Almost...

Mental State Wins, Although I Didn't Quite

I started playing a 4.0-4.5 singles group; it is primarily for practice, no points won or lost beyond the match score. So, it is not a ladder or league, just few guys filling in time playing similarly skilled players.

So, the first question is what the heck am I doing in the group? My game improved enough that the club's perception is I can hang with this group to some degree. Also, they did not meet their participant quota :)

Regardless, I am happy to have the chance to play with this tough group, and I had my first match recently. The gentleman was older by at least a decade, but he has been playing for over 20 years and clearly had a better overall game than mine. Strong forehand, a wicked slice backhand with occasional topspins, solid volleys and an effective serve with better than mediocre pace. More importantly he had better court coverage than me. 

First few games we were testing ourselves and one another. I was relaxed as I wasn't on court to win, but to play well to my own standards. I want to make my shots, minimize my double faults and unforced errors. What I felt good about the first few games was that my body was relaxed and warmed up (I had run about a mile at medium pace prior to the match just to make sure my joints are not tight, which happens frequently).

We were at 2-2 and was my turn to serve. As it happens to me often, my serves locked up, lost the rhythm and had two double faults in addition to one unforced error and a winner from my opponent; game was his in short order. 

During his serve at 3-2 we had three deuces, I had multiple winners and he had few errors of his own, but eventually he won out to 2-4. After that I had another bad serve game and he had a good one finishing up the set at 2-6. The best part was that I was still play better than I was expecting and I was really enjoying the struggle, I felt I had an increased focus starting the second set.

I improved my serves, was moving even better than the first set, and I had more confidence. We were at 3-1 on my favor with my opponent giving away a serve game with three double faults. I won my serve game without any double faults to bring it to 3-2, then my opponent had another really bad serve game with two double faults and I was up 4-2. From that point my confidence was so high that my unforced errors were non-existent and I was spraying winners. I won the second set decisively, I was smiling ear to ear, it felt so good. We ran out of court time to play a tie-breaker and that was just fine with me.

I did not win or lose, it was a draw and probably my most satisfying match since my return to the game. This match made it clear to me how much the mental game dictates the results. I was on court to play well and not necessarily win, which kept me relaxed and gave me the chance to improve my shots, which in return improved my confidence, and it was all a positive snowballing effect from that point.

I suspect the reverse is true for my opponent. He won the first few games easily and then struggled more than he was expecting towards the end of the first set. At the beginning of the second set he started to make multiple double faults, which agitated him, tightening him up and missing more of his shots. At the same time, I was making some great shots cross-court, in-line or inside-out that compound my opponents problems. 

Experiencing such emotional exchanges and changes is something I haven't had in a tennis game for a long time, so this was unique for me. I could recognize the impact as it was happening and I hope I won't forget this lesson and avoid the peaks of mental game and have a more steady state moving forward.

Interestingly, on the side court match the losing player threw his racquet so hard it broke the wooden scoring board. They left the court without saying any words to one another; whereas my opponent and me were just chatting in good spirits as we called it the night.