This post continues my ongoing series of Tuesday training topics inspired by the Netflix docuseries Carlos Alcaraz: My Way. In one memorable clip, Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal are shown before a doubles match at the Paris 2024 Olympics. However, rather than discussing strategy, they are instead leaning over a board game.
The doubles partnership of Nadal and Alcaraz was eagerly anticipated, especially by those outside the tennis world who assumed that two Spanish superstars would automatically thrive together. They won their first two matches, but eventually fell in the quarterfinals to the American duo of Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek, both of whom are actual doubles players.
I don’t think I’ve ever played this particular board game myself, yet the moment I saw it, I recognized it as Parcheesi. It’s one of those classic games that seems woven into the fabric of childhood and family life. From my admittedly uninformed perspective, Parcheesi is a game of patience, setbacks, and occasional triumphs that is part luck and part strategy. If so, that would mirror the mental landscape of tennis, where a well-played point can collapse with a bad bounce or tip of the net cord.
Regardless of any tennis parallels, playing a board game before a match can help shift the mind into a looser and lighter state. Rather than pacing nervously or tightening under pressure, Alcaraz and Nadal were sharing laughter and rolling the dice in friendly competition. In the process, they were also putting their minds into a relaxed but alert state that supports peak performance.
For recreational players, the takeaway isn’t that you need to specifically add Parcheesi to your pre-match routine. However, it is important to keep in mind that any play can be powerful preparation. Previously, I have written about Aryna Sabalenka playing the card game Uno with her team and how Iga Swiatek frequently puts together LEGO sets before competing. Additionally, a post about a proximity game Jannik Sinner was seen playing with his team during a rain delay earlier this year falls into the same category. Whether it’s a card game, a puzzle, or simply joking with friends, these activities put our brains into an excellent mode for competition.
Sometimes the best way to prepare for a match isn’t hitting more balls. It’s rolling the dice, relaxing, and having fun to take the edge off.
Parcheesi Royal Edition (<- Sponsored Link)
Fiend At Court participates in the Amazon Associates program and receives a paid commission on any purchases made via the links in this article. Details on the disposition of proceeds are available on the “About Fiend at Court” page.
