If you have yet to pick the brain of the “Big Fundamental” a.k.a. Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs, you should definitely make an attempt next time you’re visiting the river walk. You’d learn a ton about how to win tennis matches.

NOTE: (For the best quality, click the wheel-looking icon on the bottom of the YouTube video and click 720p.)

Mr. Duncan is widely referred to as one of the most boring players to ever play professional basketball. And I agree . But, guess what else???

He and his San Antonio Spurs teammates know a thing or two (…or three) about winning BIG, and winning BIG consistently (…4 NBA championships over the last 10 years, with Duncan grabbing 2 MVPs and 14 All-Star appearances along the way).

That’s right, you don’t get the label of the GREATEST power forward of all time, for sporadic success. My Lakers know this all too well.

Not too shabby for an old boring player, huh? Yeah, the Spurs are living, breathing proof that you don’t need to turn heads to get wins.

That said, in this week’s tip, we’re going to examine the blueprint to the Spurs on-court dominance and show you 4 ways you can inject those same elements into your tennis game and GET RESULTS right away!

Press PLAY on the video above.

Have a great day and an even better game,

Brian
TennisMindCamp

P.S. Since this post is a bit of a NBA playoff edition, who do you guys think is going to take it all this year? …SPURS, WARRIORS, GRIZZLIES, BULLS, KNICKS OR HEAT? Post your opinion in the comment box below.

P.P.S. You can now gain instant access to 19 hours of kick-butt tennis tips, tricks, and strategies. Click here to learn more.

The post 4 Easy Ways Boring Tennis Can Lead To Brilliant Results (SPURS EDITION) appeared first on TennisMindCamp.

Having trouble with your volley game? Could it get better? Think some tips from “Rafa” might help?   If so, press the play button below.

Press play on the video above for some cool analysis of key volley strategies Rafael Nadal uses to make his time at net so nasty.

Incorporating these strategies into your own play just might make the difference you’ve been hoping for.

Why Rafa?

Well, the “Spanish Specialist” is no longer just a “baseline banger.” He’s now expanded his game from just glorious groundstrokes and presently packs a net game that’s just as powerful.

…That’s pretty much why.

His volley STRATEGY is brutal (…on his opponents) and really helps his game flourish.

So, let’s dive into this fun video and find out what makes this guy so difficult to stop. …And hopefully your game will blossom because of it.

Have a great day and an even better game!

For more tennis volley tips, tricks and strategies, go here.

And to gain instant access to almost 19 hours of kick-butt audio strategy sessions, head over to this page.

-Brian

TennisMindCamp

The post How Nadal Gets Nasty On His Volleys appeared first on TennisMindCamp.

Nope, thanks to Jovana Jaksic, the grunting element hasn’t gone away in tennis yet. It’s still alive and screeching (see below).

There’s a new starlette by the name of Jovana Jaksic who is testing the ears of many in the tennis world.  She’s got a solid game, is continuously getting better and seems to have a very bright future ahead of her.

Jovana Jaksic, is only 19, yet already owns the label of the 356th best woman player on the planet. And that’s only going to continue to get better.  Why? Because she just keeps winning.

Jovana Jaksic: Tennis Player or Karate Master?

But all that said, unfortunately, her strokes and quick move up the ranks, aren’t what’s generating the majority of the buzz and attention for the Jaksic camp.

Instead, it’s her throat that’s causing all the ruckus.

Yeah, let me explain…

In case you haven’t heard… Each time she cracks a forehand across the net, it sounds like you’re no longer on the tennis court but  in the middle of a dojo watching a highly intense karate lesson instead. Hi-YAH!!

Now, many hate it (…fans, the opponents etc.), others don’t mind it (…e.g. the players who do it).

But… What really matters? What does it really boil down to? Well, the question should really be… IS IT FAIR?

Well, as shown in recent scientific studies, the answer to that is a big  NO! It can really have a negative effect on a player’s game.  To be specific, it can throw off one’s ability to react and recover in time.

And that’s critical!

So, what do I think? Well, I think the game could really do without it. It’s a definite distraction in my opinion. That’s why the WTA has really taken some action against it.

Jovana Jaksic to star in a new TV Series, good idea?

Hey, if Jovana Jaksic keeps this up, and the WTA doesn’t make her hush up, HBO should take notice.

They could possibly start a spin-off series entitled “The Game of Groans” (see full cast below).

TMC Presents: The Game of Groans (TVMA)

Serena Williams
Carlos Berlocq
Monica Seles
Michelle Larcher de Brito
Victoria Azarenka
Venus Williams

Wow, that sounds like a great (…and loud) concept! Would you watch???

Have a great day and an even BETTER game!

Brian Hall
TennisMindCamp

P.S. If that goes down, I want an “idea fee” .

P.P.S. For 19 hours of opponent-crushing tennis tips, tricks, and strategies, click here.

The post Jovana Jaksic Proof That Tennis Grunting Is Going Nowhere? appeared first on TennisMindCamp.

