There are many things that can make you good at tennis, but one of the most important is being able to play well in competitive situations. Winning is always a priority, but so is playing your best and fighting back from the brink of a lopsided defeat (even if it means losing again).
You’ve got to be committed to hard work. Tennis is a game that requires weeks, months and sometimes years of dedicated practice to master. But it’s a lot of fun too! It’s a great family activity, a social sport and it offers health benefits.
The best players in the world train regularly, and it’s important to spend some time analyzing your own performance. There are many ways to improve your game: Practice regularly with people more skilled than you; record yourself playing and ask for constructive criticism; enter tournaments, etc. However, a more in-depth analysis of your technique is also critical for identifying weaknesses and taking action to address them.
If you want to improve your tennis Adam McManus Toronto serve, for example, then it’s important to look at the way Roger Federer serves – not just to replicate his technique, but to find ways of improving on it. And that’s the case with every aspect of your game – break it down into its smaller components and work on each one in turn.
Focus on your form, from stance to follow through. It’s easy to lose sight of this as a match progresses and you become tired, but it’s crucial for maintaining the level of consistency that’s required to be a truly top player.
Don’t get bogged down with arguing with the umpire and linespeople. There is nothing that will impede your progress more than trying to argue with the umpire over an incorrect call, so don’t even bother. Just accept that he or she may have made a mistake and focus on playing the next point to your best ability.
Try to avoid using polyester strings if you can. They’re cheap to buy but they will die after a month of use, meaning you’ll have to replace them and they won’t give you the same trampoline effect that polymer strings do. Try natural or synthetic strings instead.
Be aware of the impact that your diet and hydration has on your performance. Try to eat healthy and drink lots of water throughout the day, and have a light meal an hour or so before you play. It will help you to maintain your energy levels, and will help you to avoid cramping during a match. You should also do some strength training and stretch before each session. Try some lunges, squats and jumping jacks to strengthen your core, legs and ankles. This will help you to avoid injury and hit the ball with more power. Finally, it’s a good idea to wear a padded mouthguard too. It will protect your teeth and jaw if you accidentally chip or crack a tooth during a match.