The Sports Psychology Blog
Today's Sports Psychology blog examines the statement from Andy Roddick, that he is still not over his surprise Wimbledon exit. How should a top player get over a shock defeat?
Tennis: Andy Roddick - Gasquet On His Mind?
It's a month after Wimbledon and Andy Roddick is still not over his quarter-final defeat at the hands of Richard Gasquet. Andy says that the best therapy is to get back out there and play. True - yes. Better to be playing than brooding. But it's not the answer.
It's good that Andy is not over his defeat. Good because something in him is niggled by it. It won't let go. It doesn't add up to him. Losing to Gasquet? No that's not right.
This niggle is maybe trying to tell him something. To look at the quarter-final. And analyse it. Not his shot making so much. More his thinking. His responses. His strategy. His gesture to coach Jimmy Connors when Gasquet was in full flow. A hands to the heavens gesture of 'what can I do?'
To really look into himself. he may discover something about himself he hadn't realised. A dominant psychology...a behaviour pattern that is subtly holding him back. Preventing him for tapping into the 1%. The 1%...the place he needs to find to beat Federer and Nadal. A place beyond effort...enthusiasm and passion.
It can be done. But not on the tennis court.