To Grunt or Not to Grunt:  Carlos Berlocq vs Andy Murray Edition

Grunting has been a big part of tennis for years now. Even before such luminaries as Andre Agassi and Monica Seles made grunting a de rigueur part of the game, old school players like Victoria Heinicke and Jimmy Connors were irritating their competitors with grunts aplenty.

But these days, it can seem as if players are overdoing it with the vocalization. Think of Nadal’s guttural yelps when he takes on Djokovic…

…Or Maria Sharapova, who’s banshee like shriek can top out at over one hundred decibels. Some players feel like they’re not competing against a player, but a living breathing, siren!

Now,  this isn’t something solely of the past. It hasn’t gone away.  Just a few Wimbledon tournaments ago, grunting was alive and running wild.

It was still being frowned upon just like the old days. Some officials have even stated that if the grunting keeps up the way it has been, the game may eventually be ruined forever, and feisty fans will take to the streets.

A bit of exaggeration, but you get the point . It’ll basically become unwatchable… Or maybe, unlistenable is a better description.

These are some serious testimonials to be sure, and many others in the sport are starting to take on this opinion too, as the grunting backlash grows ever larger.

Even Sharapova, the songbird of the hard court, has ironically spoken out against grunting, and retired phenom.

Martina Navratilova remains steadfast in her focus on more volleys and less vocals. But most recently, it has been superstar Andy Murray who has been the latest pro to feel the brunt of the grunt.

The Grunt of Carlos Berlocq Took It’s Toll…

While playing (and winning) against Carlos Berlocq in the BNP Paribas Open 2013, Murray actually had to complain to the chair umpire about the grunts that were coming from Carlos Berlocq‘s side.

Murray, who has played against his share of grunters, has never felt the need to openly seek out the help of an umpire, but then he was never subjected to the high-decibal throat bombs that Carlos Berlocq was chucking his way.

He remarked: “You know, it’s like sometimes silence and then it comes out of nowhere. It’s a bit of a shock. So that’s what I don’t understand with it. To go from nothing to the loudest grunt you can do, it makes no sense.”

The first set kicked off the gruntfest, and by the ninth game of the set Murray and Berlocq were already exchanging unpleasantries. It wasn’t just Murray who felt miffed, though.

Carlos Berlocq was criticizing Andy for taking too long between points. Murray’s response? “He complained that I was taking too long between the points, and there were maybe one or two points where that could have been an issue.”

Now, to be fair, Andy did take his sweet time during a couple points, but the fact of the matter was that the match wasn’t terribly long anyway, after all was said and done.

Murray took the first set from Berlocq by a score of 7-6, after taking him down 7-4 in the tiebreak. This was as close as Carlos Berlocq ever got to victory, but he still chose to go down grunting.

The Breaking of Carlos Berlocq and Beyond…

In the second set, Murray broke Berlocq twice, and sailed to a 6-4 victory, clinching a quarterfinals bid.

But through it all, you could tell his patience had worn thin by Carlos Berlocq and his guttural gumption.

Murray went on to say that he had never heard such loud grunting in his entire career, and it’s almost a marvel that he was still able to play so effectively after such visible (and audible) agitation.

He told reporters, “It was extremely, extremely loud, more than what I have experienced from any other player on the tour.”

Thankfully, Murray is the kind of professional who can keep his head in the game even when being jarred out of the zone by grunting.

Other players may not be so lucky. And this leads us to the subject that we’ve all probably been secretly asking ourselves this whole time: Why grunt?

Is it an involuntary response on the part of certain players, or is there a method to this vocal madness? As it happens, there is actually scientific proof that tells us that grunting might be an asset to a player.

It isn’t that the grunt allows the player to hit harder, however; it is the fact that the opponent can hear the grunt and be momentarily shaken.

Grunting forces the opponent to involuntarily take their focus off the return and pay precious mental expenditure on the weird noises the other player is making.

And it does seem like it works, when you consider that even Andy Murray, a consummate pro, had to tattle on Carlos Berlocq to try to make him stop.

And that’s not all.  There’s actually another, more insidious reason for why grunting can give a player an edge. When a player makes contact between ball and the racquet, a certain noise (…a critical noise) will be produced.

And this sound will ring out a split second before the ball comes back your way, giving you an indicator of what you might be up against.

For example, a player hitting a slice will cause the sound of an apple being cut- an actual slice, if you will. A direct, flat bomb will sound like, not surprisingly, a bomb going off. In other words, it’ll be a loud bang or “POW” sound.

If your opponent flubs up or mishits the ball when trying to return, you’ll hear a “boing” sound as the strings fail to do their job properly.

Each sound gives  you a split second to switch your game strategy up accordingly.  But when your opponent grunts, it can take away that crucial advantage (…scientifically proven).

You’re therefore unable to hear what’s coming up.  And you won’t be as skillful at returning. And let’s not forget the vicious cycle that this causes.

