How should I handle nerves in a tennis match?

Well, the best way to improve is by playing more competitive matches. When you're playing the "mock competitive matches", you have to remember the saying, "You'll always miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Because sometimes, players start to hit softly to their opponent because they are scared the ball will go out. You have to make life hard for your opponent. If your scared, take it easy, don't just go nailing shots, but try going for a tactical win instead- a drop shot there, a lob here, and once you start feeling better, you can start working on driving it towards the corners. Also, when you are in that situation where you are winning 3-0, you have to think confidently- but the trick is you can't get cocky. There's a difference, if you get cocky, you'll definitely lose.

I'll tell you what I heard from nick bolletieri...

...when you are tense, sing a song in your mind... and only interrupt it while the point lasts... as soon as a point is over continue singing...

... this is a technique that has been proven effective in real situations..

.

. other advices as keeping yourself together and focus, focus, focus are evident and everybody knows about them, but they don't work once you lose control of yourself.

....You will still get nervous even if you try to focus if you don't have the mental training and stamina the situation requires... so, the only solution is to trick the mind into thinking that what is happening is not important. Hence, sing in silence.. Pick a song that pumps you up... ... never sing out loud or else people are going to think you are nuts.

.

.Additionally, It is very important that you pump yourself up... that gives you extra energy and bothers the opponent... If you start losing is because you are entering a depression phase... when this happens, take as long as you can between points until your body feels full of energy again.

Before the game: Lie down; take a few deep breaths. Clear your mind, concentrate on what you've gotta do. Visualisation may help.

While playing a point: CONCENTRATE. Keep an eye on the ball, and remember to take things slowly. Don't rush. The ball will come TO YOU.

Between points: Clear your mind. Take a few deep breaths. Clear your mind of anything bad that happened in the last point, and concentrate on what you want to do.

During the "sit down" breaks between games: Have a good breather. Take a sip of water, and maybe something like a banana to keep the energy levels up. Again, clear your mind. Perhaps close your eyes, visualise, and relax.

I know it sounds stupid, but you really SHOULDN'T panic -it's just another thing to worry about, which you don't need on top of your game.

I can't play tennis as I'm not co-ordinated in sport at all :-p But I act a lot and if I get nervous, I just keep telling myself not to panic and I take a bottle of rescue remedy with me (http://www.rescueremedy.co.uk/) or a bottle of Larch, which is a flower extract which is meant to give you confidence, but you can find many other flower extracts with other needs that they're supposed to satisfy. The larch managed to calm my nerves though and make my performance seem more natural. You can get them from shops such as Holland And Barrett and other health stores

From my own experience, I'd personally recommend them, I've used them and they've proved to be very effective

The best thing to do is to try to focus on the one thing that matters in the moment, which is hitting the ball. It sounds pretty simple to say that, but it really helps to try and not think about anything else like the score, your opponent, or whatever else makes you nervous or distracted, and to just focus on the ball, and moving towards it and hitting your shot, can help to simplify things. It will also help your technique to always be keeping your eye on the ball and concentrate on hitting your shot. A lot of times when people say they are "in the zone", they say they see the ball so well and so big, as if it were a basketball, making i much easier to hit their shots, and a lot of that has to do with their concentration and focus.

3 things:

keep your head together. it's just a game...even when you playing the ncaa finals.

play more competitive tennis to condition your psyche and never let up. people often quit what's working for them. they're in the "zone", then they start thinking about it. oops!

be in the best shape possible. mind and matter work hand in hand, but superior physical conditioning will often pull you through tough mental situations.

I learnt some thing over 20 years ago, tray this

www.nader-care-natural-therapy.com is my web and I show how naturally help your self,

I would take a 2 min bra-ck with any excuse, and there I make as much as possible saliva in my mouth and take a big breath and hold the air in, as long as you can, and then slowly let this out and with it all your strength is back to you.

just tray and share with me how you feel,

asked my mum. shes an image consultant lol

walk onto the chort knowing you will win not hoping. when you nervous your jaw is the first thing to tghten up so put your tounge against your top teeth and then let it drop this will loosen all you musles.

walk out with confidense this will show your opponinent your not scared and hold yourself high walk like you have broad shoulders

goodluck sounds kinda gay but it really works

between games, set your racket down and dry your hands and face off with a towel. breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. and in that predicament, just think about how you're in control and that your opponent should be the one who's nervous.

Zen,

Watch the Movie, The Seven Samurai