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Due to the need to focus 100% on the needs of our American coaches and tennis players from professional to junior I will no longer be posting on this blog. However, I hope to continue to provide resources and posts from my new position at the USTA. How is to be determined, but you can begin looking at the some of the USTA online resources at www.usta.com and at http://www.usta.com/About-USTA/Player-Development/SportScience/. Always feel free to reach out for assistance or just to say hi.

I wish you the best in your tennis endeavors, and in life. Keep supporting the great game of tennis by doing what you do!

Thanks

Larry

Serena Williams is the most dominant women's tennis player in the last decade. When she is focused and on top of her game she imposes her will on her opponent. Her sheer physicality and sense of belief, while being abstract feelings, win her points, games, and matches.

What I appreciate most about Serena is her self-belief. She believes that she should win every match she plays and is going to win or lose on her terms - playing her game. I believe this quote sums up well the deep well of self-belief that makes Serena Williams an all-time great:

“I believe in my game, and I believe in me.  At the end of the day, I’m my biggest fan. Well, maybe my dad. But other than that, you have to be your biggest fan. I’m working on trying to stay positive.”

What is most interesting about this quote is that she is "working on trying to stay positive". Most of us reading this quote would say "what"? Serena needs to work on her confidence. Yeah, even Serena. Confidence, while seeming to be a constant, is actually something that ebbs and flows. Confidence dips and peaks with the results and performances.

So learn from Serena. Keep working to accept who you are, focus on your strengths and believe in your potential. Be aware of how you are talking to your self and practice the 2 Ps every day - thinking positive and productive.

Did Roger Federer lose to Andy Murray at the Australian Open because of his angry outburst at the end of the fourth set? Did such a little thing like reacting to Murray's complaint about a line call get the best of Roger?

Geoff MacDonald of the New York Times wrote an excellent article about how Roger's anger gave him the energy boost to win the fourth set versus Murray, but in the end may have cost him the match.

The incident as MacDonald recalls it:

At 6-5 in the fourth set, with Andy Murray serving for the match and a spot in the Australian Open final, Roger Federer hit a ball close to the baseline that Murray thought was out. No call was made, and Murray pantomimed displeasure — just for a moment — then played on.
When Federer hit an approach shot and attacked the net, Murray laced a down-the-line forehand passing shot that fooled Federer. What happened next was straight out of the animal kingdom, as Federer glared, gestured aggressively, then yelled at Murray. Murray’s response was to curl his lips upward in a sneer, and for 10 seconds or so the two men looked more like bonobos or gorillas tangling territorially over a prospective mate than two of the best tennis players in the world fighting for a spot in a Grand Slam final.

For Federer Anger Goes Only So Far, NY Times

MacDonald explains that "anger, like rocket fuel, burns fast and furious". So, Federer used the adrenaline rush he gained from the incident with Murray, but the boost in energy also depleted his emotional energy tank leaving him with not enough to compete against a fitter, stronger Andy Murray.


I have been talking to players about this concept for some time. If you allow your emotional energy to peak so high either in a positive or negative manner it can give you a boost, but what if you have another hour of tennis left? Can you maintain the energy needed and avoid a letdown when the adrenaline rush ends? Probably not.

I believe in using your emotions to your performance advantage. We have evolved as human beings with these emotional instincts for a reason - to help us survive and thrive. As tennis players we need to use these emotions to our advantage. Use anger to give us a boost in energy, frustration to remind us to stick to the game plan, happiness to find the joy in tennis and motivate our efforts... So, a fist pump here, a come on growl there, it is good if that fits you.

However, we must display our emotions in moderation; find the even keel if that makes sense. When our emotions erupt it is hard even for the most emotionally tough tennis players in the world to keep the emotional intensity at the level it needs to be.

Think of displaying your emotions as a controlled burn. Use your emotions in a positive manner (even negative ones) but not with exaggerated displays. Save the huge emotional outburst for winning the last point. Then it won't matter if you exhaust everything in the tank.

Read these other Emotional Toughness posts:
Stosur wins US Open 2012
Learning Mindset of Djokovic and Nadal
Harrision Loss Due to Control not Skill

“In tennis, there’s no coaching, no passing the ball. It’s problem solving at its purest,” Andre Agassi once said.

Tennis is a great sport for many reasons and one of those reasons is exactly what Agassi is implying in this quote. When you are on the court you are forced to solve problems. You cannot rely on a teammate or a coach. You have to do it.

