Beat Your Nemesis

You know your skills are roughly the same. You beat players he loses to. Your strokes even look better. Yet for some reason, you can't beat him. Not to worry, you're in good company. At one time or another, most of us have fallen victim to a player we know we can beat. Whether it's his playing style, or your inner critic chastising you for every missed ball, each match with this opponent is a struggle. If this has been happening to you, try these mental strategies to conquer your nemesis.

Avoid getting consumed with the prospect of winning or losing. Instead, focus on the feel and flight of the ball, especially during the warm-up, in order to calm your mind. Your goal is to stay absorbed in the process by focusing only on what is most relevant to your performance–the ball, executing your strategy, and staying loose between points.

Recognize your tendency to become impatient or overly conservative. Going for too much at inappropriate moments and playing cautiously on important points are common problems during matches that you're desperate to win. This becomes even more challenging against players who don't give you much pace, because you have more time to think and hesitate before each shot. Remember, your opponent wants to suck you into playing his or her game. Focusing on moving the ball around with a sense of purpose and within your range of ability should help you develop a balance between playing authoritatively and consistently.

Don't measure success strictly by the outcome. While it's motivating to want to beat a particular player, be sure that you maintain a healthy long-term perspective on your game. Many great shots and mini-successes happen in every match whether you win or lose. Working toward the style of game that you want to have in the long term will help you relax and play more freely, even in tight matches. Ironically, this mind-set will probably also help you win more often without even thinking about it.

Don't get hung up on or intimidated by past results. You don't want thoughts like, "Oh no, not again" or "I'll never beat him" to creep into your head. Once that starts, you're doomed to repeat your mistakes. Instead, before the match, visualize yourself playing the way you know that you can, going for your shots, having fun, moving the ball around, and being confident. See this image clearly and know that every match is another opportunity to play your best tennis.

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