The Real Mental Game
Ways to get more out of your abilities
As a player, I’ve never found hockey to be especially challenging from a mental perspective. In a tight game, I’m either excited to hop off the bench to make a difference (if I’m feeling good), or hopeful that a teammate can win it for us (if I’m not).
Tennis is a whole other matter. As a singles player, I haven’t always had the best relationship with pressure. I’ve choked, I’ve tanked and I’ve smashed a thousand dollars’ worth of racquets since high school. In time, however, the sport has helped me develop a more complete outlook on what it means to be a mentally tough competitor.
Here’s a few things I reflected upon while watching Brandon Nakashima (world #31) take on Titouan Droguet (world #119) in a 2:30 late-night battle at the Canadian Open.
The most effective way to loosen up is to give yourself the permission to lose
Nakashima loses the first set against a free-swinging Droguet, but he knows that top-50 players routinely lose to top-200 players. Acknowledging the possibility of defeat helps Nakashima keep negative emotions at bay, which allows him to find solutions
Confidence means sticking to your B game if that’s all you have in the moment
Droguet is playing 9/10 and Nakashima, 7/10. Nakashima focuses on capitalizing on easy shots while merely extending the rally on more challenging ones. Two hours in, he’s yet to win but is still in the fight
Competitive experience helps you find the balance between underplaying (choking/being too safe) and overplaying (tanking/taking too many risks) in big moments
Droguet manages his match brilliantly until 5-6 in the final set. He overplays the first point and underplays the following two, giving Nakashima three match points at 0-40
Coaches/parents/mentors can help you find your way, but ultimately you’re the one who decides
Droguet claws back the next two points by taking the initiative. At 30-40 he again presses forward. Nakashima replies with a low-percentage shot he hadn’t attempted all match. His sharply angled forehand passing shot from way off the court seals a 4-6 6-2 7-5 win