Weaker Tennis Opponents
Maintain focus even if you are playing someone you should easily beat. Be nice, but try just as hard to win every point as you would against someone who is your equal or better. If you can win 6-0, do it. Never throw points or games in a match because you feel sorry for the person on the other side of the net. Save your compassion for social tennis. When you are comfortably ahead, work on weak areas of your game, but not at the risk of losing momentum. If an opponent cannot challenge your tennis skills, make the match a challenge to your concentration. Some of the suggestions included in The Overconfidence Problem earlier in this chapter apply to playing against weaker opponents. The handicap scoring drill will help maintain your competitive edge.