Preparing for a Morning Match

Mar 6

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Morning match start times can range from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. or any time in between. Regardless of when you begin, preparation is an essential step for achieving success in the match.

We previously discussed this topic in a post titled: Pre, During and Post Match Nutrition regarding nutritional input. In this post, we'll concentrate on all aspects of preparation aside from nutrition: Equipment, Mindset, and Tactics.

Let's get started!

Equipment

Tennis Bag Preparation. Absolutely avoid preparing your tennis bag on the morning of your match. There's a significant possibility that things might not go as expected in the morning, and the last thing you need is to worry about having everything ready. Preparing your bag the night before will ensure a smooth start to your day.
1. Shoes/Clothes/Towels/Wristbands. I'm extremely particular about these items as they give me a sense of order and structure for every match I play. This gives me calm feeling knowing that I am 100% ready for my match as best as I possibly can be.
  1. Comfortable running shoes on before the match.
  2. Tennis shoes carried to the courts.
  3. 1 wristband on the right arm.
  4. 2 extra pairs of clothes (including socks) packed in the Tennis bag.
  5. 2 Towels packed in the Tennis bag.
Water/Electrolytes/Snacks. I personally like to make sure all this is packed and organized the night before. Arrange your items in pouches, pockets, or a water jug/secondary jug. Whichever method you prefer for your match, be sure it's set up the night before. For electrolytes, it might be wise to prepare a full serving the night before, so it's ready for consumption in the morning before the match begins.