Hello, Mr. Nick. My name is Carlton and I play tennis for my high school in DeKalb County, Ga. I have a problem when it comes to being nervous during matches. I don’t know how to overcome my fear and this causes my confidence to go down during matches. What advice would you give to a beginner like me when it comes to overcoming your nervousness? Thank you.—Keith Tayones
Keith, your opponent is just as nervous as you are—that’s for sure. The main thing is, don’t think that being nervous is a negative. It will be part of your entire life. When you get nervous on court, try the following:
- Hit to big targets (not close to the lines)
2. Move your feet (take small steps and move between points)
3. Take something off your first serve and increase your first serve percentage
4. Have fun—that’s why you’re out there in the first place.
Dear Nick, I play against a guy who hits the ball with an awkward snap of his wrist and it does not look like a correct swing. The ball leaves his racquet so fast that even though I’m in the ready position, I cannot move quickly enough to get a good swing at it. I also really cannot gauge if the ball is going slow or fast. How can I better prepare for erratic, hard-to-read balls coming at different speeds?—Michael
It’s difficult to read wristy groundstrokes. One thing to do: Pay close attention during the warm-up. You can often discover patterns of play as your opponent tries out various shots. Another great way to make it easier to read what your opponent does is to make it more difficult for him to do what he wants. If you hit the ball deep and high, you’re going to get more predictable replies because your opponent will be on the defensive.
Have a question for Nick? Write to him at asknick@tennis.com
Nick Bollettieri of the Bollettieri Tennis Academy has trained many collegiate and professional players, including 10 who reached the world No. 1 ranking.
