Dear Nick, I have a question about my 13-year-old daughter. She is a solid player and plays in a lot of tournaments. Lately though, she has been struggling with consistency. On the first day of a tournament, she plays like her usual self. Come day two, it’s a different story: Lack of focus, overhitting the ball and almost no heart. She warms up and gets ready for her matches the exact same way. It is very hard for me to understand. Please help.—Goran Rudic, Oakville, Ontario
Have you ever heard of down time? It appears that your daughter may be tired from so many tournaments, and it’s time to spend a little less time on the court and more time in the gym working on her strength and cardio-specific drills. Keep in mind that it’s a proven fact that when consistency falters, the student is tired. When making contact with the ball, the student’s lower body begins to sway and that affects the face of the racquet.
Nick Bollettieri found the IMG Bollettieri Academy in 1978. He has coached 10 players that have gone on to rank No. 1 in the world.
**Have a question for legendary coach Nick Bollettieri?
Write to him and he’ll consider your question for a future column.**
Mail it to: Nick Bollettieri
c/o Tennis Magazine
48 West 21st Street, Sixth Floor,
New York, NY 10010;
Or email it to: asknick@tennis.com