The problem solving that is inherent to tennis can create many headaches for developing players. Coaches and parents are constantly scratching their heads at junior tournaments trying to figure out why their junior went for a slap winner down the line from behind the baseline or approached cross court to the opponent's strong forehand.

To become an expert in tennis these failures in judgment are part of the process. You have to fail - make poor decisions and suffer the consequences. Those junior players that can learn quickly and not become despondent with their failures will be able to go farther in the game.



As coaches and parents we have a huge role in this learning process. We set the tone; we help to create the learning environment. And, that environment should be one where mistakes are almost welcomed and seen as part of the process. Mistakes are not something to become angry about.

I wrote a post on the learning mindsets of Djokovic and Nadal over a year ago. I believe it may be the most important reason why they are able to extend gap between themselves and the rest of the field (I would include Murray and Federer in this conversation, too).

Read the Learning Mindsets of Djokovic and Nadal here

As coaches and parents there are a number of things we can do to help a junior player improve his or her problem solving on the court.

1. Talk about mistakes and errors as part of the learning process. Instead of punishment and yelling approach them as learning opportunities. This will take much of the emotion out of the equation and allow the junior to think rationally about mistakes as they happen.

2. Discuss how to solve problems. Clearly define the issue, she is beating me by bringing me to the net and passing me. Then, create several possible solutions. Next, think about the consequences of each solution. Finally, choose the solution that will lead to the most success, or at least minimize the risk of future failure.

3. Instead of always telling juniors what to do ask them open-ended questions. Your opponent is hitting "moon balls" and giving you no pace. What options do you have for playing good tennis? Then, work the problem solving process in point #3 above. Start the process of learning to solve problems in low pressure environments. Watching matches together and discussing them is a great way to get the conversation going...

4. Practice problem solving in practice points, sets, and matches. Have changeovers and time to discuss what is happening and how they can solve it. This is great practice because the emotions that will exist in a match are there, maybe not as intensely, but they are there. Learning to clear your head and focus on solutions under pressure is an amazing skill to learn.

5. Teach your junior to use deep breathing and cognitive restructuring to deal with the demands they are facing in a match so they can think more rationally.

6. Develop routines that move the junior player towards thinking clearly between points. Help them learn to take their time by using a towel between points and learning to plan out a simple next point. Next you will find two blog posts related to routines.

Close out a match like Sharapova

Focus on execution of the game plan under pressure like Agassi

If you want to learn in depth about routines, deep breathing, and cognitive restructuring (self-talk) the USTA Mental Skills and Drills book is available at https://www.coacheschoice.com/p-2215-usta-mental-skills-and-drills-handbook.aspx

The Australian Open again is the starting grounds for a new season. And, just maybe the ground breaking to new heights of performance for Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Sloane Stephens, Li Na, and Victoria Azarenka.

This Open was supposed to be the continuation of Serena Williams' charge for the Serena Slam. I guess Sloane Stephens got the memo and choose to rewrite history. Stephens bursted on to the scene this week and made a statement that she is going to be a top 10 player and a threat to win a Slam.

Stephens was supposed to be a road bump for Serena. Stephens instead flipped the script on her way to her first Grand Slam semi final. Serena was not 100%; her serve was significantly slower and less impactful in the quarters. Nonetheless, Stephens was able to bounce back down 3-4 in the third set. I love to see that moment where a player reveals their resiliency and confidence at a higher level.
Stephens' defeat of Serena and then subsequent tough match against Azarenka in the semis should serve to give her the confidence to take the next step:

I'm obviously coming out of the Australian summer with amazing momentum, knowing I can pretty much hang in there with anybody and even beat some of the best players.
So for me, it's definitely a good feeling, I think. (from Australian Open.com Sloane Stephens interview 1-24-13)

As we head in to finals weekend we have Azarenka v. Li and Djokovic v. Murray. It will be entertaining for sure. And, each of the players is looking to make a breakthrough. So, while Stephens was making major news, Azarenka made news of her own by taking a medical timeout for breathing difficulties in their semi. That aside, Azarenka has positioned herself as maybe the best hard court player in the world. A victory over Li Na in the Final would plant Vika as the #1 player in the world and two-time champion of the Aussie. To me, that is breaking new ground.

It will be interesting in the Final to watch Azarenka's breathing and nerves. She should definitely be the favorite and the burden of the expectations could get to her. She knows that Li Na is a tough competitor who is ready to make her own breakthrough - a second Slam.

Li who has also struggled with the pressure at times as well seems poised to move beyond the "one Slam wonder" potential label that all Slam champions want to avoid (by the way I would love to have that tag). Whomever wins this Final will have stepped beyond their nerves in to a new level of greatness. The journey to get there ought to be entertaining!

Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic seemed destined to meet in the Aussie Open final, and they may be the new great rivalry in Men's tennis. Both are age 25, healthy, in excellent shape, and have the ability to adapt to a changing game. I expect them to be threats to win Slams at least the next five years, maybe even seven.

For Murray, winning the Australian Open over Djokovic would place him in the stratosphere of multiple grand slam winners. Furthermore, he would have two straight victories in Grand Slam finals over Novak which would give him a case as the best player in the world - and the confidence that comes with knowing you can beat anyone on the big stage.

Andy Murray has vaulted his game to a level where he can offensively hurt Federer, Djokovic and Nadal with his serve and backcourt game. He also has learned to manage his emotions on the court.

I think you have to trust yourself that when you are tested, you’re going to play better. I haven’t lost a set here yet, so maybe I’m expecting to play too well. But I’ve done a good job so far. I can’t be disappointed with where my game’s at. I feel a little bit calmer than usual. But I still understand how difficult it is to win these events. (from the Sun.com "Read It N' Weep")

Do not underestimate the importance of emotional control. It allows a player to perform their automated tennis skills under intense pressure. When emotions jump up and down your body reacts, muscles become too tense, energy drops too far, the mind wanders... Emotional control is absolutely necessary to be successful in tennis.

Novak Djokovic, if he can win the Aussie, will have three-peated. This puts him in the realm of the greatest all-time.  It would also be his sixth grand slam and he would be cementing his case as the #1 player in the world after winning the end of season championships. So, while it may seem "old hat" for Novak to be playing in a slam final he too is playing to go to the next level.

So much at stake this weekend in Australia... History, legacy, breakthroughs, career moments - I can't wait to see it unfold.

David Ferrer's 12-0 record versus Nicolas Almagro may have kept Almagro from having his finest day. Almagro was two points from his first Slam semifinal at the Australian Open. Three times Almagro served for the match in the third and fourth sets, and three times Ferrer broke Almagro. Eventually Ferrer won by two breaks in the fifth set.

Is Ferrer Almagro's worst nightmare? Ferrer now is 13-0 versus his fellow Spaniard, and I think that dominance kept Almagro from his first semifinal in a Slam.

Ferrer Defeats Almagro in Grueling Five-Set Match to make Aussie Open Semis (Australianopen.org)

Just imagine for a moment that you played tennis against someone often, but when you played a match when it mattered they always beat you. Then, at the most important tournament of your life you played them again and you were beating them. How good would it feel? But, the specter of never beating the person reveals itself as you are about to close them out. How emotional would you be? How hard would it be to focus on just hitting the ball?


Almagro lost the mental game against Ferrer, and it is understandable. 

Unfortunately for Almagro David Ferrer played his best when he was down. So, while Almgaro would have benefited greatly from a few free points, he got nothing. This is Ferrer tennis, though. You are going to have to hit winners.

While David Ferrer mentioned post-match that it was his fighting attitude that allowed him to win in such an improbably way, Almagro seemed lost to understand how it happened again - losing to Ferrer.

“I think I tried to play my best tennis today,” Almagro said. “I say few days ago with my last press conference I will try to play aggressive, I will try to play my best tennis, and I think I did today. Is not enough to beat David. But we'll see what happen in the future."

So, Almagro's thinking is that he tried to play his best but his best is still not good enough to beat Ferrer? Almagro is attributing the loss to something stable and permanent. This is not a good thing for Almagro. It suggests that he cannot change what he is doing to create a positive outcome against Ferrer. This thinking will carry over to the next time he plays Ferrer, and it will not help him.

Almagro went on to address his mental game.

“I don't want think that it's a mentality problem. If I have mentality problem, I think I didn't win the first two sets.”

This is partially true, but I think Almagro is looking at this from an unhelpful view. Ferrer is 13-0 against you, and you had him beaten. You were the better man on January 22, 2013, even with adductor pain. The first sentence is the key, "I don't want to think that it's a mentality problem". Now duly note that English is not Almagro's first language, but still something changed when he tried to serve it out. Yes, Ferrer buckled down and played more consistently. However, Almagro seemed less sure of himself, and less aggressive. So, my impression from the match was that Almagro lost the mental game on this one day because he has never beaten Ferrer. Too much burden along with trying to make your first Slam semi.

