Why Players Lose A Lead And How To Prevent That
Wimbledon saw yesterday 3 exciting and surprising matches where top ranked players lost their leads. 2 of those lost the match, 1 managed to win.
First, Andy Roddick was two sets and a break up against Richard Gasquet and lost this lead and the match 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3), 8-6.
Second, Justine Henin was a set and a break up against Marion Bartoli and lost the lead and the match 1-6 7-5 6-1.
And third, Novak Djokovic was two sets and a break up against Marcos Baghdatis, lost the lead and eventually managed to win in the fifth set 7-6 7-6 6-7 4-6 7-5.
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| (AFP/Adrian Dennis) |
So why do such experienced players lose a lead? Why does this happen?
1. You may relax too much after a lead. The so called letdown is a natural response of our body and mind to relax and rest.
You actually have to consciously fight this response in order to get back to your optimal arousal level.
Know beforehand that a letdown will happen after each set and raise your activation level back to your optimal state.
You do that by making a few jumps, pump yourself with power words (come on, let’s go, …) and breathe a little bit faster.
2. You don’t want to lose this opportunity. It’s interesting, how our mind works.
When we have something, we don’t want to lose it. But it is EXACTLY this feeling that causes the loss.
Not wanting to lose this opportunity causes you to play safer, more cautious, you don’t take the chance when you have to, your body starts tensing and you cannot hit relaxed, powerful shots.
And when you play someone close to your level, this type of play is most of the times not good enough to beat them.
You need to accept the fact the even when you play your best, you will lose a lead sometimes. That’s sport.
Become aware of this “not wanting to lose” thinking or feeling and let it go. This type of thinking will not help you.
Dismiss it and remember in what mental state you were to have won the previous sets. Get back into that state and fight.
Also be aware of the point #3…
3. Your opponent now has nothing to lose and goes for the shots. When you put someone against the wall, they cannot back up any more.
Good players will dig deep and start fighting back. There is nothing to lose and fighters want to go down fighting if they have to.
They would rather lose missing their shots than be humiliated by their opponent’s winners.
Read this again and again.
This is how you need to play and this is what you need to be aware when you have a big lead against a good player.
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| (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) |
“After losing two sets I decided to play more aggressive, to play with my backhand, to go to the net and serve better,” said Gasquet.
“I had nothing to lose. I played with no pressure and it was incredible for me to play like that.”
By the end of the match Gasquet had racked up a phenomenal 93 winners, primarily off his backhand.
You have to try and keep your opponent down when they are down.
Obviously this is NOT under your control but trying to do this IS within your control.
Play aggressive tennis, exploit their weaknesses and play to win.
You may still lose a lead occasionally but you are free of the guilt feeling since you know you did everything you could.
The other player just entered the zone because of zero pressure.
When you notice that (if you do…) you need to try and break their rhythm.
Be willing to sacrifice a few games or even a set to play “strange” shots. Don’t give them typical baseline shots which seem to them like a slow motion watermelon coming over. 
Play drop shots, slices, moon balls, come to net, drop volley, drive volley, serve to the body and anything else that comes to your mind.
You must “wake up” your opponent from the zone with either breaking their rhythm or making them think: “What the heck is this guy playing right now?”
This will cause them to lose the flow and make them “normal” players again.
Losing a lead is part of the game. It is unavoidable in any sport.
The only thing you can do is to be aware of the psychological factors that may cause it and try to make them work in your favor.
You cannot prevent losing a lead with 100% certainty, but you can prevent the guilt feelings by playing the score and the game with a fearless, decisive and intelligent play.
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