I love watching any sport at the highest level and am keenly watching the Australian Open Tennis. Roger Federer appears a little more vulnerable - can he continue his run of Australian Open titles? Nadal and surprise semi-finalist Tsonga may prove worthy challengers for the title. I watch more than the game. I am particularly interested in seeing how athletes deal mentally with the pressure of the tough matches, especially as a tournament progresses. Does the player dare to go for the lines with the same confidence each and every point, or does the standing of the match determine his/her confidence.
A champion with 'emotional mastery' will be in charge of their emotional state to play optimally each and every point. The optimal emotional state will differ player to player. For example, Baghdatis appears to play better when he is fired up, and when he loses that, so does his game. Federer has a much more focused and calm emotion, and, it looks to me, that he doesn't even enjoy the game, so steady is his focus. His ready smile on completion of the match when he wins suggests differently.
Being able to reproduce the same emotion, whether you've won or lost a point, played a good or a bad shot, will propel you towards success in any sport. It's your choice, when you know how. Ask me how!!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Australian Open Tennis - battle of the mindset
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2 comments:
Hi Annette,
I must admit, I haven't watched elite sports people so closely as to notice how they react depending on how the game is going for them.
What I do find interesting is sports people with injuries that just seem to keep on happening. What's happening for them in their heads, that their bodies continually prevent them from playing their sport. I believe it's more than just a physical injury - what is their "weak spot" trying to tell them?
Same as when the average person gets sick or is injured, what is happening in their lives that their body is trying to get them to see?
Something interesting to think about.
Helena
http://www.helenadenley.com
Great comment Helena. It is definately something one should look into personally, when they repeatedly injure themselves. How are they creating it? Are they not listening to their bodies? Is it a form of self-sabotage enabling a person to 'fail' without losing face. You know the type - I could have won but I hurt myself (or some variation). There are many reasons for injuries worth exploring.
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