I, personally, would not view this as a mentality problem. That makes you think of a personality flaw for which closing out matches is not. Instead, Almagro should look at it as something to work on that he can improve. So, he did not close out the match. Crap happens. Figure out why and work on it. Otherwise, you will be doomed to suffer it again. Hitting more backhands, forehands, and serves is not going to solve this issue.

I have argued this over and over again. Mental toughness is not a trait. It comes and goes. It is something you can develop, and also you need to constantly sharpen and refine it. Almagro is not mentally weak by nature. Instead, he needs to work on closing out matches against the top players and really believing he will win. We all must take this step to become the best in our profession. The question becomes does Almagro really focus on his mental game and improve it, or disregard it and hopes that by doing the same thing he will get a different result next time? My advice, you are 0-13 versus Ferrer; somehow find a mental edge.

The well of Novak Djokovic's self-belief runs deep. For the third time in a year Djokovic has won a five-hour match. This time he had to fight back from almost two sets down to defeat Stanislas Wawrinka.

Next you will see some of the post-match interview with Djokovic. His answers reveal the confidence exuding from him, and how his attributions enable to remain confident in such a tough situation.





Q.  You changed your shoes after the first set.  Did that make a big difference?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  Yeah, started slipping on the court during the first and beginning of second.  Yeah, I don't know.
I changed the shoes, but to be honest, I mean, that's not the reason why I started maybe better.  I just refocused.
And even though when I was 6 1, 5 2 down, I believed that I can come back if I am two sets down.  I've been in those situations before.  I was just outplayed by my opponent.  He was better on the court for first hour and a half, no question about it.
In this circumstances when you're not playing the way you want to play, you just try to fight and hope for the best.

I love the fact Djokovic took responsibility and credited Wawrinka for playing better. At the same time, it is clear he believed he could turn it around. Novak believes he controls what happens to him and by playing better he will win the match. No panic in that response.

Q.  How much do you think all those matches you've won like this in recent years helped you out in the fifth set like that?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  It helps you, I guess, mentally in the end the most because it is physically very demanding for both of us.  Obviously, we pushed each other to the limit.
But in the end these kind of matches, after five hours, definitely help your confidence.  As I said on the court, these are the matches that you live for, you practice for.  You want to be on the center court and play on such a high level for five hours.
It's incredible.

There is no greater source of confidence than having won big matches against the best. When you beat Rafa, Roger, and Andy you know you can do just about anything. I also appreciate how Djokovic accepted the moment and enjoyed it. He does not shy away from the big moment, he wants it. Like all of the greats he wants that big stage and sees it as an opportunity, not as something to fear.

Q.  How tired were you?  Were you more tired tonight than last year in the final?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  No.  I mean, last year after the whole tournament, last year I was definitely exhausted, you know, after the whole tournament.
But tonight there is no doubt I'm not very fresh.  It's normal to expect after five hours of play.
But still I've been in those situations before.  I remember most recently, four months ago when I won against Murray in the semis after five hours, and then played against Rafa almost six hours.
I know I can recover.  I know I have it in me.  I wasn't too much worried about the physical part.  I was ready for it.  I was ready to go the distance, and I've done so.  Hopefully I can take that day off tomorrow and recover for quarters.

Another source of great confidence is to know that you have the conditioning to withstand the brutal marathon of men's tennis. Djokovic's recovery last year from playing Murray for five hours and then Rafa for six  is mythical. It just does not happen. But, when you know you can dig that deep and have enough to beat the best in the world then you have a very deep well of self-belief. Djokovic believes he can win in any situation.

Djokovic's confidence should be at an all-time high. He knows he is fit, recovers better than anyone, and has succeeded, especially at the Aussie Open, in the most extreme circumstances. Djokovic will be ready for any adversity he faces in 2013, and he will face it head on with self-belief and commitment. And, that is why he is now the best tennis player in the world.

Quotes are from http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/interviews/2013-01-20/201301201358694382416.html

The more of this kind of energy the better it is for tennis. The energy, the passion of Marcos Baghdatis. In this video Baghdatis is reacting to his fans' chants. I love the energy and just the full engagement in the moment. He is allowing his fans to push him forward in a long, tough match versus Albert Ramos. While headbanging did not propel Baghdatis to his first Grand Slam it is evident why fans love him.

The first few days of the 2013 Australian Open seem like a replay of 2012. Serena, Vika, Maria are still at the top of the game. Roger, Novak, and Andy are dominating the field again. What is new?

In my previous post I said some questions would be answered at this Slam. With a resounding "yes" Serena Williams has exhibited her commitment to being the best in the world. Serena dropped just two games in the first two rounds, despite turning her ankle. I believe history is pushing Serena to reach this high level of commitment. She can put her name at the top of the women's game all-time with several more successful seasons of winning slams.



