Mental preparation: TENNIS MASTERCLASS by Patrick Mouratoglou, EPISODE 9

Summary

This video script emphasizes the importance of mental preparation in tennis. It discusses how players often lose matches due to mental factors rather than skill, highlighting the need for clear, realistic goals that depend solely on the player. The script also advises on preparing mentally before a match, focusing on controllable elements to reduce stress and enhance performance.

Takeaways

• 🤔 Reflecting on matches often leads to the realization that you could have won, highlighting the importance of mental preparation.
• 🏆 Most players end matches feeling they could have won, suggesting a need for better mental strategies during play.
• 🧠 Mental strength is crucial in tennis, with the difference between victory and defeat often being psychological.
• 🎵 The speaker introduces the topic of mental preparation in tennis, emphasizing its significance at all levels of play.
• 🕒 Tennis matches have many breaks, providing ample time for mental preparation, but most players use this time unproductively.
• 🚫 Players often speak to themselves in a way that undermines their performance, indicating a need for positive self-talk.
• 💬 Body language is a reflection of internal thoughts, and changing self-talk can improve both mindset and body language.
• 🎯 Setting clear, realistic goals is essential for mental preparation, focusing on what you can control.
• 🚫 Winning is not a goal but a reward, and players should focus on controllable aspects of their game.
• 📝 Goals should be specific, realistic, and limited to three to avoid confusion and ensure focus.
• 📅 Mental preparation should be done as late as possible, ideally the morning of the match, to avoid overthinking and stress.

Q & A

How often do players typically feel that they could have won a match but lost due to mental factors?

Most of the time, players end a match thinking they could have won, indicating that mental factors often play a significant role in determining the outcome of a match.

What are some common thoughts that players have after losing a match that might indicate a need for mental improvement?

Players often think they should have played better on important points, stuck to their tactics, stayed focused, taken more chances, and avoided feeling angry or frustrated.

Why is mental preparation crucial in tennis, especially considering the amount of time players spend thinking during a match?

Mental preparation is crucial because tennis matches provide many breaks and time to think, and players can use this time to mentally prepare, which can significantly impact their performance.

What percentage of match time is actually spent playing tennis, and how can this be used to mental advantage?

Less than 20% of match time is spent actively playing tennis. This time can be used to mentally prepare and perform better, rather than being distracted.

How does body language relate to a player's mental state during a match?

Body language translates what a player tells themselves internally. If a player thinks negatively, it will show in their body language, which can affect their performance.

What should be the focus of a player's goals in a tennis match?

Goals should be focused on things that are solely dependent on the player, such as their actions and decisions, rather than external factors they cannot control.

Why is it important to set realistic goals for a tennis match?

Realistic goals help a player to have a clear path to victory and reduce the stress associated with overambitious or unattainable objectives.

What is the recommended number of goals a player should set for a tennis match, and why?

A maximum of three goals is recommended to avoid confusion and ensure that the player can remember and focus on them throughout the match.

When should a player prepare their goals for a match, and how should they approach this preparation?

Players should prepare their goals as late as possible, ideally the morning of the match, to avoid overthinking and stress that can detract from their performance.

How can a player manage stress and maintain focus during a match by setting appropriate goals?

By setting goals that are within their control and focusing on these goals, players can reduce stress and maintain a clear focus on what they can influence in the match.

What is the role of mental preparation in developing a player's future tennis style?

Mental preparation helps in setting goals that align with a player's desired tennis style, which can guide their development and performance in future matches.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Mental Strength in Tennis: Overcoming Defeat

This paragraph discusses the mental aspects of tennis and the importance of preparation before a match. It emphasizes that most players often feel they could have won a match, suggesting that the difference between victory and defeat is often mental. The speaker introduces the idea that tennis provides ample time for mental preparation, which is often misused by players as distraction time. The paragraph also touches on the significance of body language and self-talk, suggesting that positive self-talk combined with appropriate body language can be a powerful tool for mental readiness. The speaker promises to cover how to prepare mentally for a match and hints at a future video on maintaining mental strength during the match.

05:01

🎯 Setting Effective Tennis Goals for Mental Preparation

The second paragraph delves into the specifics of setting mental and tactical goals for a tennis match. It points out that many players go into matches without clear goals, which can lead to inconsistency in performance. The speaker advises that goals should be dependent solely on the player, realistic, conducive to winning, and aligned with the player's tennis style. Additionally, it is recommended to set a maximum of three goals to avoid confusion and ensure focus. The paragraph also highlights the importance of writing down these goals and reviewing them shortly before entering the court to ensure they are fresh in the player's mind. The speaker concludes by encouraging viewers to ask questions about mental preparation and to stay tuned for the next video on mental strength during matches.

