Andy Murray is often regarded as the embodiment of resilience, with a titanium hip testament to his unwavering determination. Volumes have been written about his heroic comeback from an injury that nearly ended his professional tenure. However, the recent disappointing loss has cast a shadow, suggesting that it’s his mental fortitude that’s now eroding more swiftly than his physical prowess.
On a Monday afternoon in Paris, Murray seemed poised for victory against Alex de Minaur, ahead with a commanding double-break. The press had their celebratory headlines at the ready. But the atmosphere shifted when DeMinaur approached his break point, and a sinking feeling of the inevitable took hold.
This event marks another chapter in a challenging phase that began with the Wimbledon marathon against Stefanos Tsitsipas, where Murray has repeatedly stumbled when on the brink of victory. Murray himself appeared perplexed by his gradual downfall, remarking that he couldn’t recall a similar experience. This admission did little to alleviate the sadness that many onlookers felt.
Witnessing a champion of Murray’s stature grapple with his inner struggles evokes a profound sadness. The distress was palpable when, at 5-4, Murray, normally a model of agility in a sport that prizes such a trait, was visibly constrained, his movements reminiscent of an amateur’s stiffness. His forehand, tentative at first, devolved into a misdirected shot that sailed past the baseline.
Aging in sports often brings a heightened awareness of potential failure. While the youth may charge forward with minimal trepidation, seasoned athletes can become preoccupied with thoughts of what lies ahead or haunted by recent missteps. The essence of sports psychology is to stay immersed in the moment, yet the results of that Monday seemed to narrate a different tale. Alongside Murray, both Stan Wawrinka and Richard Gasquet, seasoned players themselves, succumbed after having match points in their grasp, all victims to what could be described as a “senior moment.”
Tennis, with its idiosyncrasies, can be maddening, as club players can attest. There’s nothing more frustrating than moving your opponent all over the court, earning the juiciest of short balls, and then blaring the put-away into the back fence. That’s effectively what he did on Monday, only on a larger scale.
But the trick in these instances is to focus on the 95 per cent that went right. Murray has had DeMinaur on the rack twice in the past month. If he keeps playing that way, he should be able to resume his climb up the world rankings, which recently carried him inside the top 40 for the first time since his hip surgery.
And should despair loom, Murray can reflect on his early-season triumphs, such as his consecutive deciding set victories, often from the brink of defeat. Attributing that streak to “the law of averages” after a series of narrow losses, Murray now needs only to believe in the pendulum’s capacity to swing once more.
SOURCE- Telegraph, London
2023 Clarke & Humel Manly Seaside Championships
/in Club News, Manly Seaside Championships /by RobManly Lawn Tennis Club | Manly 26 Dec to 31 Dec
It’s ON! Entries Open.
Entries close December 16.
2023 Premier 10K Clarke & Humel Manly Seaside
Senior Moments on Court: Murray Loses Mental Battle to DeMinaur in Paris ATP.
/in Club News, Goss /by RobAndy Murray is often regarded as the embodiment of resilience, with a titanium hip testament to his unwavering determination. Volumes have been written about his heroic comeback from an injury that nearly ended his professional tenure. However, the recent disappointing loss has cast a shadow, suggesting that it’s his mental fortitude that’s now eroding more swiftly than his physical prowess.
On a Monday afternoon in Paris, Murray seemed poised for victory against Alex de Minaur, ahead with a commanding double-break. The press had their celebratory headlines at the ready. But the atmosphere shifted when DeMinaur approached his break point, and a sinking feeling of the inevitable took hold.
This event marks another chapter in a challenging phase that began with the Wimbledon marathon against Stefanos Tsitsipas, where Murray has repeatedly stumbled when on the brink of victory. Murray himself appeared perplexed by his gradual downfall, remarking that he couldn’t recall a similar experience. This admission did little to alleviate the sadness that many onlookers felt.
Witnessing a champion of Murray’s stature grapple with his inner struggles evokes a profound sadness. The distress was palpable when, at 5-4, Murray, normally a model of agility in a sport that prizes such a trait, was visibly constrained, his movements reminiscent of an amateur’s stiffness. His forehand, tentative at first, devolved into a misdirected shot that sailed past the baseline.
Aging in sports often brings a heightened awareness of potential failure. While the youth may charge forward with minimal trepidation, seasoned athletes can become preoccupied with thoughts of what lies ahead or haunted by recent missteps. The essence of sports psychology is to stay immersed in the moment, yet the results of that Monday seemed to narrate a different tale. Alongside Murray, both Stan Wawrinka and Richard Gasquet, seasoned players themselves, succumbed after having match points in their grasp, all victims to what could be described as a “senior moment.”
