Have you ever been losing badly in a game or tennis match and thought you had no chance of coming back or winning? Chances are, you ended up losing. Why? Perhaps because your opponent was playing much better or you were performing below what you normally do. But more likely, you insured your loss by your strong belief that you would lose. It’s a self fulfilling prophecy. Because you no longer believe you can win, you start slacking off which allows your opponent to finish you off without trying too hard.
In the 2011 Wimbledon tennis quarter finals match, it would have been easy for the under-dog, Jo Wilfred Tsonga, to think that he was done, and give up or at least let down. You see, he was down 2 sets to love against one of the best players, not only in the world, but perhaps one of the best players of all time, the great Rodger Federer. In fact, when Federer was ahead two sets to love in each of his prior 78 matches, he had always won. The odds of Tsonga winning that match was slim to none. However, someone forgot to remind Tsonga because he just stuck in there, raised his game and ended up winning the next 3 sets to win the match!
Bottom line, play hard, play your game and play until the last second or last point.
A positive belief in yourself and your abilities can often improve your chances of success in almost every situation both in sports and in life!
Most athletes can learn to improve their confidence, improve their ability to come back from behind and play tougher under pressure.
A mental conditioning training program program like Dr. Robert Heller’s TENNISNISMIND,(www.mentalskillstennis.com) provides relaxation exercises to calm the body and specific affirmations to train the mind to automatically respond to challenges in positive ways.