Many players feel that if they can’t hear their opponent hitting the ball over their grunting, they themselves should grunt so that their opponent can’t hear them either.

Before long, it sounds like feeding time in the gorilla cage or one of the final scenes from “Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes” starring James Franco.

It’s hard to tell whether grunting is here to stay. Some players swear by it, while some umpires and coaches are disgusted by it.

Either way, one has to admit that there is definitely the possibility for a strategic advantage when grunting. To win in tennis, you need every edge you can get.

And if you find yourself losing to grunters fairly often, it might behoove you to follow that old adage: If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.

For more tennis tips, tricks, and strategies, view this page.

Get instant access to 19 hours of kick but tennis instruction by clicking here.

Have a GREAT DAY and an even BETTER GAME!

Brian

TennisMindCamp

The post BNP Paribas Open 2013 – Carlos Berlocq’s Grunting Angers Andy Murray appeared first on TennisMindCamp.

As you get older, tennis fitness and physical training  become increasingly important for you as a tennis player, regardless of skill level. …Even for the likes of one of the best to ever hold a racquet – Roger Federer.

(SEE THE TRAINING EXERCISES  HIS TRAINER, PAGANINI, USES IN THEIR WORKOUT SESSIONS IN THE VIDEO BELOW)

Now, at 31 years of age, it’s hard to call Roger Federer “old.” He’s still younger than the Empire Strikes Back AND Raiders of the Lost Ark.

But in the competitive world of professional tennis, he’s seen as more of a Casablanca, or perhaps more appropriately, Gone With the Wind, or maybe more fitting a title, Strong With The Wins .

And that’s what makes his amazing performance the last couple years so impressive. He became the no. 1 player recently, winning Wimbledon, and is just five Grand Slams away from the record for most consecutive tournaments ever.

While so many other players are beginning to show wear and tear from the game, when they cross the 3 decade mark (…meaning their 30s), Roger is arguably playing better than ever.  And that’s truly fascinating.

But how is this possible?

The Paganini Problem Solver:

Well, for one thing, he’s got a great coach by the name of Pierre Paganini. He’s a great coach and works wonders for his athletes with regards to strength, fitness, and conditioning.

And in the tennis instructional video posted above, we go over 3 of the fundamental factors that Roger Federer and Paganini focus on to ensure that Roger is always in the best shape possible every time he takes the court.

—-

For more tennis tips, tricks, and strategies, head over to  this page.

And for 19 hours worth of opponent-crushing  audio tennis lessons, check this out.

Have a great day, and an even better game!

-Brian

TennisMindCamp

The post Roger Federer Tennis Fitness And Training With Paganini appeared first on TennisMindCamp.

Australian Open 2013: Novak is no Joke-Ovic.

On Sunday, Novak Djokovic reminded us why he’s one of the greatest players to ever play the game after routing Andy Murray to win the Australian Open yet again.

This wasn’t terribly surprising though, because Novak is an absolute master at Melbourne. Of the six Grand Slams he’s won, four of them have been in the land of Kangaroos and Paul Hogan.

He’s been undefeated in Australia for three years running, and Murray was simply his latest victim. But what a victim!!

If there was anyone who could have toppled Novak, Andy Murray would have been on the shortlist.

He knows Djokovic’s game as well as anyone, and the two have been going face to face ever since they were juniors.

They were even doubles partners once upon a time in a galaxy far, far away.  Now, back to the present…

In the Australian Open final, the first set certainly made it look like things would be pretty close. It lasted over two hours and Murray the Marvelous  just barely eked it out to win 7-6(2).

In the second set, there was a major turning point in the match that nobody wanted to see, well except Nole of course.

We started to see that Murray was suffering from a blister that was starting to really chafe him in more ways than one.

Though Andy Murray dismissed these feet blisters, saying they had no affect on him, they did.  He was still fighting incredibly hard, but he just wasn’t the same throughout the rest of the match.

His movement was affected, which made it harder to sprint to the corners and cover the court to catch balls over great distances.

And it would get still worse in that set. But Murray displayed that tenacity he’s so well known for and managed to at least make it a battle in the second, but still lost it 6-7 (3).

After that, however, it was all downhill for the blistered Brit. He was handily routed in the third set 3-6, as Djokovic started to play Murray’s injury against him.

The fourth set went by even faster, with Novak winning 6-2 and continuing his streak of Australian Open dominance. In truth, Murray just didn’t have a puncher’s chance after the skin on his feet started to rip.

I mean, maybe against one of the guys or gals at the park or local club, but not against the #1 ranked player on planet earth.

His foot issues were keeping him from moving around the court as quickly and as fluidly as he would need to if he wanted to topple someone as clever and crafty as Novak.

Now, Djokovic of course saw that Murray was plagued by his blister.  And he executed the best strategy possible. He began to systematically use it to his advantage.