Keywords

💡Mental Efficiency

Mental efficiency in this context refers to the ability to maintain a focused and positive mental state during a tennis match, which is crucial for optimal performance. The script emphasizes that mental factors often determine the outcome of a match more than physical abilities. An example from the script is the discussion on how players often end matches feeling they could have won, suggesting a lack of mental preparation or focus.

💡Preparation

Preparation, as mentioned in the script, is a key component of mental efficiency in tennis. It involves setting clear goals and strategies before a match. The video script highlights the importance of mental preparation, suggesting that players often overlook this aspect, leading to matches where they feel unprepared or overwhelmed.

💡Tactics

Tactics in tennis refer to the strategic decisions a player makes during a match to gain an advantage over the opponent. The script discusses the importance of sticking to tactics during a match, implying that a player's mental state can affect their ability to execute their planned strategies effectively.

💡Focus

Focus is the ability to concentrate on the task at hand without being distracted. The script repeatedly mentions the importance of staying focused on every point and avoiding distractions. It suggests that a lack of focus can lead to missed opportunities and a higher likelihood of losing.

💡Opportunities

Opportunities in the context of the script refer to the moments during a match where a player has a chance to take control or make a significant move, such as when an opponent makes a weak shot. The video emphasizes the need to capitalize on these opportunities, which requires both physical skill and mental alertness.

💡Body Language

Body language is the non-verbal cues a person gives off through their posture, gestures, and facial expressions. The script points out that body language is a reflection of a player's internal dialogue and can either positively or negatively affect their performance. It suggests that positive body language can be a powerful tool when combined with positive self-talk.

💡Goals

Goals in this video script are specific objectives a player sets for themselves before a match to guide their performance. The script explains that goals should be realistic, self-dependent, and limited in number to avoid confusion and maintain focus. An example from the script is setting a goal to 'pump your fist on every point' as a way to maintain a positive and determined mindset.

💡Stress

Stress in the context of the video refers to the psychological pressure a player experiences during a match, which can negatively impact their performance. The script discusses how focusing on controllable factors can reduce stress levels, allowing a player to perform better.

💡Control

Control is the concept of having influence or command over a situation or one's actions. The script suggests that focusing on aspects of the game that a player can control, rather than external factors, can lead to a reduction in stress and improved performance.

💡Self-Talk

Self-talk is the internal dialogue that a person has with themselves, which can be either positive or negative. The script mentions the importance of modifying self-talk to be more positive and supportive, as it can significantly impact a player's mental state and performance on the court.

💡Performance

Performance in the script refers to the execution of skills and strategies during a tennis match. It is closely tied to mental efficiency, as a player's ability to perform well is influenced by their mental state, focus, and the effectiveness of their preparation and self-talk.

Highlights

Most of the time, players end matches thinking they could have won, reflecting on what they should have done differently.

Mental elements are crucial in differentiating a victory from a defeat, both at leisure and professional levels.

Tennis provides many breaks and time to think, but most players use this time as a distraction.

Body language is a reflection of what you tell yourself, not the other way around.

Modifying the way you speak to yourself and matching it with body language can be a powerful tool.

Having clear goals is essential for mental preparation in tennis.

Winning is not a goal; it's a reward, and playing well is not a goal as it's not solely dependent on the player.

Goals should be dependent only on the player, realistic, and help develop their tennis style.

Setting a maximum of three goals is recommended to avoid confusion and ensure focus.

Preparing for a match should be done as late as possible to avoid overthinking and stress.

Writing down goals the morning of the match and reviewing them 30 minutes before entering the court is advised.

Goals can be tactical or mental, focusing on aspects like sticking to tactics or managing negative feelings.

High levels of stress can hinder performance, and focusing on controllable factors can help manage stress.

External factors like weather and surface should be ignored to maintain focus on controllable aspects of the game.

Control is key in managing stress, similar to the difference in fear levels when driving versus being a passenger.

Upcoming video will discuss how to be mentally strong during a match.

