Preparation is this month’s focused deep dive into the “12 Habits of Highly Successful Tennis Players” that were outlined last December. Yesterday’s post describes things the top players in Adult recreational-competitive tennis do to prepare for match day. Today we are backing up in time to explore what those players do in the week leading up to tournament competition.
There is a distinct difference in how the best players arrange their travel for a national-level event compared to purely recreational players. The most serious players arrive on site a day or two before the tournament begins. They use that time to acclimate to local conditions as well as the playing surface. It would never occur to them to arrive just in time for their first match.
In the week leading up to the event, the top players in tennis make sure their racquet bag is packed with the items they are likely to need during the tournament. They almost never suddenly discover that they are out of overgrips or other consumable gear. It is no coincidence that I was unable to find anyone with seriously expired food items in their bag at the National Senior Women’s Clay Court Championships in Houston earlier this year.
Some casual recreational players often ramp up their on-court training the week before a tournament. That is sort of the competitive equivalent of cramming for a test. On the other hand, the top players will taper their training to conserve energy in anticipation of a long tournament run.
Once the draw is out, the most serious players will reach out to people in their circle for scouting reports on their likely opponents. They use that information for how they play to approach the match against specific people. Not only do they walk out on the court with Plans A, B, and C already formulated, those plans were likely constructed days in advance.
In fact, the very best players in tennis will use those game plans to practice and fine-tune specific tactics that they intend to use against their anticipated opponents. Additionally, the week before an event, they may work on shots that are specific to the surface. For example, some players without access to grass courts will rally with green dot Quick-Start balls that somewhat simulate a grass court bounce.
The top players in Senior Adult tennis are meticulous in their preparation. They have spent a lifetime achieving an elite level of competitive mastery. They will do everything within their power to be ready for peak performance in the week leading into a tournament.
Throughout 2023 I am exploring the 12 Habits of Highly Successful Tennis Players. A complete summary of all posts on that topic and what is coming up for the remainder of this year can be found on the 12 Habits of Highly Successful Tennis Players homepage.
