Matches are won BETWEEN the EARS
March 2025
Recently I listened to Brad Gilbert’s book “Winning Ugly” while stringing racquets. Young players today may not remember Brad Gilbert but you may have seen him in various commentary in major tournaments, etc.
Gilbert reached a ranking of #4 in the world in 1990 while not being as skilled as several of the players he was ranked in front of. He was certainly a skilled player but he tells us in his book that he won a number matches against better actual players because he was MENTALLY PREPARED AND HAD A PLAN before he started a match and FOCUSED on the execution of that plan.
One of the interesting comments he made was general to most if not all of his matches. He would FOCUS on forcing his opponent to HIT ONE MORE BALL.
Excellent advice from a player that understood his capabilities! The fact is what we see on TV is a totally different world than the one most of us play in, but if we prepare mentally and focus on our matches we can be surprisingly successful on whatever level we are on.
Now go hit ‘em good and most important HAVE FUN!