Tennis, with its idiosyncrasies, can be maddening, as club players can attest. There’s nothing more frustrating than moving your opponent all over the court, earning the juiciest of short balls, and then blaring the put-away into the back fence. That’s effectively what he did on Monday, only on a larger scale.
But the trick in these instances is to focus on the 95 per cent that went right. Murray has had DeMinaur on the rack twice in the past month. If he keeps playing that way, he should be able to resume his climb up the world rankings, which recently carried him inside the top 40 for the first time since his hip surgery.
And should despair loom, Murray can reflect on his early-season triumphs, such as his consecutive deciding set victories, often from the brink of defeat. Attributing that streak to “the law of averages” after a series of narrow losses, Murray now needs only to believe in the pendulum’s capacity to swing once more.
SOURCE- Telegraph, London
Annual Club Championships 2023 Updated Draws
/in Club Championships, Club News /by RobUpdated Draws @ 1Nov23, with latest results for the Annual Club Championships have been posted to Club Championships page.
Here’s the link.
Good luck to all competitors.
MLTC Newsletter – 1 Nov 2023
/in Club Championships, Club News /by RobClub Champs
Once again, thank you to all players who played last weekend, with some absolutely brilliant tennis played and enjoyed by the spectators.
Congratulations to Kate Platter and Hugo Stegmann, in winning the A Grade mixed doubles 6/3 6 /4 against Larry and Rose Kirwan.
This upcoming weekend we see the Open Ladies Singles Final, A Grade Men’s Singles and Doubles Final, Open Men’s Singles and Doubles, Women’s Doubles and the Open Mixed Semi Finals. All matches excluding the A Grade Men’s Singles will be played on Sunday starting at 0900.
The A Grade Men’s Singles Final, one of the Open Mixed and the Open Men’s Double SF’s will be also played on Court 1 on Saturday, with the Open Men’s Doubles on court from 6pm.
Looking forward to seeing all players and spectators at the courts this weekend.
Social Courts will be available Saturday 2 – 6 from 11.30 am.
Click here for the updated draws
Click here for Saturday 4 Nov draws
Click here for Sunday 5 Nov draws
Cheers,
Christine
AGM and Christmas Party
Save the date Saturday 25th November, 3.30pm at the Club followed by games, food and drinks please sign up soon for the Christmas Party by paying into the club bank account.
Best wishes,
Virginia
MLTC Secretary
www.manlylawn.com.au
How Do I Handle Match Play Distractions? | AskThePro
/in Ask the Pro, Whisperer /by RobThis week’s inquiry comes from a club member participating in our club championships. During the heat of a match, my opponent unexpectedly erupted with incomprehensible outbursts, visibly losing their temper, and impulsively hurling their racket against the fence. This unsettling incident disrupted my concentration, leading to my subsequent loss of three consecutive points and ultimately the entire match. How should I effectively deal with such situations in the future?
When your adversary is unable to defeat you with their racket alone, it is crucial not to permit them to discover alternative means of gaining an advantage. Rather than succumbing to frustration due to your opponent’s unsportsmanlike behaviour, consider seizing the opportunity it presents.
Competitive tennis is all about matchups and your ability to discern your opponent’s psychological state. This not only allows you to draw energy from your opponent’s mental struggles and maintain your composure when trailing, but also enables you to adjust the game’s tempo to create a more favourable matchup during play.
In essence, when your opponent exhibits visible signs of distress, you should maintain a brisk pace to keep them off balance. Conversely, during pivotal moments or when they are gaining an advantage, you should slow down the tempo. So, how can you identify these tell-tale signs of your opponent being “visibly upset”?
You encountered a few distractions in your match, so here is a list of common indicators that your opponent is feeling pressure (remember, these may also apply to you):
Many of these behaviours are childish and attention-seeking in nature, similar to behaviours not tolerated outside of tennis. Therefore, it’s essential to monitor your opponent’s conduct throughout a match to gain insights into their mental state and how they handle pressure.
Maintain your composure during crucial moments. Often, we internalize our focus, competing against ourselves. Avoid sending unintentional signals of frustration to your opponents, as this can boost their confidence. Players like Federer and Nadal excel at managing on-court distractions.
There is great value in staying composed, focusing on your own game, and minimizing distractions, whether they originate from your side of the court or your opponent’s.
