Tennis: toughest sports mentally?

Why Tennis is it One of the Toughest Sports Mentally? Good mental strength is a necessary ingredient for success, no matter what sport you play. Each discipline, in its way, has its share of psychological demands.

I have played a multitude of sports in my life (soccer, cycling, basketball, etc.). Tennis is possibly the one that has made me lose my temper in the most significant way. I remember breaking my tennis racket with anger… certainly not proud of that.

Coming from me, a specialist in sports psychology, it may seem ironic. I confess I am a real competitor. Yes, I like to win...a lot! Given the work I do with athletes in mental preparation, I feel a certain responsibility to lead by example. It doesn't always work…

I will explain as clearly as possible why I believe that tennis is the sport for psychologically strong athletes.

Reason 1 - You are Alone on the Tennis Court

One of the great particularities of tennis is undoubtedly the fact that the players find themselves alone on the court. Players do not have access to their coaches throughout the game.

It is, therefore, impossible for the player amid battle to have the opinion, advice, and comfort of their coach. It’s a real mental challenge. The athlete is alone with themselves for hours.

Players would benefit from having their coach by their side. Again, the player struggling with a tough opponent may get lost inside the game and no longer see the solutions in front of them. The coach’s external outlook would be a real asset.

In all team sports, the coach is there for the athletes. The coach is leading their troops. In most other individual sports, the coach is never too far away either. In short, it's a situation that demands a lot of vision from the player. They must be able to coach themselves, or at least be constantly looking for solutions. What worked in the first round may not work in the second.

The game plan will have to evolve, and the player will therefore have to adapt according to what their opponent proposes to them. It is a constant battle. Only mentally strong players will succeed in finding the solutions to solve the puzzles that are presented to them. They still have to keep a cool head!

Reason 2 - You Will Make a Lot of Mistakes During a Tennis Game

If we sometimes say that football is a sport of mistakes, I think the same can be said of tennis. Which player will be the first to put the ball outside or directly into the net?

An excellent tennis player finds a way to bring a lot of the ball back into play. After all, tennis is relatively simple; it's putting one more ball in play than the opponent in front of you.

That being said, every player has more difficult parts of the game. It is to be expected, if you are a tennis player, you are going to miss shots... a lot!

Making mistakes is part of the reality of the tennis player. However, it can become very frustrating when they stack up or are done consecutively. This is why I argue that mentally tennis can become very difficult, especially in terms of mental.

In a tennis game, there are always ups and downs. The player wins one point, loses two more in a row, wins the next, loses the next one, and finally wins the other two.

Win by Winning Fewer Points Than the Opponent

It’s quite remarkable that a tennis player can win a match by losing more points than they won. Among players active since 1990, Federer holds the dubious distinction of having the worst record in so-called “Simpson’s Paradox” matches – those where the loser of the match wins more points than the winner.

Tennis oddly resembles a boxing match. The boxer wants to land as many blow as possible on their opponent to weaken them but knows very well that they will receive some in turn. Sometimes they even have to take several punches before hitting their target.

Does the boxer stop or get discouraged when they are hit by their opponent? Not. However, this is sometimes what we see in tennis players. They allow themselves to be affected by a mistake or by a nice shot from their opponent.

The tennis player is literally in a fight, and, indeed, it is sometimes challenging to stay positive. That’s why it’s essential to be mentally strong and have strategies to avoid discouragement. Controlling emotions is no small task but is a critical part of being successful in a sport where you face failure so often.

Reason 3 - In tennis, there is no time limit

Compared to a timed sport where there is a fixed amount of time, tennis continues until necessary. John Isner and Nicolas Mahut know it all too well; they hold the record for the longest tennis match in history.

Besides the fact that the match between Mahut and Isner lasted 11 hours and 5 minutes, it is interesting to note that Isner (the winner) scored 24 points fewer than his opponent (a nice example to illustrate the point presented in Reason 2 - you will miss a lot).

As long as the last ball is not played, anything is possible. Each point is important.

The player who is ahead cannot relax until the match is over. They know that if the opponent in front of them hangs on over and over, they can come back and maybe steal that victory.

The tennis player should remain alert and focused throughout. I'll say it again, but seen from this perspective, there are no points that are not worth playing seriously. The tennis player's concentration should be excellent from the first to the last ball.

Reason 4 - A lot of time to think

Tennis is far from being the sport with the highest actual playing time. Tennis players are not constantly running or chasing the ball, so there are moments when they can take a break and think about what they want to do next. However, this can be a double-edged sword.

While the time between points can be beneficial to some players to regain composure or strategize, it can also be detrimental to others. Negative thoughts can creep in, and players can start to overthink their next shot, which can lead to mistakes.

Additionally, the time between sets can be a real test of mental strength. The player may have won the first set and is feeling good, or he may have lost it and is struggling. In either case, he has to find a way to refocus for the next set.

Reason 5 - The pressure of individual performance

In team sports, there is always someone else to share the burden. If one player is not having a good day, others can step up and compensate. However, in tennis, there is no one else to rely on.

The pressure to perform falls solely on the player’s shoulders. There is no one to pass the ball to, no one to blame if things go wrong. It can be a lonely and stressful experience, but it can also be incredibly rewarding.

When a player wins, he knows that he did it on his own. He can take full credit for his success. But when he loses, he also knows that there is no one else to blame. It can be a humbling experience, but it can also be a great motivator to work harder and improve.

Conclusion

In conclusion, tennis is a tough sport mentally. Players are alone on the court, making a lot of mistakes, playing for an indefinite amount of time, with a lot of time to think, and under immense pressure to perform individually.

However, these challenges can also make tennis incredibly rewarding. Overcoming mental obstacles can be a great source of pride for players. Developing mental strength and resilience can also be valuable skills that translate to other areas of life.

I encourage tennis players to embrace the mental challenges of the sport and to work on their mental game. With the right mindset, mental preparation, and strategies, they can become mentally strong and successful athletes.

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