He yanked Andy out of his comfort zone and reminded him of his injury as often as he could.  Forcing Murray to *RUN*, chasing the ball willy-nilly across the court, increased his FATIGUE and his PAIN. Ouch!

Cue sinister villain laugh right about now (Bwahahahaha….).  It really was like watching a cat torture a wounded mouse while putting off the inevitable bite to the head.

Now,  is it fair to win this way – to prey on the misfortunes of others? Well, it certainly isn’t pretty or nice, but all is fair in love and war (…and TENNIS).

And Murray and Djokovic are both warriors, are they not?

Now, as young tennis players (…still filled with childhood innocence), before we start to see how stiff the competition can really be, we assume that our opponents will and should feel bad for and take it easy on us when they see that we’re in pain.

…And vice versa.

But that’s not the way any player should act, if they want to be successful at this game that is. To be a true tennis champ, you have to find the weaknesses in your opponent’s game and exploit them – no matter what.

And sometimes, the weaknesses are more physical and less mental. So always keep your peepers peeled for difficulties the guy or gal across the net from you may be having.

That said, here are 5 great signs or cues to be on the look out for.  These can really help swing the outcome of the match heavily in your favor if you can detect them in time.

1. Busted Wheels:

Feet, legs, and the ability to bend them is a HUGE part of being able to win a tennis match. They’re the foundation that allows everything to function properly.

That said, if they’re favoring one leg to another, you’ve just struck gold.  Immediately upon detection, you want to take action.

Take advantage of that, and force them to run.  Make them wish they had put on some cross trainers like new balance. Make them run all over the court like Novak did to Murray, making him feel like a headless chicken.

The more court they have to cover the better…

Hit wide, to the corners, and slip in the occasional drop shot.  Whatever you do, just don’t let them sit comfortably in the middle of the baseline.  Turn them into a track star!

2. Inferior Strokes:

If your opponent is having trouble making a backhand work for example, don’t shy away from it. Make it your focal point.  Continue bolting your shots to his backhand side until he completely cracks.

Forcing him to use his wickedly reckless (…inferior) backhand stroke will keep him on the defense more often, putting you in a premium position to accumulate easy points and build a sizable lead.

3. Internal Implosions:

Is your opponent talking to him or herself or silently berating themselves, as if you can hear them saying “Stupid stupid STUPID!!!” OR “You should have had that shot. How could you miss that you big dope?!?”

If so, that should be blood you smell.  But listen, be careful.  It’s easy for the negativity to spread.  You want to stay focused, composed, and go in for the kill like tiger in the grass,  awaiting the perfect moment to really sink in your teeth and claws.

Nothing can devastate a person or player experiencing crisis more than noticing that his opponent is still calm: locked, loaded and consistently eating away at their game and winning chances.

So, don’t feel the need to go for the kill right away in this case. Just keep gnawing away point by point and game by game… taking small bites out of your opponents mental wounds. They may be small but will cut very deep.

4. Equipment Assault:

Did your opponent slam their staff into the hard concrete, smashing it harder than Simon Cowell would a young singer’s dreams?

If so, not only does this show you that his mind is coming undone at the seams, but it also shows you that he’s extremely vulnerable.

Make it a mental note, and attack!

5. Bumbled Body Language:

Are the shoulders slumped? Is their back hunched over? Is their head hitting their chest? If your opponent is exhibiting any of these symptoms, chances are they’re having a hard time with whats going on in the match.

They’re attempting to hold it in, but it’s leaking out through the things I just mentioned. Chances are, their confidence is fading. And when there’s no confidence present, they’ve got no chance. That’s right, no chance to beat you.

But this is key.  You’ve got to recognize it and attack it before they start to get a second wind or that small ray of light at the end of the tunnel, telling them that they can do it.

You want to make sure that they still believe that they’re the little engine who can’t.

And you do that by making sure you strike your hardest at this point. That’s when you want to really step it up, ready the big guns and go for that knockout blow!

Now, I don’t just mean pummel him or her with a plethora of power shots. Do that, and you might begin to commit too many unforced errors, which can leave the door open for your opponent to hang around.

What I’m saying is, you want to bring up the intensity and aggression in your play. Extend outward on your shots. Go for it.

Play smart and use some extra strategic trickery. Why now, you ask? Because… They’re already wobbling essentially, trying not to fall flat on the mat.

That’s when they’re at their weakest. And tennis isn’t a game for the fair and sweet. That’s for the girl scouts and brownie troops, or little league softball.

You know, that’s the place where everyone is a winner no matter what and everyone brings home a feel good badge or trophy. Not here guys.

This is tennis, and it’s war. You want to put yourself in the best position to succeed and dominate, period!

It’s cut throat out there. You can be friends afterwards over a cup of hot cocoa. But during the match, it’s highly calculated and very meticulous, yet simultaneously pretty primal.

You should always be looking for the advantage. Heck, if your opponent has a cut, be ready to pour on extra salt. If he’s whining about how his serve isn’t working, tell him his return is really lousy too.

