Bouncing Back

For my sins, I am a Hearts supporter. This allegiance might well account for loss of hair, wrinkles on my forehead, and numerous mental scars accumulated over a 30 year period.

Like Newcastle United over the border, Hearts are under-achievers. They build you up with promise of great things to come, then let you down with an almighty thump. Both teams, however, retain a vast 'support' who stand-by them through thick and thin, through good times and bad.

In tennis, a string of defeats could well be defined as 'bad times', especially when your confidence and self belief has disappeared out the window. It has happened to us all, unless you are living in cloud cuckoo land.

So how do you get off the slippery slope and start climbing back up the 'success' ladder?

Say, for example, you are a set and 4 -0 down and staring defeat in the face. Instead of breaking your racket in two, or electing to take up bowls, repeat to yourself "I am a great tennis player"

Then in your mind, gather up everything that has happened up to this point, put it a big black bag, tie it up, and place it in a refuse bin.

Then in the next game, slow things down and focus purely on getting every ball over the net.

This is a very simple concept, but works. The score will be 4 - 3 before long, and you will be looking forward with renewed confidence to the third set.

It's all part of bouncing back - and becoming a winner once again!