The Night Before the First Serve

The night before a tournament has a very specific energy. Quiet… but loud inside your head. Calm… but shaking underneath. Ready… but unsure.

Andre Agassi said it best in his autobiography: Butterflies mean excitement. Moths mean fear. They flutter the same way, but they feel completely different depending on what you tell yourself.

The truth? Most players can’t tell which one they’re feeling. Is this excitement about the moment? Or fear of what could go wrong?

The Emotional Roller Coaster Is Normal

If you’re playing a tournament, expect the full ride:

• You’ll visualize winning… then immediately imagine shanking your first return.

• You’ll feel confident… then doubt your forehand for no real reason.

• You’ll feel strong… then wonder if your body will hold up.

• You’ll be ready to compete… then suddenly afraid of someone’s bad line call.

This isn’t weakness. This is being human. This is what pressure feels like when you actually care.

The goal isn’t to stop the thoughts. The goal is to anchor yourself through them.

Control What is Truly Under Your Control

When everything else is uncertain, simplify your job:

1. Control Your Breathing

Slow breath in → longer breath out. This keeps oxygen flowing and keeps your brain online. This alone will win you more points tomorrow than any stroke technique.

2. Control Your Physical State

You can’t guarantee results……but you can show up with a fully charged battery.

Tonight, and tomorrow morning:

• Drink water consistently

• Add electrolytes

• Eat actual fuel, not junk

• Don’t over-stuff — steady energy beats a heavy stomach

• Walk, stretch, loosen up the joints

You’re preparing your body to last the entire emotional storm — not just the first match.

3. Control Your Expectations

Tournament days are messy by nature. Anything can happen:

• Long waits

• Short warm-ups

• Tough matchups

• Players who cheat lines

• Crazy momentum swings

• Your body acting different than it did yesterday

Your job is not to predict the chaos. Your job is to stay yourself through the chaos.

If Someone Makes a Bad Line Call…

This one deserves its own section because you know it comes up.

Bad line calls sting because they poke at fairness — something every competitor values.

But here’s the truth:

Your emotional reaction costs you more points than their call ever will.

So, the goal isn’t to win the argument. It’s to protect your state.

• Breathe

• Say “Let’s play”

• Move on

• Stay bigger than the moment

Champions aren’t calm because things go their way. Champions are calm when they don’t.

Excitement vs Fear — Let the Butterflies Win

Tonight, decide what’s in your body.

Butterflies = “I care about this." Moths = “I’m scared of failing.”

Both fly the same way. Your perspective gives them their name.

Tell yourself:" I’m excited for this fight. I’m ready for the unknown." Let the butterflies take over.

Your Only Real Job Tomorrow

You don’t have to play perfect. You don’t have to feel perfect. You don’t have to pretend you’re not nervous.

Your job is simple:

Show up. Breathe. Compete. Stay in the point. One ball at a time.

If you can do that, you’re already ahead of 90% of the field.