We have all been in a situation where we feel uncomfortable or nervous. These feelings we experience are called distress. Bad stress that causes tension and anxiety. Over the many years of playing tennis I found a way to harness the power of pre-match distress, and turn it into eustress. Eustress is the very thing that fuels us to work hard, and want to do well in all aspects of life. It is that little voice in the back of your head, egging you on, though not to the point where you are worried, but motivated.
Before a tennis match I always find myself worrying about the things I can't control. Things like my opponents ranking, the weather conditions, or who will be watching (Not that I care.). The way I can turn this distress into good, motivational stress is by taking control of things I can control. I make sure my racquets are in good condition, that my bag is in order, and have all of my water and drinks prepared. This gives me a sense of reassurance knowing that nothing in my control will be out of the ordinary when I wake up the next morning.
What about the things I can't control? How do I manage these factors when they go haywire? The answer is simple. I forget about them. Of course, this is a lot easier said than done. If you start thinking about your opponents ranking or where they are seeded in the tournament, you are doomed. A number is just that. A symbol that represents a value, and nothing more. Don't let these effect you.
These little symbols, however, are powerful to some people. When you are being chosen for high-stake tournaments the first place that they look is your ranking. This can be the difference between getting into that tournament, and being stuck on the alternates list. This is a number that you can control by winning tournaments, but to win these tournaments, you've got to forget about all the uncontrollable factors.
While this might contradict everything I just said, you must understand why. Everything is controllable one way or another. The fact is, some things aren't important enough to try to control. If they aren't worth your while, then don't waste your mental energy worrying about them. You have the choice to govern the match one way or another, so it's up to you to decide not too or not.
