Psychology of physical fitness

Physical conditioning is one of the very important elements in the battle plays. Zeal can only be acquired if the physical, mental and nervous systems are in harmony. Consistent and systematic training is essential for a tournament player.

Regular hours of sleep, and regular, healthy meals at regular hours are necessary to keep the body at its peak efficiency. Food is especially important. Eat well, but not over-eat, particularly immediately before playing. I believe in a big breakfast on the day of a major battle. This should be taken by nine-thirty. A moderate lunch at about one o'clock if playing at three. Do not eat very rich food at lunch, since it tends to slow you up on the right. Do not run the risk of indigestion, which is the worst enemy to dear eyesight. Rich, heavy food immediately before retiring is bad, as it is appropriate to make you "loggy" on the right to the next day.

It is certain injury to touch alcoholic drink in any kind of tournament games. Alcohol is a poison that affects the eye, the mind, and the wind three essential in tennis. Tobacco in moderation does not injured, although it also affects the eye and wind. A man who faces a long season of tournament play should refrain from either alcohol or tobacco in any form. Excesses of any kind is bad for physical condition, and should not be chanced.

"Staleness" is the great enemy of players who play long seasons. It is a case of too much tennis. Staleness is rarely physical fatigue. A player can always recover his strength by rest. Staleness is a mental fatigue due often to worry or too close attention to tennis, and no doubt many thought. Its symptoms are a dislike for the tennis game and its surroundings, and a lack of interest in the match, when you're on the right. I advocate a break in training at such a time. Go to the theater or a concert, and get your mind completely off tennis. Do your worrying about tennis while you play it, and forget the unpleasantness of bad play when you are away from the court. Always have some outside interest, you can go for relaxation during a tournament, but never allow it to interfere with your tennis when you are intent on your game. A good balance is difficult to achieve, but once attained is a great support for a tournament player.

The laws of training should be closely monitored before and after the match. Do not get chilled before a match, then it makes you stiff and slow. Above all do not stand around without a wrap after a match when you're hot or you will catch cold.

Many a player has acquired a touch of rheumatism from wasting time at the end of his battle instead of getting his shower while still warm. The slight stiffness the next day may mean defeat. A serious chill may mean severe illness. Do not take chances.

Change your wet clothes to dry them between matches, if you have to play twice in one day. It makes you feel better, and also avoid the risk of cold.

Tournament players must sacrifice some sea for the sake of success. Training will win many a battle for a man if he sticks to it. Spasmodic training is useless and should never be attempted.
The condition that a player is in, is likely to determine his mental point of view, and support him in accustoming themselves to the external conditions to play.

All match players should know a little about the phenomenon of crowd-psychology since, as is the case in the Church-Murray match I related some time back, the crowd can play an important part in the outcome.

It rarely pays to get a crowd down on you. It always pays to win its sympathy. I do not play to the gallery, it will have the opposite effect than desired.

The gallery is always the weakest player. It is a matter of helping the "under-dog." If you are a consistent winner you must get used to having the gallery show partiality for your opponent. It's not a personal dislike of you. It is just a natural reaction for the loser. Sometimes a bad decision on a player to win the crowd's sympathy for him. Galleries are extremely bare in their wishes, although at times their emotions run away with them.

Quite apart from the effect of the gallery, I wish to state here that when you are the beneficiary of a decision that you know is wrong, strive to eliminate it if possible by unostentatiously lose the next point. Do not hit the ball with his back to stop or at the bottom of the net with a jaunty air of "Here." Just click on it a little off or the network, and go on about your business in the regular way. Your opponent always knows when you extend him this justice, and he appreciates it, although he did not expect it. Never do it for power. It is extremely bad taste. Only do it when your sense of justice tells you you should.

The crowd objects, and rightly so, to a display of real temper on the court. A player who loses his head must expect a poor reception from the gallery. Question the decisions of a player only put him in a bad light with the crowd and can not change the point. You may know the call was wrong, but Grin on the crowd and will sign up. These things are the essence of good sportsmanship and good sportsmanship will win any gallery. The most unattractive player in the world will win the respect and admiration of a crowd by a display of real sportsmanship at the time of the test.

Any player who really enjoys a match for the game's sake will always be a fine sportsman, for there is no amusement to a match that does not give your opponent his every right. A player who plays for the joy of winning the game crowd the first time he steps on the court. The whole world loves an optimist.