TENNIS – AFTER WINNING FIRST SET

Written by: Staff on 23rd July 2015

TENNIS - AFTER WINNING FIRST SET

Andy Murray of Britain in action against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their semifinal match for the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 05 June 2015. EPA/CAROLINE BLUMBERG |

Tennis players like to get off to strong starts as it often settles early nerves. A player’s confidence level can often depend on winning the first set.

“Winning the first set is the best way to settle early nerves,” says Gilles Simon, who has a 32-3 match record after winning the first set over the past 12 months. “You’ve started to figure out the conditions of the court and winning the first set can often free you up and allows you to feel more confident in your strokes. If you have won one set, you know you can win another. For your opponent, doubts may creep into their game.”

Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany returns a ball to David Ferrer of Spain during their quarterfinals match at the Conde de Godo tennis tournament at the Real Club de Tenis in Barcelona, Spain, 24 April 2015. EPA/TONI ALBIR

Philipp Kohlschreiber adds, “Winning the first set gives you a mental advantage and the realisation that your tactics are working. In best of three sets, it is then important to stay calm, maintain your game plan and double your efforts to not let your opponent back into the match.”

Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray all feature in the Top 3 after winning the first set over the past 52 weeks. They share the ability to figure out their opponents’ tactics and match conditions quickly in order to play their A-game. By imposing their own game plan early on in best of three set match, they can put their opponents on the back foot.

In fact, Federer and Murray have lost just one match each when they have won the first set. Federer, who is 66-1 (.985), lost to Nick Kyrgios 6-7(2), 7-6(5), 7-6(12) in the Mutua Madrid Open first round in May. While Murray, 63-1 (.984), won the first set against David Ferrer in the 2014 Shanghai Rolex Masters third round, only to lost 2-6, 6-1, 6-2. Novak Djokovic, who is currently No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, has a 69-2 (.972) record after winning the first set over the past 12 months.

Physiologically, it is easy to switch-off mentally after you win a particularly close first set. But that can let your opponent back into the match.

Thomas Berdych of Czech Republic in action against Borna Coric of Croatia during their second round match at the ATP tennis tournament in Halle, Germany, 17 June 2015. EPA/MAJA HITIJ

“The best thing you can do, once you win the first set, is to double your effort to ensure you extend your lead by maintaining your concentration on each point and minimising the errors you make,” explains Tomas Berdych, 54-4 (.931) after winning the first set. “You know your opponent may attempt to change their tactics and, maybe, their patterns of play. But when an opportunity to break serve does come your way: take it.”

No player can compete at their highest level throughout an entire match, but if you get on top of an opponent by winning the first set, it is essential to try to maintain the mental advantage.

Tommy Haas believes, “The top players can quickly put a match to bed, mentally, if an opponent lets them. The key is to start strongly, play with confidence and be ready to take your chances –when they come – on the 15/30 and 30-all points. By remembering what you have practised in training, you can convert first-set success into victories.”

(Courtesy of the ATP and Original Link - http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/fedex-zone-2015-52-week-after-winning-first-set?utm_source=ATPMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ATP%20World%20Tour%20Insider%20#27%20-%20July%2023%202015%20(1) )

Topics: Andy Murray, Atp World Tour, Gilles Simon, Novak Djokovic, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Roger Federer, Tennis, Tomas Berdych, Tommy Haas

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10sBalls_com says:

July 23, 2015 at 5:01 pm

TENNIS – AFTER WINNING FIRST SET- http://t.co/AfsszWEpPQ #tennis @ATPWorldTour #firstset #atpworldtour
ankurpatel62 says:

July 23, 2015 at 5:13 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: TENNIS – AFTER WINNING FIRST SET- http://t.co/AfsszWEpPQ #tennis @ATPWorldTour #firstset #atpworldtour