"Match Toughness"
At this time of the pro tennis season, it seems that all the players talk about is taking a long break from the Tour rather than focusing on the final few tournaments. Not surprisingly, players are tired, both physically and mentally, from the long season. However, there are
some downsides to taking an extended break and good things about playing several tournaments in a short period of time.
Being “match tough” is one of those critical elements to a player’s success, but also hard to define. Nonetheless, the more matches a players wins, the more "match tough" he or she becomes. On the other hand, the extended break that so many players crave at this time during the season does require a player to strategically build back up the “match toughness” on the other side of the break. When one looks at Rafael Nadal still struggling to find his best form on a consistent basis after time away for injuries this past summer, it’s clear that Rafa is not “match tough” the way he was last summer when he won the French Open, Wimbledon and Olympic Gold Medals. Nadal was playing better tennis during those events, but the mental side was also key to his victory. Kim Clijsters lost a third set tie-breaker to Patty Schnyder this week in Luxembourg in her first tournament since winning the 2009 U.S. Open. Clijsters struggled with her serve and in the end couldn’t pull out the victory playing less than her best tennis against a strong opponent. Clijsters is seeking to balance her personal life, i.e. marriage and baby, with competing on the Tour again. As a result, Kim is not planning to compete as regularly as most of the other top players. One of Clijsters’ challenges will be to maintain her “match toughness” in between breaks from the Tour.
There is no question that players need vacations from the grind of the Tour, the travelling and the competition. There is no one “right” way to schedule a player’s tournament schedule and it’s often difficult to predict when a player might hit a hot streak or suffer an injury. Practice is very important and serving buckets of balls is helpful, but matches are different. Therefore, a player must constantly juggle playing too much with not playing enough matches.
Being “match tough” is one of those critical elements to a player’s success, but also hard to define. Nonetheless, the more matches a players wins, the more "match tough" he or she becomes. On the other hand, the extended break that so many players crave at this time during the season does require a player to strategically build back up the “match toughness” on the other side of the break. When one looks at Rafael Nadal still struggling to find his best form on a consistent basis after time away for injuries this past summer, it’s clear that Rafa is not “match tough” the way he was last summer when he won the French Open, Wimbledon and Olympic Gold Medals. Nadal was playing better tennis during those events, but the mental side was also key to his victory. Kim Clijsters lost a third set tie-breaker to Patty Schnyder this week in Luxembourg in her first tournament since winning the 2009 U.S. Open. Clijsters struggled with her serve and in the end couldn’t pull out the victory playing less than her best tennis against a strong opponent. Clijsters is seeking to balance her personal life, i.e. marriage and baby, with competing on the Tour again. As a result, Kim is not planning to compete as regularly as most of the other top players. One of Clijsters’ challenges will be to maintain her “match toughness” in between breaks from the Tour.
There is no question that players need vacations from the grind of the Tour, the travelling and the competition. There is no one “right” way to schedule a player’s tournament schedule and it’s often difficult to predict when a player might hit a hot streak or suffer an injury. Practice is very important and serving buckets of balls is helpful, but matches are different. Therefore, a player must constantly juggle playing too much with not playing enough matches.
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