Rob, USPTA Pro
Tennis Whisperer
MLTC Notice of AGM 2023
/in Club News /by RobNotice of MLTC Annual General Meeting
Our AGM is to be held on Saturday 25th November, 2023 at the Clubhouse 3.30pm.
Copy of our Annual General Report is linked below.
Click here for the Annual Report
Best wishes,
Virginia
MLTC Secretary
www.manlylawn.com.au
Annual Club Championships 2023 Updated Draws
/in Club Championships, Club News /by RobUpdated Draws @ 26Oct23, with latest results for the Annual Club Championships have been posted to Club Championships page.
Here’s the link.
Good luck to all competitors.
MLTC Newsletter 25 Oct 2023
/in Club Championships, Club News /by RobClub Championships Updates
Christmas Party reminder – Saturday 25th November
Please pay into the MLTC bank account $25 members, $40 guests
Games at 4.30pm, food and drinks from 6pm
Tennis Jewels
Friday 17 November 10am – 1pm at Manly Lawn Tennis Club
Ladies tops, skirts, jackets, tennis accessories and gifts for sale.
Best wishes,
Virginia
MLTC Secretary
www.manlylawn.com.au
MLTC Newsletter 23 Oct 2023
/in Club Championships, Club News /by RobChristmas Party and Club Championships Draws
The Christmas Party will be held after the AGM on Saturday 25th November. Please pay for your tickets to the Club bank account as soon as possible. $25 members and guests $40.
Club Championships
Best wishes,
Virginia
MLTC Secretary
www.manlylawn.com.au
MLTC Newsletter – Club Champs Updates – Oct 21/22
/in Club Championships, Club News /by RobRevised Club Championships schedule with NEW link to the Sunday schedule below which is hopefully now working. Please double check match times as there have been a few changes since Monday.
Please arrive 15 mins before your scheduled start time.
Click here for all draws
Click here for Saturday 21st Oct schedule v2
Click here for Sunday 22nd Oct schedule v2
Any problems/questions, please contact Christine ASAP- – [email protected] or 0459 808 316.
MLTC
www.manlylawn.com.au
MLTC Newsletter – Mon 16th Oct
/in Club Championships, Club News /by RobAGM & Christmas Party
We invite all members to join us for this year’s AGM & Christmas Party on Saturday 25th November.
We really hope to see you there!
Club Champs Wrap Up – Week 1
What a brilliant start to the Club Championships this weekend. The quality of the tennis over the 32 matches played, kept the players on their toes and the spectators enthralled throughout the entire weekend. There were some absolutely spectacular performances across the board, with the scoreboards not always reflecting the quality of the matches and the outstanding individual performances on court.
Our first event is complete! The A-Grade Women’s Doubles featured some marathon matches over a four hour period culminating in the final between Johanna Isherwood & Sally Hay against Ruth Jarvis & Suellen Taylor. This incredibly tight match ended in tiebreak, won by Suellen and Ruth. Congratulations to all players and particularly our new A-Grade Women’s Doubles Champions – Ruth and Suellen.
Please click here to see the updated draws and schedules for this weekend:
Click here for updated draws after week 1
Click here for Saturday 21st October schedule
Click here for Sunday 22nd October schedule
Please double check your times as many have changed & it’s a huge challenge to accommodate all the requests. If you can’t play as scheduled, please let Christine know ASAP – [email protected] or 0459 808 316.
Bar help needed for Seaside
The 2023 Clarke & Humel Manly Seaside Championships will take place once again between 26th-31st December and is the biggest event on the club’s calendar attracting many top players.
If you’re interested in either role, please speak to Milton or email [email protected] or 0411667978.
Have a fabulous week ahead and we look forward to seeing many of you at the club this weekend for some more great Club Champs matches.
Best wishes,
Virginia
MLTC Secretary
www.manlylawn.com.au
MLTC Newsletter – Club Champs Updates
/in Club News /by RobClub Championships
Club Championships start today, Christine has made a few adjustments to suits our member’s requests. Her email is [email protected]
See links for the order of play for today and tomorrow.
Christmas Party/AGM
The AGM and Christmas Party will be held on the same day Saturday 25th November. Please save the date, more information will follow next week.
https://cloudstore.sportlogic.net.au/100126/66A5D1C3-6654-495C-A016-BFD0D8350ED6.pdf
https://cloudstore.sportlogic.net.au/100126/F27FBDDF-787C-4616-80E1-83C45EB1E90C.pdf
Best wishes,
Virginia
MLTC Secretary
www.manlylawn.com.au