My best tennis happens when:
* I limit distractions on the way to the match. Driving slowly, I breathe deeply and enjoy the quiet with no radio or cell phone. I feel relaxed and confident knowing I can sustain this feeling of positive expectancy when the match begins.
* I begin the warmup with a positive energy and lively feet. Exhaling on contact,
I feel at one with my racquet and swing freely on every ball.
* I take a “no sweat” attitude on errors in practice and relish the “thunk” of the ball meeting the sweet spot on my best shots.
* I begin the match and smile to myself as the relaxed and confident feeling I
initiated on the ride to the courts carries us through my first serving game.
* The first set is a back and forth battle and yet all I feel is the fun and flow
of moving quickly and going for my shots.
* It amazes me that, even in the tiebreaker, I am relaxed and smile while
acknowledging our opponent after her great passing shot secures the set.
* Toweling off on the changeover, I close my eyes and breathe slowly again.
* My partner and I resolve to stick with our game and play one point at a time.
* Our communication never wavers between points as we come together like The Bryan twins.
* An early break point goes against us by a net cord and yet we hang tough
and break right back.
* It’s 4 all in the second set and we take note of the dejected look of the server
after double faulting on the first point.
* We continue to track it to the racquet and move quickly to net as they begin overhitting. (Track it to the racquet is from Brett Hobden)
* Our opponents seem unnerved and dispirited as we win the second set 6-4.
* We cruise to a 6 -2 win in the third, grateful that our “no sweat” attitude prevailed as our opponent’s came undone with careless errors and negative self talk.
* I smile on the ride home realizing that swinging freely beats the pressure of trying hard to win.
* Say Yes to Tennis—–It beats golf, bowling, backgammon or bridge any day.
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