Now, don’t really do those last two things, those are just to help drive the point home. I don’t want any player getting sued out there (…or beaten up).

You want to kick your opponent while he’s down so to speak. When he’s at his weakest, that’s when you put on your steel toed pair of Nikes or Adidas and BOOM! Let ‘em have all you’ve got.

Hey, don’t feel bad.  Your opponent is thinking the same thing, TRUST ME!

There are few things as satisfying in life as forcing an error, and Djokovic was very satisfied at the end of the Australian Open final. How satisfied do you wanna be?

For more details on how a tennis player’s body language can severely affect the outcome of a match, win or lose, visit this page.

And for 19 hours of tennis tips, tricks, and opponent-crushing strategies, click here.

All the best,

Brian
TennisMindCamp

The post Djokovic Plays Smart; Exploits Murray In Australian Open Final appeared first on TennisMindCamp.

Sometimes you just have to feel bad for Brian Baker. The 27 year old tennis great truly loves the game. But sometimes, it seems as if the cosmos are conspiring to keep him from playing it.

We can all remember a time when it seemed that Brian Baker was poised to take the tennis world by storm.

He was one of the most impressive up-and-coming juniors to come along in years, and was ranked number 2 in the world.

In 2005, the then 20 year old Baker even beat the unstoppable Novak Djokovic.

But around that time, the evil, sharp-fanged monster known as “Fate” began to gnaw hungrily at Baker’s body, besetting him with a list of injuries that would have been cut from the Book of Job for being “a bit extreme.”

The Tennis Injuries Of THE Brave Brian Baker

Brian Baker required an intensive and risky hip surgery early on, and at one point had to have his entire elbow reconstructed.

Two more hip surgeries would follow, and it seemed as if Baker might never reach the pinnacle of tennis glory that we all expected of him.

Six years went by without Baker playing in a single match, and we had all but relegated him to a “could have been.” But then he surprised us, yet again.

Last year, Brian Baker came back to the game and floored everybody with his tenacity. Nobody could believe that this man who had taken six years off from competitive tennis could completely reclaim his mojo on the court.

But he did. He went through 2012 without an injury to be seen. And he started making it to final rounds in tournaments like the ATP in Nice. He even made it to the fourth round at Wimbledon.

He went from number 456 in the world at the beginning of the year to number 52. An incredibly impressive showing, to say the least!

But then Melbourne happened, and we saw Brian Baker collapse to the court after hitting a backhand to Sam Querrey. (see video below starting at 40 second mark)

As it turned out, he had torn his lateral meniscus. A bad injury to be sure, but at least he’ll be back in less than half a year.

A torn ligament would have been much more disastrous to his career. In other words, let’s just say we definitely expect Brian Baker to come right back, once that meniscus heals.

And here’s hoping that this is the very *LAST* tennis injury that Brian Baker will EVER sustain in his career. Come on, he’s been through enough!!

But the sad fact is that injuries happen, and even if we do all we can to strengthen the supporting muscles to help avoid tears, pulls, strains, and breaks, we can still get injured.

And you know what, in some ways, the psychological damage from sustaining an injury can be worse than the actual physical damage itself.

It’s during this downtime that you can start feeling as if you don’t want to play the game anymore. You may start fretting about how much you’ve lost, after working so hard to build it up.

It’s very easy to get a defeatist attitude from an injury. But this is the wrong way to look at it. If Brian Baker had given up after an injury, he’d have been out of the game years ago.

And he would have never had the stellar 2012 year described above where he climbed over FOUR HUNDRED places in the rankings.

When you’re on the court, you’ve got a clear-cut enemy who you have to topple. But when you’re sitting in your room recovering from an injury, the only real threat to your tennis game is YOU.

So, how do we deal with these tennis injuries and keep them from getting us bent out of shape? It all comes down to the one thing that great tennis players can always master: The mind game.

Here’s what you want to do…

5 Mental Tennis Strategies That Brian Baker Probably Uses To Triumph Over Terrible Tennis Injuries; You Should Too

1. Savor the Challenge:

When some players get hurt, they can fall into a “why me” kind of state, and it keeps them from fighting back. And negativity begets negativity.

When you start feeling down about your injury, you’ll start feeling down about the game of tennis, about your chances of ever being as good as you were before you were injured.

But this isn’t the way a champion like you should deal with adversity. Rather than feel bad for yourself, you should enjoy this moment.

Imagine that everybody expects you to fail, they expect you to give up the game. Then get yourself ready to prove them all wrong.

The determination to not only get back to your original abilities but actually EXCEED them will show everybody that you can never be toppled and will act as a tremendous confidence booster.

2. Don’t Be Blind To The Bright Side:

Yes, you’re sidelined with an injury and it’s killing you that you can’t execute and go full speed in the tennis drills as much as you’d like for at the moment.

You feel as if your game is suffering during your downtime. But you could also look at this time as the perfect moment to start enhancing the all-important mental aspect of tennis.

