In the high-pressure world of tennis, where every point can make or break a player's tournament, the battle against nerves and intrusive thoughts is a constant struggle. This year's French Open has been a testament to the mental fortitude required to navigate the unpredictable nature of the sport. As the tournament progressed, it became evident that the ability to manage nerves and intrusive thoughts is as crucial as any physical skill. The story of Flavio Cobolli's near-meltdown on Court Philippe-Chatrier is a prime example of the psychological challenges tennis players face. Cobolli, a men's quarterfinalist, found himself in a comfortable position, leading 6-2, 6-3, 6-7(3), 5-2, only to experience a sudden wave of nerves that almost cost him the match. His body started to betray him, with groundstrokes flying long, serves slowing down, and feet no longer moving as instructed. This is not an isolated incident; tennis players often describe feeling like they want to throw up, hands shaking, upper body tensing, and shoulders rising. These physical responses can significantly impact their performance, causing reactions that are either too quick or too slow, limbs feeling heavy, and rackets weighing in their hands. The air at this year's French Open is particularly thick with tension. After a series of shocks and upsets, only five top-10 seeds and one Grand Slam champion remain across the men's and women's draws. The openness of this year's draw further complicates matters, as lower-ranked players face unusual situations with less formidable foes, leading to heightened expectations. The pressure dynamic in tennis is fundamental, with the underdog and the top dog roles constantly shifting. The scoring system and the lack of a clock mean players must consistently play from behind and ahead, constantly managing their overall expectations for a match. The underdog plays with the psychological handbrake off, allowing their brain to be clearer and make better decisions in the moment without 'fortune-telling' about what might come or what might have happened. This mindset is evident in Maja Chwalińska, the women's world No. 114, who embraces the freedom of being an underdog. However, the top dogs, or favorites, often fall into 'thinking traps,' such as phrases like 'have to,' 'should,' and 'must.' These thoughts can clutter the mind, bringing less clarity in the moment and preventing players from playing each point on its own terms. The physiology of nerves and their impact on tennis players is a complex interplay between the brain and the body. The sympathetic nervous system, or fight-or-flight response, releases hormones and engages nerves quickly and broadly, increasing excitability and preparedness for movement. This can lead to a cascade of events, including the release of glucose into the bloodstream, dilation of blood vessels, and the release of adrenaline and noradrenaline, which increase alertness and reaction speed. However, a significant increase in muscle activation can lead to tension and tremors, making it difficult to control fine motor skills and precision required in tennis. Brain activity also increases during a stress response, making usually automatic movements less so and perhaps even slower. This can lead to intensified breathing, causing carbon dioxide in the blood to drop too low, resulting in fatigue and weakness. The stress response can also cause stomach discomfort, with adrenaline speeding up peristalsis and diverting blood from the digestive system, potentially leading to nausea. The gut-brain axis further complicates matters, creating a vicious cycle where the mind affects the body, and the body affects the mind. Harri Heliövaara, a two-time Grand Slam doubles champion, lost his first 10 Davis Cup ties due to his inability to handle nerves, but he has since turned things around. The stop-start nature of tennis makes breathing regulation critical for players. Pauses provide an opportunity to recalibrate after the hyper-arousal state of playing a point at full intensity or experiencing the emotional high or low of winning a set or having their serve broken. Breathwork coach Hannah Nedas encourages athletes to build a solid breathing practice away from playing to tap into it more easily in stressful situations. Adaptability to a high-stress environment is crucial to success, and players like Heliövaara have found success by using breathing techniques and mindset approaches like microactions to complement their game. As the players left in this French Open head into their tournament-defining matchups, they will all be trying to follow Cobolli's mantra: 'It's my first time, and the experience is not high. Sometimes you have to pass this moment to have a better chance to improve in the next one.' In the end, managing nerves and intrusive thoughts is as much about mental fortitude as it is about physical skill. It's about recognizing the story, using mantras or cues to let go, and embracing the underdog mindset. It's about understanding that the game of tennis does not change, but the perception of the game does, and that's where the real battle lies.
