Tennis Psychology: Andy Murray – Don’t Be Ordinary!

So Andy Murray bows out of the Australian Open at the hands of Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry. There was something poignant about Andy’s demeanour as the first-round match drifted away from him. Head bowed. A feeling of inevitability. Nothing really coming off. It never used to be like this. Andy Murray had an elite level ability to turn matches around. Especially against lesser opponents. Go to the chair one-set down. Think. Solve Problems. Strategise. Win Match. When you have graced the game at the highest level for so long, it’s not easy to have to deal with feelings of ordinariness. […]

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Tennis Psychology: Novak Djokovic – The Will Of Winning!

And so Novak Djokovic adds an eighth Australian Open title, to his collection of Grand Slam titles. At times yesterday, during his five-setter with Dominic Thiem he looked on the rack. Exhausted. Heading for defeat. But you underestimate Djokovic at your peril. He has a deep well of inner resources to draw on, that sustain him through on court difficulties. Resources forged during his childhood. That prepare him for adversity. It’s not just an outright refusal to lose. It’s more than that. It’s the ability to change the game dynamics through an inner will. A reversal of polarities, akin to […]

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Tennis Psychology: Naomi Osaka – Robotic!

And so Naomi Osaka adds another Grand Slam title to her collection. A hard-fought best of three sets win over Petra Kvitova, showed that last autumn’s win at Flushing Meadows was no fluke. or one-off. What seems so impressive about Naomi is her sense of clarity. In the post match press conference, she explains a little about her inner process. “You know how some people get worked up about things? That’s a very human thing to do. Sometimes I feel like I don’t want to waste my energy doing stuff like that. “In the third set of my match today, I […]

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Tennis Psychology: Alexander Zverev – Meltdown!

It’s the fourth round of the Australian Open in Melbourne, and Alexander Zverev is under the cosh. One set down to Milos Raonic. the number four seed is faring no better in the second set. When suddenly all his frustrations get the better of him. Four-one down and with his second serve failing him, the German goes into meltdown, and destroys his racquet in an impressive display of systematic destruction! Sometime a racquet smashing interlude can release a lot of pent up frustration and help a player regroup and refocus. Or it can tip them to a point of no […]

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Tennis Psychology: Andy Murray – Breaking The Stop Situation!

And so the final curtain is set to be drawn on Andy Murray’s tennis career. He may have one or two final games left in the tank. But he will be carrying on in glorious spirit, rather than in able body. Murray joins the likes of Freddie Flintoff and Jonny Wilkinson, in paying a big physical price for carrying the nations hopes on his shoulders. For years all the summer talk was of will we ever have a Wimbledon champion again? It’s been the 1930’s since Fred Perry ruled supreme. Roger Taylor. Jeremy Bates. Tim Henman and others couldn’t overcome […]

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Tennis Psychology: Naomi Osaka – Sulking!

It’s the aftermath of Naomi Osaka’s Brisbane Open loss to Leisa Tsurenko. A poor performance from the US Open Champion, has led to some frank admissions in the press conference. “I feel like I had the worst attitude today,” she said. “I feel like I didn’t really know how to cope with not playing well. I don’t know … I was sulking a little bit? There were moments when I tried not to do that, but then the ball wouldn’t go in and I would go back to being childish. These aren’t the sort of public utterances you would normally […]

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Tennis Psychology: Roger Federer – One More Moment!

The Virgin Queen Elizabeth !, said on her death bed, ‘I would give all my worldly possessions, for one more precious moment of life’. A sentiment that came to mind at Melbourne yesterday evening. After a titanic struggle with Rafael Nadal. Roger Federer secured his eighteenth Grand Slam. As the umpire called game, set and match, Roger looked joyous. moved, disbelieving, euphoric and all other emotional points north of happy! When you have been a great champion, you wonder if you will ever experience one of those special Sunday Grand Slam moments, ever again. Could you, for one special fortnight, […]

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Tennis Psychology: Novak Djokovic – Beyond Tennis!

It’s not unusual anymore for sports professionals to work with psychologists. The mind plays such a critical part in sporting success. They also work with therapists, to look to heal difficult and challenging personal issues from the past, It is unusual. however, for a top player to bring a spiritual guru into their team. Which is exactly what Novak Djokovic appears to have done. The world number one has turned to former tennis player, Pepe Imaz who now preaches the gospel of love and peace, through meditation and other self-reflective techniques. Will this translates into Novak’s results? Can love make […]

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Tennis Psychology: Nick Kyrgios – Bored!

Its the Shanghai Masters. And Nick Kyrgios is making an early exit. His defeat to world number 110, Mischa Zyerev would only be a shock if the Australian was giving it 100%. Which he isnt. Complaining of boredom and tiredness, Nick once again incurs the wrath of the Australian sporting community with an un-committed performance. And of course the pundits start hawking the same questions…’Why does he do it?’…‘where’s his respect for the game?‘…’What could he achieve if he was really bothered?‘. None of which seems to trouble Nick Kyrgios. He’s making his way nicely up the rankings. And occasionally […]

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