A New Perspective on Choking: Part 2

You can compare playing a big point at any level to entering an arena. The moment a player has to start serving at an important point in the match, a field of tension arises in that arena between two poles. (Click Here for Part 1 in this series.)

Healthy versus Unhealthy Tension

On one side is the goal, and on the other side the individual playing the point. Players try to bridge the distance between the two poles—by winning or by not losing. This increases the tension between the player and the goal. If, after repeated attempts the goal is not reached, then the frustration increases and the tension can become unbearable.

One way to handle this tension is with the irrational thought that you are somehow less of a person by, for example, double faulting at a key moment. This thought will cause the tension to disappear immediately. But this is only for a moment.

Its a short-term solution because, although the tension is gone, the player sinks into a pit of feelings of inferiority. So whats the solution?

Exercises

Lets outline some exercises for a player using RET or rational emotive training. It could be Kiki Bertens as…