Start studying opponents (… live at neighboring parks or tennis clubs), or learn tips from the best psychological players who ever played the game on TV.

Just turn on the boob tube to ESPN or The Tennis channel, and you’re in! Grab a pencil and paper, a small snack with something refreshing to drink. Then watch.

Watch how players like Sloan Stephens, Bernie Tomic, and Rafa Nadal construct points, study their shot-selection.

Check out their technique to see if you look at all similar, analyze how they handle specific match situations.

This is millions of dollars and thousands of hours of training being displayed out there on the court for you to see. So take advantage!

And you’ve got the best seat in the house to catch, devour, and digest it all.

NOTE: The subtle things many times make the biggest difference.

So, imagine scenarios where you’re behind in an important match and then contemplate ways to keep your head in the game the way these park/country club legends or the players playing for the sports ultimate prize do.

Of course, not every injury you sustain while playing is enough to take you off the court. Sometimes we get something more minor, like a cramp, a blister, or a minor strain that isn’t enough to keep us sidelined, but certainly makes it a lot harder to play against our opponent.

What, then, is a player to do in these circumstances? Well, as it happens, there are some great tennis strategies for this possibility as well.

3. Use Mental Affirmations:

It’s amazing how powerful the mind is. Many of us have already heard of the wonders that pre-match imagery can do for our game. And as it happens, it can also help you power through minor pain while you’re on the court.

If that twinge in your ankle is keeping you from fully focusing on your game and what you need to do in order to destroy your opponent…

…Say to yourself “I’m still in the game, and I WILL WIN. My ankle hurts right now, but it isn’t getting me down.” It sounds simple and almost naive, but the truth is that it works.

4. Redirect Your Focus:

Instead of relentlessly keeping your mind on the blister that’s being rubbed raw on your heel, take your mind somewhere else.

Start focusing harder on your strategy. Think about how poorly your opponent’s backhand is faring right now.

Consider which combination of shots is working best for you. In short, immerse yourself in tactics and it will help you to put that physical pain on the back-burner long enough to win the match.

5. Sustain Your Sanity (…Keep Your Cool):

One of the worst ways to exacerbate an injury is to worry about it. You become tensed up. And that’s never a good thing!

This makes your body feel the pain more explicitly than it already does, and it will further take your mind off your game.

To fight this, try to keep your body loose and relaxed. In between points, practice some slow breathing exercises, taking the air all the way in and all the way out.

Imagine a scene that brings peace to your mind, such as a quiet ocean coastline or a serene mountain vista. Again, the mind is a very powerful tool, and it can help pick up the slack when your body is wanting to call it a day.

So, hopefully you don’t have the incredibly taxing time with tennis injuries like Brian Baker, but having a bit of his heart and  bit of his mental fortitude is something I definitely wish upon you.

For more instructional tennis articles, click here.
And for 19 hours of kick butt tennis tips, tricks, and strategies, view this page.

Have a great day, and an even better game,

Brian
TennisMindCamp

The post 5 Ways You & Brian Baker Can Triumph Tennis Injuries appeared first on TennisMindCamp.

Jerzy Janowicz Falling To His Knees During Tantrum At Australian Open 2013

The Fury of Jerzy Janowicz…

Now, we all get a little frustrated on the court sometimes. Often times, we’re mad at ourselves, because we made an error that we would never make in practice.

Sometimes, we’re mad at our opponent, thinking “how can you be so good!? I hate you!!”

And, like Polish pro Jerzy Janowicz, sometimes we get mad at the line judge because we feel she’s a lying old bag that’s had it in for us from the start!

But still, you never *SAY* such things! It’s unprofessional, it’s uncouth, and it makes you look like a petulant dope.

Jerzy Janowicz was leading 9-8 in a very crucial tiebreak at the Australian Open against his opponent, Somdev Devvarman. When Devvarman hit a forehand right on the line, Janowicz let it go, thinking it was out.

As it happened, the line judge ruled that it was actually in, and it was tied up 9-9. Now, there are many things you can do when this sort of thing happens.

You can keep your cool and just continue playing, silently disagreeing with the line judge and cursing your luck.

You can also curse the line judge under your breath, and make a note to send them a pair of prescription glasses for Christmas.

But one thing you DON’T DO is exactly what Jerzy Janowicz did do: He fell to his knees and started screaming, belting out at the top of his lungs like he was trying out for the lead role in A Street Car Named Desire.

But it wasn’t “Stella” that he was yelling for, but the chair umpire, Marija Cicak. Jerzy Janowicz even walked up to her chair and began yelling “How many times!? How many times!!?”

This line of questioning was due to the fact that Jerzy suspected Cicak of being biased against him, having earlier made a call that he didn’t agree with.

And it didn’t stop there.  Jerzy Janowicz kept flipping out in the next set, throwing a water bottle across the court and lobbing more insults at Cicak.

He even hit her chair, which is a strict no-no in any kind of situation, much less during the Australian Open on live television!

