Something strange happens before certain matches.

It’s not about the forehand.
It’s not about the serve.
It’s not about tactics.

It’s about how you feel when you walk onto the court.

Sometimes a small detail — a shirt, a routine, a personal ritual — can completely change your energy.

Article

Recently I read an interview with Naomi Osaka.

She was talking about her outfits on court.

Unusual designs, accessories, bold fashion choices.

Many people think it’s just marketing or entertainment.

But her answer was much more interesting.

She said something very simple:

“Look good, feel good.”

If I feel good about what I’m wearing, I feel better on court too.

And when I read that sentence, I immediately thought about how often this happens to regular players.

Maybe not with spectacular outfits like Osaka.

But with small personal details.

The shirt you always wear during tournaments.
The headband you put on before the match.
The new shoes that make you feel faster.

At first glance these things seem trivial.

But they’re not.

Because tennis is a sport where you walk on court with everything you are.

You don’t only bring technique.

You bring:

  • your mental state

  • your confidence

  • your energy.

And sometimes confidence begins with very small things.

The problem many players don’t notice

Many players walk onto the court almost randomly.

They change quickly.
They enter the court without a real ritual.
They never think about how they want to show up mentally for the match.

Then something predictable happens.

The first games are slow.
The body feels stiff.
The mind is not fully inside the match.

It’s not a technical problem.

It’s an identity problem.

You haven’t decided who you want to be in that match.

A small thing that can change a lot

You don’t need to become Naomi Osaka.

But you can build your own presence ritual.

Something that makes you step onto the court feeling:

“Now I’m ready.”

It can be something simple:

  • always wearing the same cap in matches

  • packing your tennis bag with intention

  • choosing your match outfit the night before

  • listening to the same music before playing.

It’s not superstition.

It’s mental programming.

Your brain starts associating those details with one specific state:

competition.

A small exercise

Before your next match, try this.

Write down three things:

1️⃣ How do I want to feel when I walk onto the court?
2️⃣ What kind of energy do I want to bring into the match?
3️⃣ What small ritual could help me enter that state immediately?

It doesn’t have to be something big.

Actually, the simpler it is, the better it works.

Something I’ve seen many times

Players believe confidence only comes from results.

But very often the opposite is true.

First you create a strong mental state.

Then the results follow.

Sometimes it starts with something very small.

A routine.
A detail.
A different way of entering the court.

Just like Naomi Osaka said.

Look good.
Feel good.
Play better.

And in tennis, these small things matter far more than most players imagine.

Federico Coppini
Mental Coach & Tennis Coach

Founder – Coppini Tennis Academy

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