August 2004 -- Are athletes born with “mental toughness,” or is it something they develop? Some of the world’s greatest athletes in all sports struggle with “mental stability.” Probably, the primary reason an athlete reaches the top of his or her sport and, more so, stays on top is being mentally tough. Mental toughness is the ability to overcome any obstacle to reach one’s goal, no matter what the circumstance.
In tennis, there are many variables that can change instantly and affect the player’s psyche. Here are just a few of the elements that can affect a player’s mental toughness: wind, sun, new balls, old balls, court surface, noise and, of course, the opponent. One way of improving a player’s mental game is to constantly help him or her try to find the positive in everything that happens. Regardless of how bad the situation seems, a player and his coach can always find something positive and try to build on it.