As it turned out, Janowicz ended up winning the match 6-7, 3-6, 6-1, 6-0, 7-5. Yes, after all that screaming, melodrama, and whining, Jerzy Janowicz still won.

If the world was fair, he would have lost the match simply because he lost his cool. Because the truth is that nobody was thinking about Janowicz’s hard-fought victory in a ruthless four hour match.

All their minds were locked on was the fact that he acted like a total brat that was just told by his mom that he couldn’t go to Disneyland that day.

Now, to be fair, it can be pretty hard to maintain poise and dignity when you feel like the whole court is against you, especially when you’re on such a big stage.

But that said, you don’t want to look like good ol’ Jerz (…and completely lose it), do you? Of course not. So here’s some tips on how to become the Anti-Janowicz.

3 Calming Strategies Jerzy Janowicz Should’ve Considered During His Second Round Match At The Australian Open 2013

Calming Strategy #1: Deep Breathing

In between sets, focus on deep-breathing exercises (…the deeper and more controlled, the better) to keep you from flipping out like Mel Gibson in a….well, any scenario.

Inhale long and slow and then exhale in the same way. The Diaphragmatic Breath Technique works incredibly well for these situations. It’s a very special and powerful breathing method that can do wonders for your results.

I go into much more detail here: http://www.tennismindcamp.com/course.html

If you’re prone to outbursts both on and off the court, it would behoove you to practice some type of breathing exercises.

Then, once you find a few that work for you, I strongly urge you to execute and go through them throughout the day, not just right before you’re about to rip off the line judge’s or your opponent’s head (…a la Jerzy Janowicz).

Repetition is the mother of skill. It’s better and much easier to do when both your body and mind are already conditioned to do it.

Your results might not be as good if you decide to surprise yourself, and expect it to work when you’re already not thinking clearly and completely out of whack to begin with.

Calming Strategy #2: Use your Imagination

Believe it or not, imagery can be insanely powerful in helping you remain calm. So listen, when you feel like you just can’t take anymore of this abuse from your opponent, from the umpire, or even the crowd, just take yourself out of the game for a moment.

Now, this doesn’t mean throw your racket down and storm off, though: Instead, you should imagine a peaceful scenario inside your head.

It could be a rainy summer night or a peaceful autumn scene, your favorite flavor of birthday cake, or even the feeling you had after a long restful nap – whatever makes you feel good and secure inside.

Do this in between points and both your mind and muscles will begin to relax and become less tense. You’ll begin to hit much better balls, your game will feel a lot more fluid, and you’ll be having a lot more fun out there.

Oh and of course, this will help you avoid screaming like a raving lunatic (…a la Jerzy Janowicz).

Calming Strategy #3: Use Humor

Oh yeah, be funny. Or as the infamous rapper Ice Cube would say, “Laugh now, Cry later.”

Nothing defuses a tense situation like a little bit of comedy. If Jerzy had made a joke at his own expense, or laughed inwardly about the whole thing (…like Lakers Center, Dwight Howard, often does) he wouldn’t have had such a bittersweet victory.

Try to see the funny side of anything that’s plaguing you on the court, and you’ll be much less likely to explode into a murderous rage.

Because frankly, all getting upset will do for you is raise your blood pressure, shorten your life span, and provide media outlets like TMZ, The Tennis Channel, and ESPN with material for those watching to laugh at.

NOTE: It also helps to have a funny joke in your head ahead of time, one that you can return to whenever things get a little too tense out there. Here’s a good one: “A blind man walks into a bar.”

So, have fun out there… After all, it’s just tennis .

Have a great day, and an even better game!

Brian
TennisMindCamp

The post 3 Ways Jerzy Janowicz Could’ve Prevented His Tennis Tantrum At Australian Open 2013 appeared first on TennisMindCamp.

It’s that time of year again! Time to dust off the barbies and get those shrimp on. Time to dingo-proof your babies!

It’s the Australian Open! This year, we’re presented with some of the usual suspects, the perennial favorites, as well as a couple up-and-comers.

So without further ado, let’s take a look at the players to watch for in this year’s Melbourne Madness!!

Australian Open 2013 Favorites: The Fellas

Novak Djokovic -

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone: Novak is always a contender for the big win. And this past year we’ve seen him become even more talented and adroit, despite not winning as many titles as  he has in other years past.

But aside from the U.S. Open, which Djokovic always excels at, the Australian Open has also been very kind to him.

It’s predicted that reaching the semifinals will be a cinch for Djokovic, but will he take the top honors this year? It remains to be seen.

Juan Martin del Potro

Del Potro has been steadily crafting a superb game ever since taking down Federer in an upset victory at the U.S. Open. He has gone through some up-and-down periods since injuring his wrist, but he’s still a threat to such greats as Ferrer and Andy Murray.

He also beat Djokovic in last year’s Olympics, bringing home the bronze. Though he’s only won one “Major” so far, it’s players like this that will surprise you and come out on top.

