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TennisOne Lessons 
Compete Better Tap Into Your Own Individual Brand of Intensity Joe Dinoffer Only occasionally do players with the intensity of Jimmy Connors or Rafael Nadal rise to the top in the world of competitive sports. These players compete with equal hunger and ferocity on virtually every single point. Not that other players don’t focus well, but they appear to let some points get by them more easily than others. Here’s an illustrative story: In an epic comeback win against David Lloyd, Connors had to fight off numerous match points. In the post-match interview, Connors was asked how he managed his nerves in those situations. A paraphrase of his response is, “I play every point the same; the ball doesn’t know the score.”
Current World No. 1 Rafael Nadal arguably has a very different personality, but his competitive fire and intensity level appear similar. Like Connors, you can count on Nadal to run and fight his heart out on just about every point he plays. While there are many ways to approach the goal of attaining high focus to compete consistently well in tennis matches, it’s at least equally important to set realistic and achievable goals for each player, especially at recreational levels. The opposite would be to set unrealistic goals and get frustrated. This article will analyze three primary types of personalities that can affect how and when we reach our own individual tennis potential. Note that all three of these personalities have the ability to achieve intensity, so even a less outwardly fiery “Type C” player can have a display case full of trophies celebrating many victories. In fact, at the end of the day, the Type B or C player may have more victories than the Type A player, since technique, variety, and fitness, as well as tactics and strategy are all essential ingredients in the recipe for match success. Type A: Aggressive Intensity In decades past, tennis aficionados described a player as aggressive in the tactical sense, i.e. “aggressive” tennis players would attack the net at every opportunity. However, in today’s game, baseline play is so dominant that the term “aggressive” is much broader and reflects a player’s relentless “presence” on the court. Examples are Rafael Nadal on the men’s side and perhaps Azarenka and Sharapova on the women’s tour. In the last generation of players, I personally think of Jim Courier and Michael Chang from the top men and Monica Seles in her prime on the women’s side.
These players often have strong personalities, like to control their environments, and are often perfectionists. With practice, these players will perform best when they accept that trait and try to concentrate equally on every single point. They are not easily satisfied by their performance when they are only able to concentrate some of the time. This type of on-court personality has the potential for concentrating on every point, but would do well to have an “escape valve” for the pressure they put on themselves. This can be accomplished by tweaking their outlook when competing. For example, how about mentally “allowing” one unforced error in each game. If they make two unforced errors in any single game, they should admonish themselves to better recognize this commitment to no more than one unforced error per game. They need to realize that chances are they will win almost every game when they only make one unforced error, they will sometimes win games with two unforced errors, but they will seldom win games when making three or more unforced errors. Type B: Bilateral Intensity
Just like anything that has two sides, players with a “bilateral” type of intensity can be up and down. On some days or for some parts of matches they appear to be on fire. At other times, they seem to be their own worst enemy. Some great players who observably come to mind are Marat Safin and Goran Ivanisevic, both of whom won Grand Slam championships. Roger Federer was also like this early in his career. These players often have attention span issues. These types of players are going to have a hard time focusing on each and every point. It doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try, but it will be easier and perhaps more successful for them to focus on key points and key games. What are the key points and games? There are different theories on that question. Pick the theory that works best for you to come up with a consistent plan to “reel in” that easily distracted mind. Some coaches emphasize the early points of a game, tiebreak, or set. Others stress the middle section. And, yet others tell us the deuce and add points of each game are the most critical. Experiment a little, but then try to select one focus pattern and stick with it consistently. Type C: Calm Intensity
Arguably, all players on the professional tennis tour are intense in their own way. While putting the words “calm intensity” together may seem like an oxymoron, think about players like Sam Querrey or Juan Martin del Potro. Even Pete Sampras and Stefan Edberg had a calmer oncourt demeanor than you would expect from such great Hall of Famers. Having a relatively calm demeanor on the outside doesn’t mean you are not very competitive under the surface. However, players who are outwardly calm can also become complacent. Some coaches may even think you are not trying your best. I wouldn’t call it being lazy but, at times and to some, it might appear that way. These players can ultimately have the best of both worlds. They can have the capacity to focus on each point while being cool-headed enough to avoid the pitfalls of the more volatile “Type B” player personalities. These players often have a very logical approach to competition, perhaps the most logical among the three general types we are discussing. They can often take advantage of this dominant logical trait to improve their intensity by breaking down a match incrementally. For example, these players should remind themselves that an average tennis set consists of only 55-65 points. Remember that they have trouble being “geared up” on all points because it seems like an insurmountable task to be that intense all the time. But, when they think of an average set only lasting 60 points, it seems much more achievable for them to try and focus on each point. The Common Denominator — Regardless of whether your personality fits most into a Type A, B, or C player, the good news is that every player has the capacity to continue to improve focus and intensity. This article is all about clearly identifying the shortest path to success for you! Drill to Increase Focus and Minimize Unforced Errors — Here is a simple yet profound drill to help players of all levels and personalities increase their focus.
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