Tennis club hackers know only too well the paralysing jitters that can catch defeat from the jaws of palm but they’re in good company with indeed the elite players at Wimbledon suffering ‘ internal torture ’, according to a leading sports psychologist.
The All England Club’s meadows will be the focus of the tennis world over the coming fortnight as the world’s leading players battle opponents and frequently their own cerebral demons.
History is littered with notorious ‘ tennis chokes ’– matches where a player looked in complete control only to be overcome by pressure with the finishing line in sight.
The late Jana Novotna famously exfoliate gashes after her game unravelled in the 1993 Wimbledon final against Steffi Graf when she was poised to win the title, only to be struck by jitters.
Indeed the great Serena Williams wasn’t vulnerable, losing to Czech Karolina Pliskova after leading 5- 1 in the third set of their 2019 Australian Open quarter-final.
Who could forget the 2004 French Open final when Argentines Gaston Gaudio and Guillermo Coria took it in turns to come overwhelmed by tone- mistrustfulness and pressure over five nervy sets, both declining winning positions until Gaudio eventually triumphed.
This time’s Wimbledon will doubtless throw up further exemplifications and no bone should be surprised, according to Katie Mobed, who has helped several British athletes with their internal approach.
She says tennis is the most emotionally grueling sport.