A Great Day of Tennis--How the Right Mindset can be a Great Weapon
What more can we ask for? Playing tennis at the Isleworth Country Club, a beautiful sunny day (high of 70). Mimosas in the morning as you are watching your friends play an amazing match. The only bummer is that I'm sitting on the sidelines with a broken foot :( But was there as the dutiful captain and cheerleader for my team.
The opponents this day were the number 1 team in our league. I realized that it's just so exhilarating to go into a match feeling that you are quite possibly out of your league... That you are just going to do your best and hope that you keep it close. Then to your amazement you actually pull out the second set and have forced what was thought the better team to go to a 3rd set. No one should ever under estimate the level of pressure the 17-1 opponents, has on them. They are suppose to win. They have all the pressure. My teammates, my friends just kept calm, had fun, played steady. They didn't let the opponents get into their heads, in their minds they had already won simply by taking that second set, now they really had nothing to lose. The third set was on, they stayed calm and just played one point at a time. It's funny how everything you learn about the mental aspects of the game are true. Even when you are maybe out matched in the physical aspects of the game... a good partnership and calm mind can win the toughest of matches! Yay for my team~ up the entire 3rd set 3-6, 6-3, 6-3!! What a great day! This is what club tennis is all about! I love my team and this sport.
Yes, a great win for my teammates. And to celebrate this great win, and to put us in an even better mindset, our team decided to have lunch at a great bistro on the west side of of Orlando: Yellow Dog Eats. http://yellowdogeats.com
The opponents this day were the number 1 team in our league. I realized that it's just so exhilarating to go into a match feeling that you are quite possibly out of your league... That you are just going to do your best and hope that you keep it close. Then to your amazement you actually pull out the second set and have forced what was thought the better team to go to a 3rd set. No one should ever under estimate the level of pressure the 17-1 opponents, has on them. They are suppose to win. They have all the pressure. My teammates, my friends just kept calm, had fun, played steady. They didn't let the opponents get into their heads, in their minds they had already won simply by taking that second set, now they really had nothing to lose. The third set was on, they stayed calm and just played one point at a time. It's funny how everything you learn about the mental aspects of the game are true. Even when you are maybe out matched in the physical aspects of the game... a good partnership and calm mind can win the toughest of matches! Yay for my team~ up the entire 3rd set 3-6, 6-3, 6-3!! What a great day! This is what club tennis is all about! I love my team and this sport.
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Great article Gisele! Keep them coming!
ReplyDeleteThis is so funny! I know exactly what is like to show up to the courts and see one of those 17-1 players warming up across from you. So glad to hear the underdog took the victory!
ReplyDeleteI always find myself rooting for the underdog~ it's so much fun to watch and to be the underdog that overcomes those hurdles!!! Keep reading~ love the comments:)
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