1. You are on your way to a tennis tournament and you are nervous and a little anxious. Are you a Tennis Warrior or a Tennis Wimp?

   Answer - Tennis Warrior

   Most players are nervous when going to play a tournament or an important match. This is normal, healthy and, in fact, can stimulate adrenaline to keep you alert for the battle ahead! Do not overanalyze your nervousness.

2. You arrive at the match and begin warming up with your opponent. You proceed to blast balls all over the place without allowing your opponent or yourself to warm up correctly. Are you a Tennis Warrior or a Tennis Wimp?

   Answer - Sorry, a Tennis Wimp!

   Apparently many players either are oblivious to the proper warm-up procedures or they believe practicing winners is the correct way to warm up. They feel like they have to practice winners because that's how to win a match. I'm not sure where they got this notion, but it was not from a Tennis Warrior. Tennis Warriors realize that consistency and control win matches, not winners! And even when hitting winners Tennis Warriors are smart enough to know that hitting winners without control is meaningless! Warm up correctly by working on your timing, rhythm and control. Stay relaxed and allow your opponent to do the same.

3. The match begins and within the first game you are missing some easy shots. Immediately you feel threatened and believe you are not playing well. Are you a Tennis Warrior or a Tennis Wimp?

   Answer - Tennis Wimp!

   Do not allow the importance of the moment to take over your emotions and make you forget the Warrior mantra ... "the next shot is more important than the last mistake." In the first game you are still nervous, so allow yourself the convenience of missing without panicking. Repeat! Allow yourself the convenience of missing without panicking. Staying positive during this time will serve you well as the match progresses. Think long term NOT short term.

4. You have not practiced any overheads in the last 75 years but you are upset and frustrated when you blow an easy overhead in match play. Are you a Tennis Warrior or Tennis Wimp?

   Answer - Tennis Wimp

   No one, and I mean no one, practices overheads with any consistency. Because of the height of the ball and the timing involved the overhead is one of the toughest shots in tennis. You would think players would want to practice this difficult shot. I rarely see players practice even five minutes of overheads a week!!! Separate yourself from the rest of the pack by adding some simple overhead practice each week...just five to fifteen minutes a week!

5. You have lost the first set 6-2, you are down 5-1 in the second, and you believe that you can still win! Are you a Tennis Warrior or Tennis Wimp?

   Answer - Master Tennis Warrior!

   One of the principles that a Tennis Warrior has mastered is "on the verge of victory a player is vulnerable to defeat." When any player, in this case your opponent, is way ahead and believes they have the match won, they tend to become over-confident and subconsciously complacent. As a Tennis Warrior you attempt to exploit this weakness of your opponent by staying positive and fighting hard for that last game. If you succeed, the momentum could possibly shift in your direction. A match is not over till it's over! Tennis Warriors always keep the opportunity of winning alive...despite the score!

Tennis Warrior Power! :)