Many players have experienced this feeling.

You’re playing against someone strong.

And suddenly everything feels different.

Their serve feels faster.
Their shots feel heavier.
The court feels smaller.

And inside your mind a dangerous thought appears:

“I’m one step behind.”

After a loss at Indian Wells, Emma Raducanu made an interesting observation.

Talking about top players, she said something very simple.

When she plays against the best players in the world, it feels like they have an extra 10 mph on their serve.

This is not only about real speed.

It’s about perception.

When you face an opponent you consider superior, something subtle happens in the mind.

The brain switches into defensive mode.

You start thinking:

“I need to survive.”

“I need to defend.”

“I need to reduce mistakes.”

And without noticing it, you start playing smaller tennis.

The real issue isn’t speed

Many players believe the difference between them and top players is purely physical or technical.

Often the biggest difference is mental posture.

When you believe the opponent is stronger:

  • you swing with less freedom

  • you take fewer risks

  • you hit shorter balls.

And this creates a paradox.

The opponent appears even more dominant.

Something I often see in matches

When a player steps on court against someone they consider better, something very specific happens.

Their body language changes.

Their shots become cautious.

The rhythm slows down.

The opponent isn’t always dominating.

Sometimes the perception is.

A small mental exercise

Next time you play against a stronger opponent, try this.

Before the match, write three things.

1️⃣ One thing you do better than them.
2️⃣ One thing that could bother their game.
3️⃣ One thing you want to try during the match.

This simple exercise shifts something important.

From:

“I need to survive.”

to:

“I want to compete.”

A truth many players discover late

Great players don’t step on court thinking:

“My opponent is too strong.”

They step on court thinking:

“Let’s see what happens.”

And that changes everything.

Because in tennis the real level is often much closer than it feels.

Sometimes the biggest gap is not technical.

It’s the distance the mind creates.

by

Federico Coppini
Mental Coach & Tennis Coach

Founder – Coppini Tennis Academy

🎾 https://www.coppinitennisacademy.com
🧠 https://www.federicocoppini.com