How to play... and
try to win against that opponent who always beats us and
complicates our game plan?
The 10 Possible Ways to Victory
1. Accept that we will be nervous, made anxious by the
occasion; Make sure that this doesn't keep us from
developing a "game plan". Being positive and optimistic
is fundamental!
2. Enter the court ready and willing to play with great
intensity (Mental AND Physical), keeping our feet moving
at all times. Standing still without "fighting" will not
help our cause!
3. Compete for EVERY point, taking "face on" every
challenge that our rival presents us with. Try - if at
all possible - to stay close in the score, not allowing
our opponent any chance to "run away with it".
4. Be aggressive with our first serve; "Pushing" with
our serve will do nothing but make us play fearfully and
second guess everything we do for the rest of the point.
Obviously it will be very important to develop a second
serve with great placement and spin.
5. Do not try to hit "winners" on return of serve. Here
is the Golden Rule: it doesn't matter how the point
begins... making your opponent play the SECOND ball
after the serve will be of such importance for your own
confidence.
6. As much as possible, try to play within your ability.
In crucial games and points do not try and hit shots
that you don't hit well or that you have not developed
and therefore don't feel confident executing. For this
it is crucial to "know" your own game and accept your
limits.
7. Attempting "low percentage" shots will not do
anything other than increase your percentage of losing
against this opponent. A solid defense and good
cross-court shots will help a ton!
8. It will be extremely important to observe when and if
your opponents attitude takes a dip. We should be able
to "read" these moments in the game and take advantage
of them to the maximum. Our rival is human and can have
a bad day too!
9. Be ready to run down every ball and show your
adversary that he/she will have to make great shots to
beat you. If your adversary is very aggressive and hits
shots with lots of pace, it is important to recognize
that these kind of players tend to hurry themselves and
lose patience with long rallies. If we demonstrate a
solid play, we can take the wind out of their sails!
10. Finally: The odds are stacked against us. The odds
are in favor of our rival... theoretically, the phrase
"we have nothing to lose" is applicable, right? Why not
try with great patience, intelligence and determination
to place the pressure all on the shoulders of the
opponent? He/She is the favorite... so let's exploit
that "extra" pressure for our own benefit!
Following these simple guidelines you may just walk off
the court smarter and better in a defeat. Or, who
knows??? Maybe you will walk off the court as a winner
against this opponent for the first time!
Daniel Spatz
E-mail:
DBCFRD2@aol.com
