskulls]

I've won 2 USTA tournies this year. Finally!

I try to break it down during the match. Like, think about winning each point, game and set. I have trouble, when I already start to think about the next round...or the semis...etc.

I also keep it very business-like during the match. I often play people, whom I've at least met and often have played before. It gets tempting to chat between games, but I just act busy with my strings, water and whatnot.

Good luck to you!

 

[JohnnyF]

I know exactly what you are talking about. Last month I won a usta tournament. I play the 4.5's. But just last weekend I lost 2 out of 3 matches in the 4.5's in a round robin format. Both of my losses were 3 setters, 6-4 and 7-6 in the 3rd respectively. Both matches I had my chances to win but came up short on a couple of key points each time.

Was it fun?? I enjoyed the competition, but the intensity required can get exhausting. Definitely on edge and all business. No friendly chit chatting until after the match. If I lose focus and try to relax and have fun I tend to give away more free points. In order for me to win matches or compete, the mind set of having fun usually contributes to a loss.

After the tournaments looking back they are always fun, but sometimes its hard to get up mentally for the fierce dogfights.
A lot of times winning seems like a relief and feels great afterwards, not necessarily fun during. Its a tough balance to find between playing to win and having fun on the court.

 

[smoothtennis]

JohhnyF - LOL, thats a pretty accurate description of how I feel playing a tournament. I mean...this may soundy just silly, but I actually love the feeling of hitting ball after ball, with good pace and spin, you know? Just the action of hitting and running around the court, and being moved around. That is what I mean by fun. Not cracking jokes between games.

But as you say, mentally, I have to stay very focused to compete. I just want to enjoy it a little more as I am playing the points. I don't want to play tight thinking I have to win or scared some guy with a junk game will make me look like a chump, hehe. I want to play my next tournament, this weekend, mentally free to just play my game. I try to play to win always, but I am trying to focus on the hitting, and moving, and let the winning happen naturally.

Oh, and congrats on your previous USTA win, that is a tough thing to do, even when you have the game to do it. I cramped out of two tournaments already this year, nothing I could do about it. Bad part is I am in great shape.