Tennis: The right way to deal with “myth players”.

Many players seem invincible.However, in many cases, the greatest strength of these players is their reputation.

“So Patrick, from the club in the city next door, is really unbeatable in our league because of his speed.You probably also know the players from your league around whom such myths are entwined.One player is said to be barely beatable, while another player has not played a set since nine games.The greatest strength of these players is their reputation.If you then have to face one of these seemingly “invincible” players, you have a completely distorted picture in your head.Your preparation for such a match is a much more uneasy one than when you go into a match without much thought against an opponent you do not know.Let’s find out why it’s so difficult against such “myth players” and what you can do about it.

A reputation like that has an effect.You automatically place the players with the call of the “barely beatable” on a podium.From there they grin at you, wave and you look up to them.You make them in your mind and imagination much bigger and stronger than they actually are.So you’re wasting more energy than you do against other opponents in a real match on the pitch well before the match.Before the first rally, the cards already seem to be clearly distributed.You don’t even know this player on the podium.You can’t see him as an individual player with his strengths and weaknesses, because you only have his reputation in mind.But each player has his or her own individual strengths and weaknesses.Raising your opponent to an extremely high level will make it harder for you to discover these strengths and weaknesses in a match.With every good ball of this opponent, it will drive you through your head:”Yes, it’s true.This guy’s way too good for this league.What am I supposed to do about it?”.Your reality is distorted.

Since you are not Rafael Nadal, you have limited energy available for a match, both mentally and physically.You tend to burn your energies very quickly against these “unbeatable” opponents in both areas.Maybe you’ll lead 3:1, but then lose 3:6 and 1:6.Why is that so?Your concentration and stamina are running at full speed up to 3:1.Again and again you are mentally busy with the call of your opponent after almost every rally.You’re wondering why you’re leading.And you are convinced that this cannot be true.Your concentration on reality, the match, is disappearing like the big advantage in Novak Djokovic’s world rankings: rapid.In the first movement you put in all the energy that is available to you, and then lose the second movement completely flat and without sound.You underestimate the mental aspect.You underestimate the podium on which you have hoisted your opponent before the match.You underestimate your own abilities on the field.All of this means that you are somehow close to these opponents in the match, but you can’t get past them.

Let the other players talk.Nobody is unbeatable.Don’t put any of your opponents on a podium, from which you can’t get him down afterwards.This way you can save your energy budget and can play the match with full concentration and stamina.See each player with their individual strengths and weaknesses.And use them, too.Put aside all the opinions of others and see only what reality shows you.It’s the match on the court.The further you get your opponent off the podium, the better you will be able to concentrate on the match.You will also be focused on the important points and recognize your chances and use them in the best case.Instead of being stunned at 3-1, you’ll find that you have no more energy for the rest of the match.