Transcripts

how many times per year do you lose a

match and you end up the match thinking

that your opponent was much too strong

and that you had no chance to win the

match not many times no no no most of

the time you end up the match thinking

that you could have won and when you say

that to yourself I hear I should have

won so what should you have done to win

you might think that you should have

played better on the most important

points you should have stick to the

tactics you should have stayed focused

on every point take more your chances

when you had the opportunities avoid

feeling angry and frustrated that this

ring a bell this being said most of the

elements that differentiate a victory

from a defeat are mental and what is

true at the Leisure level is also true

at the highest level this brings to the

main question how do I progress on the

mental

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side there are two key moments that as a

player you should use to be mentally

efficient in matches before the match

what I would call the preparation and

during the match which is between every

point and at every change over today

we're going to talk about how to prepare

mentally for a tennis match and later

I'll do a video on how to be strong

mentally during the match compared to

other sports tennis is providing a lot

of breaks and time to think did you know

that the time that you actually really

play tennis during a match represents

less than 20% of the time that just says

that 8 % of the match time could be used

to be mentally ready to perform

unfortunately it's used by most of the

players as a distraction time what I

mean is that players speak to themselves

in a way that makes them weaker a lot of

coaches speak about the body language

they want the players to have a positive

body language the only problem with that

is that the body language translates

what you tell yourself what you think

deep inside can you imagine a player

thinking I play so bad I'm such a loser

and at the same time have a positive

body language of course not body

language won't change the way you think

and won't change the way you speak to

yourself I don't believe that but on the

other hand if you are able to modify the

way you speak to yourself and emphasize

it with the adequate body language then

the combination becomes the most

powerful tool that you can build when

you get ready for the competition you

need to have clear goals I'm sure that

the immense majority of you just go to

the match without any goal if you do so

you have no grip on whether you'll win

or lose if you are on a great day you'll

probably win and you'll probably lose

most of the other days which actually

are are much more frequent too many

players focus on the wrong things

winning winning is not a goal winning is

a reward this is not a good goal forget

it playing well it doesn't depend on you

you can decide decide to play well so it

cannot be a goal it's interesting to see

that players who care too much about

playing well end up frustrated most of

the time they are the guys that you hear

saying I don't feel the ball today when

you set up your goals there are four

elements that you have to consider first

those goals have to depend only on you

for example you decide that you will

pump your fist on every point or you

decide that you will stay maximum 1 M

away from the Baseline the whole mat an

example of a bad goal would be I will

play deep you can decide that you will

play every shot with the goal to play

dip considering that it's better to play

out to deep than in the service box but

you cannot decide to play deep because

this is only a

wish two they have to be realistic set

goals that you know you have a good

chance to be able to make three you have

to set goals that if they are completed

you consider that you have a big chance

to win the match and at the same time

it's very important that your goals

develop your style of tennis for the

future four set up a maximum of three

goals not more if you go to a match with

too many goals you'll forget half of

them and you'll get confused when to

prepare for the match I would say as

late as possible I hate to do it the day

before with the players because they

kept thinking about it most of the time

they don't spend a good night they kind

of overthink they can come with too much

stress less energy because they burn a

lot of energy thinking and overthinking

about the match the morning of the match

write down your goals and I would say 30

minutes before entering the court read

it and make sure they are in your mind

and promise this to yourself I know that

those goals are ideal to win the match

but it's more important for me to live

the court having respected my goals than

winning the goals can be tactical or

mental it can be for example I will

stick stick to my opponent's back end

until I get a short ball and then I will

attack this is a tactical goal but it

can also be something like every time I

have a negative feeling during the match

I will tell this sentence to myself

sometimes you go to the match and the

level of stress is so high that you are

unable to play your tennis you have this

level of stress all the time because

your focus is not on goals that only

depend on you but on other things that

you cannot control when your focus is

there the fact that you don't have

control on it brings the level of stress

to a very high level easy to understand

somebody drives a car 200 km per hour

you are super scared you drive the same

speed but you have the wheel you are

much less scared because in one case you

feel you have the control in the other

case somebody else has it once again the

only way to lower your stress level is

to stay focused on things that you

control control all the exterior factors

like the weather the surface so many

things that can enter your mind you put

them out you focus only on what makes

you perform well we're done for the

match preparation now if you have any

question regarding it or regarding any

mental question feel free to leave me a

comment and I will be happy to answer

get ready for the next video about the

mental which will be about how to deal

on the mental side during a match and if

you like my videos subscribe to my

YouTube channel see

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