Garbine lost in the second round of the Indian Well Masters against an upcoming American player, Sachia Vickery, who is world ranked #100. After winning her first set 6-2 and being up 3-0 in the second set, she loses 5-7, 1-6. It is common for any top player to have unexpected losses and, often time, these experiences are used to catapult the game a higher notch. It is, however, the second time that Garbine lost …
Athletes understand that the pressure of the game eventually leads to having a harder time breathing as the heart pumps faster and the thoughts begin to race. Everything is happening extremely fast. As the pressures continue going up, the breathing becomes shallower and faster. This emotional and physiological response typically leads to feeling fear. It is quite common that we become judgmental and turned into our own worst enemy. This mindset exacerbates internal pressures. By …
It happens quite often that athletes create a mental expectation based on whom the opponent is. If it is a highly-ranked player, some athletes become psyched out even before the match begins. Interesting enough, the opposite happens when the opponent is a lesser skilled player. There is a believe or over-confidence that the match was already won before the match starts. In either situation, these athletes are showing difficulty managing their own abilities to remain …
I’m very happy to report that WSA and SME have reached a partnership agreement to address the mental side in squash. Squash players know, regardless of age or skill level, the game is super-fast, demands high energy and skillful techniques. What it also demands is the appropriate mindset to manage the mental challenges. Players often get distracted when they lose a lead, feel pressured when needing to close a game or match, and develop unhealthy …
Argentina finally wins the Davis Cup beating Croatia after a super display of tennis, tenacity, and heart. After four failed attempts to win it that goes back to 1981, Argentina finally embraced the Cup that so badly tried to win. Great tennis like Vilas, Clerc, Nalbandian, Coria, Gaudio, and Monaco, just to mention a few, attempted to win this elusive cup. This time, the Argentine team, whose main player included Juan Martin Del Potro, embraced …
