Tiebreak, 5:5. You do the sums: two more points to the set. On the return your thoughts are already at the handshake. The ball flies off your frame.
In tight moments and when you are ahead, your thoughts like to wander to the result, in other words into the future. But the ball is in the here and now. The way back leads through your routine.
Why the mind wanders to the result
Drifting off is normal. Nobody stays with the ball without a break for a whole set. The difference lies in how quickly you find your way back. The post Concentration in tennis: focus wide and narrow explains how that works in principle.
Back into your routine: four steps
- Look wide: Lift your eyes. Where is your opponent standing?
- Plan: Decide what you will play in the next point. Only for this one point.
- Focus word: Say your word to yourself at the line.
- Ball: From the ball toss, only the ball counts.
The routine is the same at 0:0 as at 5:5. That is exactly what makes it valuable in tight moments. You can read more in the post Mental routines for big points.
In the tiebreak: the short version
In the tiebreak you change ends after every six points, without sitting down. There is no time for long deliberation. Use the walk to the other end: one long breath out, your focus word, on you go. The post Breathing in tennis: calmer in two breaths shows how to become calmer with two breaths.
When your thoughts get too loud: bounce-hit
The exercise comes from Timothy Gallwey’s “The Inner Game of Tennis”. Quietly say “Bounce” when the ball bounces and “Hit” when someone hits it. The task occupies the conscious part of your mind, and your body plays the shots it has long been able to play. Practise it in training first before you use it in a match.
Frequently asked questions about focus in the tiebreak
Should I block out the score in the tiebreak?
That hardly ever works. Take brief note of the score and then go into your routine. Planning happens between points, playing happens in the point.
What helps after losing a mini-break?
The same as after every point: breathe out, look wide, plan for the next point, focus word.
How do I practise this without a match?
Play tiebreaks in practice and sometimes start them at 5:5. That way the tight score becomes more familiar.
How to practise it with the Mental Journal
The focus switch is the tool of the third week in the Mental Journal by Tennis Schweiz. You find out which distractions cost you the most points and practise switching in training. Each page takes about five minutes.
You will find more mental tips under All Kopfsache posts.
