There is a truth most players avoid because it removes all excuses: you are not losing points in long rallies. You are not losing them on difficult shots. You are not even losing them under pressure after a few exchanges.

👉 You are losing them in the first two shots.

And the worst part is that you don’t even see it.

While you are thinking about how you missed an easy ball or how you handled a rally, the reality is much simpler: the point was already compromised before it truly began.

THE INVISIBLE PROBLEM: YOU ENTER THE POINT WITHOUT A DECISION

On serve, you start with a vague idea. You want to serve well, start the rally, “see what happens”. But you don’t have a clear plan for the next shot.

👉 So after your serve, you are already late.

On return, it’s the same. You wait, you observe, you try to read. It feels smart. It’s not.

👉 You are just delaying the decision.

And in tennis, delaying the decision means giving control to your opponent.

THE REAL MISTAKE: YOU THINK YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND FIRST

Many players believe they must read and understand everything before acting. It feels logical.

It’s wrong.

Because while you are trying to understand, the point is already happening. And you are late.

Tennis rewards players who decide early.

👉 Decide → play → adjust.

Not the other way around.

SERVICE: YOU START WITHOUT DIRECTION

If you serve without knowing what comes next, your serve becomes neutral. And a neutral serve gives control to your opponent.

👉 You are not losing because of your serve.
👉 You are losing because you don’t know what to do after it.

RETURN: YOU ENTER PASSIVE AND CALL IT “READING”

Waiting is not strategy. It’s hesitation.

If you don’t decide before the return, you hit without intention. And that first shot already puts you behind.

THE TRUTH

You are not losing on easy balls.

👉 You are losing two shots before.

On serve.
On return.

THE SOLUTION: DECIDE FASTER

Before every serve, you must know:

👉 where you serve
👉 what you do next

Before every return, you must decide:

👉 attack or neutralize

No hesitation.

PRACTICAL WORK

Train with clear patterns. Reduce the game to the first two shots. Force yourself to decide early and execute without overthinking.

Because if you don’t control the start, you will always chase the rest.

FINAL QUESTION

How many points do you lose because you miss…
and how many because you never truly decided?

📩 Want to learn how to manage moments when you feel lost instead of collapsing?
DOWNLOAD the FREE BOOK: Why You Lose Important Games
👉 https://patreon18.aweb.page/master-pressure-games

Federico Coppini
Mental Coach & Tennis Coach
Founder – Coppini Tennis Academy
🎾 https://www.coppinitennisacademy.com