Believing you can win

Dallas Aleman | Towpath Tennis Owner | Tennis Guru

History was made this last week. A Japanese player Kei Nishikori won the Barcelona Clay Court Championships! Nadal, Ferrer and all the other clay court specialist were out. That is the equivalent to having a Japanese basketball team come to the US and win the NBA Championships!  

It just goes to show that no one ever has a lock on winning just because they're seeded. One of the biggest misnomers in tennis is the seeding process. This is especially true for players who are new to the tournament circuit.

The inexperienced player is going to be either intimidated or in awe playing against a top tournament seed, and more often than not, will cave and accept a loss without exploiting all their strengths. The first seed will win on reputation and history alone, which to many players may seem like a cushiony spot in the draw. However, it's the first seed that has the most pressure than anyone else in the tournament since they have a lot to live up to. 

So everyone is asking, "What is wrong with Nadal?" I argue that nothing is wrong with Nadal. He may be ranked #1 in the world, but it's the rest of the field that now believes that they can beat him. This makes holding that slight edge so much harder for him. 

Tennis is all about believing. If you have the belief, heart, and you back it up with practice and play, it will go a long way. 

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Tournament bag checklist

Kristianne Bontempo | Towpath Tennis Employee | Legit Tennis Fanatic

With the Akron Open days away, we wanted to help our competitors prepare for their matches by creating a checklist of necessary equipment/accessories you should have during a tournament weekend.

1. At least 2 racquets - If one string were to break, you'll have a backup ready to go.
2. Water and lots of it - You should be drinking water on EVERY changeover. Make sure you provide yourself with enough water to get through a possible 3hr match, especially on a hot day. Never assume the facility has water on the courts.
3. Hat, visor, sunglasses, sunblock if outside - Having to serve in the sun is just as painful as having burnt shoulders that are hot to the touch. Make sure to protect your eyes and your skin.
4. Spare clothing - For those ultra sweaty moments whether it's a change in shirt, sweatbands, socks, or shoes.
5. Wallet - In case you need money for vending, nearby restaurants, or a last minute stop at the pro shop for stringing.
6. Small first aid kit - Be prepared with some basic essentials; band-aids, medical tape, ibuprofen, and braces if needed.
7. Extra hair ties (ladies) - We can't tell you how many times we've heard on the court, 'Does anyone have a hair tie?"
8. Towel - Expect to sweat!
9. Snacks - You never know if the tournament will be offering food, so bring along little baggies of some energy boosting foods that will keep you going throughout the match (ex. bananas, nuts, energy bars, etc.)
10. Check the tournament site for time, location, and directions - If you've already checked, check again! You never know when there might be a last minute change due to weather or other match conflicts.

Not necessary but helpful to have:

1. Extra pair of shoelaces, dampeners
2. Nail filer
3. Cooler for drinks with ice
4. Icy hot for a quick muscle fix
5. Blanket or lawn chair for spectating

Mental Toughness Tip: Positive Body Language

Kristianne Bontempo | Towpath Tennis Employee | Legit Tennis Fanatic

The key to having positive body language is to get yourself into the right mindset, meaning you want a good attitude that exudes confidence. But come on, we've been in those down and out matches and sometimes the only thing keeping you going is the fact that this ugly match is almost over. We don't expect you to perform psychological magic, but do as the pros do--fake it til you make it!


Juvante Johnson keeps alert at Towpath

1) No slouching! Slouching is a sign of defeat so walk around with your shoulders back--even if you are down 0-5.

2) Stop dragging your feet. The last thing you want is for your opponent to see you're tired. Even if your feet feel like bricks, kick them around a bit to prove you still have some gas in the tank.

3) Run don't walk. Every so often, pick up a light jog while retrieving a ball or getting back into ready position. Even in the 5th set of the French Open, we saw Nadal gunning to the baseline after a changeover. This will not only energize you but it will terrify your opponent into thinking you aren't getting enough of a workout from them.

4) Get enthusiastic! If you're playing doubles, your forced enthusiasm can be contagious. Soon your slumping partner will have an extra skip in her step too.

Stick with these tips and before you know it, you're game will rise up to your attitude.

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Mental Toughness Tip: Positive Visualization

Dallas Aleman | Towpath Tennis Owner | Tennis Guru

Do you find yourself freezing up at critical points, playing great in practice but lousy in competition, or letting self-doubt creep into the back of your mind? Guess what, we ALL do! Even the pros have their mental meltdowns at times. Your mind controls your body so the key is to train your mind to work for you.

Competitive play should be a happy positive experience where improving is the goal. Many of the struggles with getting better relate to how you visualize your upcoming matches, since the active imagination has no trouble envisioning the negative outcomes. The thing is, positive visualization doesn't actually decrease your chances of failing, but it does increase the odds of success.

Anyone can tell you to think positively but sometimes that's easier said than done. Whether your slumping during a match or having trouble sleeping the night before a big tournament, take this as an opportunity to try these positive visualization techniques.

• Imagine yourself loose, even if that means physically shaking out your legs and arms.
• Visualize hitting the perfect shot; an ace out wide, a forehand down the line, an overhead smash-whatever gets you going.
• Repeat the image in your mind of your perfect shot over and over and over again. 
• Envision the win. Don't get me wrong, you don't want to jump the gun but allowing yourself to see the end result is encouraging.   

These and many more positive thoughts are the way you create pathways and environments where a winning environment can take place. This not only programs your mind to think positively, but it will help you gain confidence and belief that just because your down 0-5 in a match, you can still come back and win-it's happened! So continue testing out these positive visualization techniques and let us know, does it work for you?


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