HOW TO PREPARE PROPERLY FOR AN IMPORTANT TOURNAMENT?

By Philippe Dehaes

For amateurs and professionals alike, tournament calendar management is crucial. Here are some tips to help you be in the best possible position to achieve your goal for the year.

THE WEEKS BEFORE THE TOURNAMENT

Train your tennis skills

We saw in a previous article how to study your player profile.

At your club, schedule a meeting with one of the coaches to develop your playing system. Be aware that there's no point in trying major technical changes, as you won't have time to adjust them. Practice setting up game situations that will improve your tactical understanding of the game. Work on your strongest shots and, above all, how to use them. Hit a lot of balls and put intensity into your training sessions. Aim for at least five sessions.

Prepare yourself physically

As part of your ongoing family and work commitments, it would be wise to prepare yourself physically. Indeed, if you aspire to reach the final, you'll need to win at least four matches to achieve peak performance. Since every situation is different (age, weight, skill level, medical history, etc.), I recommend consulting a personal trainer who can create a customized program tailored to your specific needs and the time you're willing to dedicate to it.

Playing in preparation tournaments

After your weeks of physical and tennis preparation, you will put all of that into music.

To be a good competitor you have to play matches, lots of matches.

Competition is what builds a tennis player. Whether you're a seasoned player or an amateur, take the time to experiment with your strategy "for fun".

In the weeks leading up to the tournament, register for other competitions to refine your tactical strategies and concentration routines. Even if your expectations for this tournament are lower, you'll still need to give it your all to make this test as realistic as possible. Try to bring along an experienced player (ideally your coach) who can give you feedback on your performance. Experience has shown us that players often lack objectivity when analyzing their matches.

He who fights may lose, but he who does not fight has already lost. Bertolt Brecht. Author

MATCH DAY

Prepare your bag

This is one of those rituals whose importance should not be overlooked. Don't prepare your things hastily or while stressed.

Your bag should contain:

• 2 rackets with new grips and strings.
• A towel.
• Something to drink and eat.
• The bullets were in good condition.
• A small first-aid kit in case of injury.
• Bring a change of clothes if you sweat a lot.

Schedule your match in your diary.

You work long hours and are under pressure at work. As a result, it seems impossible to arrive in top form on time. However, you need to make the necessary arrangements to leave everything open for at least two hours beforehand. You need a buffer period between leaving work and heading out into the field.

This period is crucial because you are going to do the following three things:

• Eat calmly before arriving at the club.
• Once you arrive at the club early enough, soak up the atmosphere of the tournament (are there any delays? on which field will I play, on what surface…).
• Study the playing conditions (outdoors/indoors, wind, sun, noise, lighting etc…).
• Warm up physically (ankles, knees, hips, wrists, shoulders, neck).

Don't study the table

Even if your category is highly competitive and many good players dominate the title, never forget that you won't be able to beat everyone!!

Don't waste energy analyzing every possible scenario. Stay focused on your routine, your system, and your opponent today. If they're significantly higher ranked than you, and your chances of winning are only 1 in 10, then perhaps today is the day you pull off an upset. Remember, you've prepared for this, and nothing can withstand hard work!

Learn to perform well

This is the fundamental rule to understand: the result of your match, namely the score, will be directly linked to your level of performance.

During the match, you must remain focused on the tactical patterns that are working well for you. Don't get fixated on the score, which could make you tense if you're losing or distract you if you're winning.

Being successful means never mentally losing focus on the game in order to make the difference on important points, never getting discouraged even if the situation seems compromised, and always seeking tactical solutions to win every point while scrupulously respecting the rules you have defined, regardless of the score.

Eat during the match

Remember to fuel yourself during the match. Keep in mind that 1% of your body weight loss due to water decreases performance by 10%. Bring an energy drink and water, in addition to bananas or other energy bars.

#FightSmart!