Mind on the Match Page

Mind on the Match, powered by USTA's Net Generation. Did you know that playing tennis involves your body and your brain? Just like how you practice running and hitting the ball, you can also practice using your mind to stay calm and focused on what comes next. Here we go. Before the match begins, let's practice some belly breaths together. Focus your eyes on the tennis ball on screen. When the ball gets closer, breathe in. When it gets farther away, breathe out. Remember to relax your shoulders and let your belly rise and fall with each breath. Let's go. Breathe in through your nose for 3, 2, 1. And out through your nose or mouth for 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Great work. Let's start the first match. Follow the ball around the court with your eyes and keep breathing slowly. Baseline to ad service box. Ad service box to service line. Service line to deuce service box. Deuce service box to service line. And service line to ad service box. Way to play! Level 2. We'll go a little faster this time. Baseline to deuce service box. Deuce service box to service line. Service line to ad service box. Ad service box to deuce service box. Deuce service box to service line. And service line to ad service box. Phew! Great work staying focused on the ball. Level 3. Let's play. Follow the ball with their eyes, but this time, you call out the different parts of the courts. We always start the match at the? What's this called? That's right! It's the baseline. Baseline to? Call it out. That's right! It's the deuce service box. Deuce service box to? What's this called? Great job. It's the service line. Service line to? You got it! It's the ad service box. Now let's try it faster. Call out the highlighted parts of the court. Let's go. [MUSIC PLAYING] Great work. You did it! Way to get your mind on the match. To find a court, program, and coach near you, check out playtennis.com.