You're a solid player. You can hit your forehand and backhand, have a decent serve, solid volleys, and move pretty well (all things considered). At this point, you are beating up on your usual suspects. You play with many of the same people throughout the winter season; you continuously beat the same players while also not being able to get over the hump of certain opponents.
Where do you go from here? How do you take the next step in your tennis game? How do you beat the players right above you? The good news is that you are repeatedly losing to the same players; there are likely patterns. Let's begin!
1. Be Willing to Lose
You see it all the time on the ATP and WTA: a certain opponent is 0-11 vs. another and has only won 3 sets in 11 total matches. How does that happen? Simple: You have one player who is relaxed and playing stress-free tennis while the other is holding their racket too tight from start to finish.
I see it this way: your standard game is not enough to win; be objective here. How you beat lesser players just don't get it done at the next level. That's why it's the next level. To break through, you need to give yourself permission to lose. I'm not saying to play wild and slap the ball, but there needs to be a certain element of freedom to reach the next level. A freedom that lets you know that it's not the end of the world if you lose. Losing isn't the enemy; fear of losing is.
2. Why & How are you losing?
Where do things unravel for you? Is it a technical breakdown or a mental lapse? To turn the page and start beating up on those tougher opponents, you need to understand how and why players are beating you. Do you have a tough time regrouping after being broken? Do you need to work on your shot selection?
Most tennis players know the answers to these questions, but if you don't, ask around. Speak with friends or players you are close with and get their feedback. They are likely to have valuable and accurate insights. Once you have the info, you need to be able to use it to your advantage and adjust accordingly.
3. Change in Tactics
When playing opponents who are a level below you, you can get away with certain things. Poor shot selection, a lack of depth, or mental lapses. When playing against the next level up, these players will make you pay more consistently for your mistakes than the lesser players. What makes you successful at the 4.0 level could be your detriment at the 4.5 level. Trying to beat a tougher opponent with the same strategy often won't work.
Do your best to diagnose your opponent early on. Figure out what makes them uncomfortable and then overdose on that. It won't be easy, but it is straightforward.
4. Take Notes
You just lost. You are about to leave the club and play depressing music for the ride home. However, before you do so, take a paper, a pen, or a notepad on your phone and debrief. Write down what your opponent did well, what you did well, what you can improve on, and what you would do next time you play that opponent. Too often, we lose and don't learn anything from it. However, you must change how you approach the match to break this streak of losing to a specific opponent.
If you are sick of losing, take notes. Review those notes before the next time you play your arch-nemesis. You now have a game plan; you no longer throw darts blindly at a wall, hoping to hit a bullseye.
