Hi, my coach keeps telling me to spin the ball, roll it. He basically tells me to focus on TECHNICAL PART OF TENNIS.

Do i have to do the same in match? To concentrate on swing, low to high, knees bend (technical part). Please just tell me what do pro tennis players think, focus on when they are in a match???

And what do i have got to do to get my swing, footwork during rally, drill time, in match?? E.i. what should i work on more?? More drills? More rally?? More matches???

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I am a Mom of a ten year old tennis player. He just started playing this past year and is doing well. Fortunately, we have a very nice tennis facility where we are members nearby.

My entire family plays tennis, but my son and I make it a priority. I would like your suggestion for videos or books that would be beneficial for his game. He is a natural athlete and does well at most sports that require upper body strength including, golf, baseball, basketball, racketball, etc.

He is playing tennis three hours a day in a program. He does well working with pros, but does not like any criticism from his father or myself and we try to be positive. I liked the information on your site, especially the text on mental state of mind.

Thanks for your time.

Hi and thanks for the message!

I am not sure if you are asking me for books and videos that your son will read and watch or books and videos for tennis parents that will help you guide him with more understanding of the tennis game…

For him; have him watch slow motion videos if you can. You can find many on TennisOne.com, Hi-techtennis.com or search on Youtube.

I have one video from Roger Federer on Youtube and you can get free access to this video and more bonus material when you subscribe to the TennisMindGame.com newsletter.

That way he will learn subconsciously the correct technique and movement.

The only book that I know that could be suitable for 10 year old kids is my Mental Manual ebook. Please don’t think this as bragging but I haven’t come across books written for kids.

All the books are written for coaches, tennis parents and adult player but none for kids.
I wrote the Manual for kids so that they can help themselves in critical situations. It’s also useful for tennis parents when they go to a tournament with their kid and without the coach.

That way a parent has some good, proven tips that they can give to their kid.

The tips are just a few lines short and you can also download free preview. Just follow the above link.

And please don’t buy if you won’t use it. It only works if it is used often.

And for tennis parents; again, I suggest TennisOne.com for great instruction materials, maybe Tennis Server for good tips and try a search on google for junior tennis, or tennis for kids and so on.

The books that I read and recommend are:

Raising Big Smiling Tennis Kids: A Complete Roadmap for Every Parent and Coach

and

Positive Pushing: How to Raise a Successful and Happy Child.

Here are some more resources for you: (they open in a new window)

The role of parents in junior tennis

Being a better tennis parent

British tennis parents

All the best in your tennis adventure!

Although there are many smaller reasons why Roger Federer lost to Rafael Nadal in the recent French Open 2007 final, there is one major reason.

It can be found even in many of his interviews after the match and it’s included in the recent post 5 Things You Can Learn From Federer And Nadal.

So what is it? (more…)

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer shared some very interesting thoughts in their interviews after the French Open final which Nadal won 3:1.

Here are top 5 things you can learn from each player – mental, tactical, technical or physical tips. (more…)

Ana Ivanovic and Justine Henin played a very one-sided final of the French Open yesterday. Justine was playing her usual high level tennis, but Ana did not play her best.

In her official interview after the match she spoke very honestly about her nerves and how they affected her.

Photo by FFT

She also mentioned some other very interesting parts of the mental game so let’s see what she learned for the future and what you can learn from her. (more…)

Katarina Srebotnik reached yet another final of the French Open, this time in women’s doubles! Unfortunately she and her partner Ai Sugiyama lost against Alicia Molik and Mara Santangelo 6-7, 4-6. (more…)

Katarina Srebotnik achieved another great success in the French Open mixed doubles this year when she reached the finals.

Her doubles partner Nenad Zimonjic is another Serbian with a fantastic run at Roland Garros joining Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic and Novak Djokovic’s great runs to the semifinals.

Katarina and Nenad won the mixed French Open title in 2006 and were favorites in this years’s match against Natalie Dechy from France and Andy Ram from Israel.

But it seemed that the crowd support for Natalie gave her that extra boost to turn the game in their favor.

Natalie went for risky shots towards the end of the match and it paid off.

In case you didn’t know, Katarina Srebotnik comes from Slovenia which is my home country too so I am very happy to add this little post to share her success.

Katarina is currently ranked 20th in singles and 9th in doubles.

Cestitke Katarina!

(which means “congratulations”…)

First, have no expectations. When you have expectations and reality is different, you suffer.

Reality is what it is.

How can you actually expect a certain level of play with so many factors that are out of your control?

You cannot even control that you will hit the ball in, let alone win the game, set or a match. (more…)

Serena Williams lost a highly anticipated match with Justine Henin in straight sets 4-6, 3-6. Most of us were expecting a 3 set battle especially with both women in good form.

But something happened to Serena and she wasn’t able to play her best tennis. The real cause of not being able to play your best is usually the mental part of the game.

Photo by FFT

Let’s see if we can find some of the reasons for her mental letdown in her comments after the match… (more…)

hi, i am 19yrs old. i have started tennis quite late , thats why i have very less match expierence.

i would like to know why whenever i do drills, rally , my strokes are great. my swing is great. but in the match my strokes, swing completely changes.

i know the situations are different in match and rally, but how how does it change my swing?? (more…)