Mental Differences Between Hewitt And Gaudio
Lleyton Hewitt beat Gaston Gaudio in the second round of French Open 2007 after being 0:2 down in sets. The final score was 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
Here are some interesting comments they both made in their interview after the match and what you can learn from them:
Lleyton Hewitt
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| Photo by FFT |
Yeah, he’s going to have ups and downs and I knew that going into the match. And it was a matter of me not having those downs at any point.
Realize that even when your opponent is playing fantastic tennis it’s almost impossible to keep up that level throughout the match. Hang in there and don’t panic.
I felt like I got better as the match went on, though, which was good. Changed up things a little bit. And I felt once I, you know, got that fourth set under my belt, I felt pretty confident going into the fifth.
One of the reasons why Hewitt felt confident about fifth set is because he doesn’t have to worry about fatigue. He is very fit. How about you? Do you take care of your fitness too or are you interested only in perfecting your follow through? 
How to come back…
Basically that, how I’m trying to work out small ways that I might be able to get back into it. Trying to get off to a good start in the third set, and not focusing on that you’ve got to win, go five sets to win now. I think that’s one of the biggest keys is, you know, just focusing on what’s just ahead of you.
Did you get that last line? Just focusing on what’s just ahead of you. Don’t let your mind wander ahead. If it does, bring it back to “here and now”.
Gaston Gaudio
When I was two sets to love, and I think it was 1‑1, and he break my serve. But I was serving pretty good until that time. And actually, I don’t know what happened with my serve. He break my serve, and after that I couldn’t play anymore, I guess.
I start to lose my confidence with my serve, and it’s pretty tough to play against him, you know, without winning some points with the serve. So after that it was a little bit complicated.
Here is another example how fragile is confidence. Gaudio won many service games and then when he lost JUST one service, he lost confidence in his serve.
This shows how unrealistic his expectations are and how he blames himself for losing the serve.
It’s normal that you will lose a serve against Hewitt who happens to be one of the best returners in the game. And it doesn’t mean that your serve is bad or that Hewitt will now break your serve every time.
No, it’s just statistics. Gaston unfortunately didn’t see it that way and what he still doesn’t get it is how this type of thinking is hurting him.
Thoughts are just thoughts, they are not reality. If listen to them and see that they hurt you, STOP listening to them.
Either think something else that helps you or stop thinking at all and just play the game.
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