<테니스 시합은 외롭고 멘탈이 중요하다는 취지의 글입니다. 중고등학생들의 기고를 환영합니다.>
Tennis is one of the hardest sports to play in the world, if not the hardest. Sports like basketball and soccer have people beside you that support you as you play. Confidence is built when working as a team in a sense. You rely on each other. If everything that you do fails, you can lean on your teammates for support. In addition, you have a coach on the sidelines, keeping you motivated, positive, and helping you win. With all of these people at your back, it’s easier to stay positive and keep yourself motivated whenever a mistake occurs. This is what it feels like to be on a team.
Tennis is not like that. In tennis, there is only you and the other player, battling for supremacy, fighting to win, and trying to come out victorious. You are alone on a court of solitude and the only person you can absolutely rely on is yourself. Thus, mentality is a huge part of tennis. It is somewhat similar to a double-edged sword. Winning a point keeps you positive. Losing a point can get you to become negative, since you are the only one that made a mistake. Did you make a good shot? Yes? Nice, keep it up. You’re the one who hit it, so keep going like that. Did you make a bad shot? Yes? You only have yourself to blame. There is no one else other than you who made that error. Basically, if you lose a point, the fault lies with you and you only.
But what about boxing? Boxing is a one on one match also! Yes, but you have to consider the coaches that can interact with the players. Every once in a while, the coaches talk to the player, as someone who helps them win the match. Tennis does not have such a thing. Coaches? They watch. No advice can be given. You and the opponent. That is it.
Whenever I turn on the computer to watch a tournament, I always compare tennis players to gladiators, and the stadium with the audience watching looks like a colosseum. Gladiators fight to win, and so do tennis players. Gladiators fight one on one, just like tennis players. Gladiators do not get coaches or help during a fight, just like tennis pros. As this is happening, everyone watches, with a noticeable buzz of excitement, as they wonder: Who will win this match? Just like a fight to the death in a colosseum. Only one person can come out of the battle victorious.