Victoria Azarenka has looked awesome as well. While the question of how she would respond to having to defend her 2012 title is unanswered, I want to see her playing the top seeds under pressure, she has revealed her commitment to staying at the top of WTA tour. With Serena the favorite to win the Aussie, Vika has be second in line.

My prediction that Sam Stosur could make a run at the Aussie was wrong. Losing to Jie Zheng of China is not a terrible loss, but Stosur has to be disappointed with her start to the 2013 Slam season. Losing to lower ranked players has become to much of a trend for Stosur since winning the 2011 US Open. I obviously do not know why she has struggled, but I can speculate that the pressure of expectations could be at play here. Especially at her home slam.

On the Men's side Novak Djokovic looks prepared to defend his title and Andy Murray will be right there to challenge him. Roger Federer has not looked as solid as Murray and Djokovic but he does not necessarily need to be playing his best in the first few rounds. The most important thing is that he and the other top seeds are getting off the court quickly.

Players of Note in the First Two Rounds

Surprise, but not a surprise: Juan Martin Del Potro looks awesome. He is bigger and playing dominant tennis. A Del Potro-Murray quarter will be awesome. I think you can put it in the books, I do not see either guy being upset.

Definitely surprising: Laura Robson's marathon win over Petra Kvitova. Robson made a splash at the 2012 US Open by beating Kim Clijsters. Now she has toppled a top 10 seed and former Wimbledon champion. I liked how Robson was hitting out on the ball even at 9-all in the third set. All the credit to Robson for maintaining her composure on such a hot day in Melbourne.

Kvitova, in contrast, struggled with her serve and missed badly a few times late in the match. Like Stosur, Kvitova has struggled to find that elusive phenomenon of consistency at the top of the game.

Finally, most entertaining: Gael Monfils' two wins and nine sets of tennis through the first two rounds. Monfils upset #18 seed Dolgopolov and then beat Lu last night. In the five-set win, 8-6 in the fifth over Lu, Monfils looked down and out. Yet, he kept fighting to stay in the match and battled his way to victory. It will be interesting to see how far Monfils can go in his draw. He probably expended far too much energy the first two rounds to make a deep run at the Aussie. Especially after coming back from an extended injury rehabilitation. If he can get through the human wall Gilles Simon, then a fourth round match-up against the superhuman wall Andy Murray will probably be about as much as Monfils has in the tank. It will be interesting to watch how Monfils competes against Simon. Will have the focus, energy, and mindset needed to beat his countryman?

Match up to watch closely: David Ferrer vs. Marcos Baghdatis

I think it will be a long, grinding match. Ferrer will be consistent as always while Baghdatis will have to prove he can hang with Ferrer for four hours. That is what it will take for Marcos to pull the upset.

The Australian Open is just a few days away now. It feels like a lifetime since the US Open and a major. I will be posting my thoughts on the Australian Open starting January 15.

There are many questions that will be answered in three weeks. Can Serena continue her dominance of the women's game? If she comes out strong in this Aussie Open the field should be concerned for the 2013 season. A motivated Serena is a dominant Serena.

Victoria Azarenka is the defending champion. Can she reassert the dominance she showed early in the 2012 WTA season? How will she handle the pressure of defending a grand slam title for the first time? It will be interesting to watch to see if she plays aggressive, confident tennis or if the moment affects her.

Andy Murray finally broke through winning his first major of his career at the US Open. Can he follow that up with a run to an Aussie title? How will he handle the increased expectations, especially with Nadal out of the tournament?

Can Roger Federer continue to be a factor in the Slams? History would tell us a resounding yes, but at some point he has to slow down, right? And, can Novak Djokovic defend his title at the Aussie Open? Djokovic, to me, is the favorite. Winning this Australian Open will cement Djokovic as the man to beat again in 2013.

Finally, who will breakthrough and have a career-changing tournament? Australian tennis fans have to be excited after Bernard Tomic's victory over Djokovic, especially after a rough 2012. Can Tomic give Australia a hometown hero and a run in to the second week? It is very possible.

In my opinion, the Aussie Open can be full of surprises because it is the first major of the season and it is played in very hot temperatures. The most prepared, professional players are the ones that do well in January. So, with that in mind, do not be surprised if David Ferrer makes a run at the championship. On the women's side I think Angelique Kerber could beat anyone and win a slam. Also, look out for Sam Stosur at her home slam. If she handles the pressure well her aggressive game could carry through to a second slam title.