Andy Murray:

Andy Murray is a phenomenal player, and he’s been playing some of the best tennis of his life recently. He clinched the Gold at last year’s Olympics, and also toppled Djokovic for the U.S. Open title.

He’s already expected to coast to the semifinals and, judging from his very recent win in the tune-up at Brisbane, it looks quite likely that Andy will be bringing his all to this year’s competition down under.

Roger Federer

Roger Federer is always considered a top contender for any Open he’s a part of, but he has a bit of a sketchy history with the Australian event. He’s lost to both Nadal and Djokovic several times in the last few years.

And this mental roadblock might weigh heavy on Federer’s shoulders this year. He has some relief in the fact that Nadal dropped out of this year’s Aussie Open.

But he’s also got a pretty difficult job ahead of him in his early matches. Murray’s draw seems much easier by comparison.

Australian Open 2013 Favorites: The Gals

Serena Williams

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Serena has been absolutely unstoppable as of late.  And in the past year,  she’s made a strong case for the argument that she’s the best female to ever play the game. That’s B.I.G!

After winning Wimbledon and the US Open, she showed us last week that she hasn’t lost a step by winning the warm-up tournament. She’s got some competition from some of the other girls on the roster, but if there’s anybody who can go all the way, it’s Sizzling Serena.

Caroline Wozniacki

Wozniacki’s last couple years have been, like a bad haircut, a bit uneven. A couple years ago she very nearly clinched the Australian Open, but was ultimately taken down.

This may have been that catalyst that made her decide to shake up her game, hiring and firing new coaches and trying to change up her traditionally defensive style of play.

Sometimes she would flourish in the rankings, but she never could reclaim her No. 1. And she’s had trouble staying in the top ten at times. But Caroline is still young at 22 and she’s also ready to prove herself once again.

She’s been recapturing that warrior spirit that helped make her a young, threatening powerhouse in 2010. Other players might underestimate her ability, and that just might be all Wozniacki needs to stage a brutal upset.

Victoria Azarenka

Azarenka has become a force to be reckoned with in the past couple years. Her matchups against Serena are always a thrill to watch.

Though she lost to Serena in the US Open finals last year, she’s the defending champ of the Australian Open and she’s fiercely protective of the title.

If there’s anybody who can give Serena a run for her money, it’s this ball-bashing Belarusan. While Maria Sharapova continues to hone her game and grow as an athlete, nobody has the white-hot steam that Azarenka has been building lately.

She’s hungry and she’s ready for another big win.

Angelique Kerber

The twenty-four year old Kerber has steadily rising like the box office tally of a James Cameron movie. It’s strange to think that it was only a little over a year ago that she made it to the US Open semis in 2011.

That was the “opening weekend,” you might say, of her rise to glory. Since then she managed to soar through 2012, obliterating opponents along the way, and netting a quite admirable No. 5 world ranking.

She’s strong, tough, and knows how to avoid errors. She’s willing to wait for the perfect opportunity to strike, and she’s not afraid to hit it low and flat and strike fear in the heart of her foes.

Like Wozniacki, this is an opponent that you simply can’t take your eyes off of if you want to advance to the next round of this year’s Australian Open.

So, these are my favorites to take home this year’s Australian Open trophy.  Who are some of yours?

For more tennis articles like this one, click here.

The post Australian Open 2013: One Of These Players Will Be This Year’s Champ (…Just A Hunch)! appeared first on TennisMindCamp.

Mental Tennis Video #1: Trouble Staying Focused When You’ve Got A Big Lead In Tennis?  NOTE: (For the best quality, click the wheel-looking icon on the bottom of the YouTube tennis video and click 720pHD.)

Hitting fiery tennis forehands and beautiful backhands to start the match, and jumping out to a big lead can be a truly awesome thing, but if you’re not careful, it can turn horrible in a hurry.

It can cause you to develop a false sense of security. You may take on an overconfident state, and before you know it, you’re suffering from a severe case of “constant comfortability syndrome.”

Once you’ve developed this syndrome and way of thinking, the quality of your tennis forehands, backhands and other shots begin to take a nosedive, your lead begins to disintegrate…

…Your opponent’s confidence level increases, and you begin to get that bitter feeling of self-disgust at the pit of your stomach, because you’re letting it all slip through your fingers.

So, why does the dark side come to pass sometimes? How do we get out of it and prevent it from happening all together? Check out the mental tennis training video above to find out the reason and how to prevent it from happening to you in your next big match.

Oh and guys, be sure to leave a comment and/or press the like button if you find the info provided in this new tennis video format beneficial.

For 19 hours of mental tennis tips, tricks, and winning strategies, view this page. And for more mental tennis instructional articles and tennis videos, click here.

Have a great day and an even better game,

Brian

TennisMindCamp

The post Mental Tennis: Stay Focused & Keep Forehands Firing, Despite Huge Lead appeared first on TennisMindCamp.