JAK'S MONTHLY ESSAY SERIES: Achieving Your Personal Best
Giving Opponents too Much Respect
Longtime Master Pro, the late Don Henson, thought that many matches, especially at the club level are, unfortunately, determined "at the net post" - as he liked to put it - before a single ball is struck. Reputations, ranking, word of mouth, attitude, body language, even attire and the size of their racket bag, especially in today's rating crazed, algorithm driven, USTA league play collectively often rule the day.
I'm always concerned by the fearful "she's a 4.0," or whatever the number dialogue I constantly hear from lower rated players, or even those with the same rating, who become intimidated before the match has even begun as an example.
So what! The match is mainly with you anyway – your ability to dial-in your best game and trust it without worrying about the outcome - or with how successfully you and your partner team up, compete on every point, and not be fearful of balls coming off a big bad 4.0s racket. You're still mainly dealing with the ball itself.
Opportunity knocks! You perform well, you go home satisfied.
Far too much emphasis is put on other player's ratings. They still have to play, unless you wrongly perceive that you have to play above your existing pay grade, ending up with loads of unforced error gifts.
The better the opponent, the more consistent you have to play. Got to give them a chance to over react, become impatient, and make some unforced errors in the face of your steady, not going away play.
By the way, tour players always relish any playing opportunities versus higher rated players…a chance for advancement, and an increased purse. Okay, a little different since the local league prize money stinks.
Again, consistency, and placement - not attempting to blast winners and generally overplaying – through the skills that you already have. That's the main difference between most rating levels, and also represents the best path to competing favorably against higher rated players
Welcome opportunities to test your mettle against, on paper at least, "better" players. Recently, one of the best players at my club, surprisingly found himself playing opposite, arguably, the best player in our area in a local men's league B-level doubles match! Despite not winning, he loved the experience competing against the best, and also benefitted some reinforcement of his own skills when he found he actually could "hang" favorably and belong.
Besides, you always learn and improve more from a close loss than a lopsided win. Happily take them on!
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