Psychological characteristics of a winning tennis player

Discover the key psychological characteristics of tennis and the mental traits that define a winning player. An up-to-date analysis with real-life examples, focusing on concentration, resilience, emotional control, and mental performance on the court.

Tennis, a continuous psychological challenge

Tennis is not just a technical or physical sport; it is a mental game in which each point demands decision-making, emotional self-regulation, and maximum concentration. Unlike other sports, the player must solve problems without visible external support, dealing with fatigue, the score, pressure, and constant uncertainty (Crespo, 1995).

In recent years, professional tennis has evolved towards even greater intensity: more power, more tactical changes, more technological analysis… but the mind remains the axis that sustains—or undermines—performance. Tennis players like Carlos Alcaraz , Iga Świątek , Novak Djokovic , Coco Gauff , and Daniil Medvedev show that success depends not only on physical ability, but also on the capacity to manage emotions, adapt to the match, and make decisions under pressure.

Characteristics of tennis from a psychological point of view

Tennis brings together a series of structural elements that explain why the psychological demands are so high:

Opposition sport, with or without cooperation

In singles, there is no cooperation; everything depends on the player. In doubles, there is cooperation, but it requires perfect synchronization. This forces players to develop tactical awareness, self-regulation, and instant decision-making.

The player competes alone and cannot receive advice.

Although some modern competitions allow “limited coaching,” the essence of tennis remains autonomy. The player must resolve the match on their own, which increases the emotional self-control and mental clarity required.

Unlimited playtime

A match can last 45 minutes or over 4 hours. Not knowing when it will end creates a psychological burden of emotional endurance greater than in most sports (Crespo, 1995).

Very limited breaks

The player has:

• 25 seconds between points
• 90 seconds in side changes
• 120 seconds between sets

These intervals are too short to recover emotionally, so it is essential to have automatic mental routines (Pico, n.d.).

There is no downtime.

When the score gets tough, the player can’t stop the match. They must manage losing streaks on their own and in real time. This lack of “strategic breaks” makes tennis a sport of great psychological autonomy .

Only 1/3 of the real time is played

65–70% of the time on the court is “thinking time”: between points, before returning serve, between games… That’s why a tennis player’s mind is constantly active. This mental space can be an ally or an enemy if attention is scattered.

Extreme variability

Tennis is played:

• on different surfaces
• with changing balls
• with altered schedules
• with wind, heat or humidity
• with rivals of very different styles

Adapting to these variations requires mental flexibility.

Thousands of quick decisions

Between 1,000 and 9,000 decisions per match, each in less than 1 second (Crespo, 1995). Movement, positioning, direction, intensity, type of shot… The player must manage this cognitive volume without collapsing.

You cannot speak, shout, or ask for help.

The mind becomes the primary tool for self-regulation. This explains why psychological discipline is so crucial in modern tennis.

The psychological DNA of tennis

In short, from a psychological point of view, tennis presents unique characteristics:

• singles sport with opposition and without cooperation
• With limited cooperation in doubles
• The player competes alone and cannot receive outside advice.
• The game lasts an unlimited amount of time.
• Very limited breaks (25 and 90 seconds)
• requestable downtimes.
• The game is practically continuous.
• Only 1/3 of the total time is spent playing; the rest is time to think.
• The competition is played without reservations or substitutions.
• The referee may not even be present at many matches
• Speaking or receiving instructions is not permitted.
• There are between 1,000 and 9,000 decisions per game, each in 1 second
• There are many variations: surfaces, times, weather, opponent
• The ranking demands continuity, regularity, and mental stamina.

These characteristics mean that the mental component has a huge impact on performance (Crespo, 1995).

 

Importance of the psychological aspect in tennis

As Crespo (1995) stated, being technically or tactically skilled does not guarantee victory. In high-level tennis:

• The mental aspect accounts for up to 95% of performance
• The technical differences between elite players are minimal.
• What determines the outcome is the psychological ability to manage key moments

Today we see it clearly in players like Jannik Sinner , Ons Jabeur or Holger Rune , whose performance improves or falls depending on emotional balance.

Furthermore, tennis has characteristics that cause mental factors to directly influence physiological and tactical ones ( Pico , n.d.). This is why it is said that “tennis is played with the head, and then with the racket.”

Psychological traits of the winning tennis player

Attention and concentration

A winning tennis player is able to maintain focus on each point without letting the previous or following error affect their execution. This dynamic concentration allows them to react quickly, read their opponent’s intentions, and anticipate critical plays.

For example, Iga Świątek maintains a breathing routine before each point, which helps him to isolate himself from external noise and strengthen his focus.

Emotional regulation

A successful player knows how to manage frustration, anger, or nerves. They don’t let impulsiveness control them and channel their energy into executing the point.

Aryna Sabalenka has shown enormous progress in this area, transforming intense emotions into controlled aggression.

Resilience and mental strength

The ability to quickly recover from a mistake, a break against you, or a lost set is essential. A resilient player doesn’t dwell on negativity, but rather resets their mindset and carries on.

Novak Djokovic is a clear example: he has won countless matches by coming back from adverse scores thanks to his mental strength.

Flow state

When a player enters a state of flow , execution becomes automatic and fluid. They feel as if time slows down and decision-making is absolutely clear. Coaches and psychologists seek to induce this state through carefully tailored drills.

The flow has been visible in Carlos Alcaraz ‘s matches , especially in moments of maximum risk where he seems to move with total creative freedom.

Momentum management

A winning tennis player knows when they’re on a roll and when they’re not. They use the psychological boost to accelerate their pace and break their opponent, and they stop negative streaks by using mental routines or tactics.

Daniil Medvedev , for example, uses long preparation times and tactical variations to destabilize the opponent’s momentum .

Motivation and self-confidence

Without confidence there is no aggression, and without aggression there is no modern tennis. Winning players believe in their ability even in difficult moments and maintain clear goals in every phase of the match.

Coco Gauff has demonstrated this trait from a very young age: a mix of ambition, emotional stability, and solid inner confidence.

Psychological checklist of the winning player

• Maintains full attention on the present moment
• Control your emotional arousal
• Manage frustration immediately
• consistent pre-point routines
• It adapts to the opponent and the playing environment
• Accept the mistake and move on without making a big deal out of it.
• Recognizes positive and negative streaks
• It maintains motivation even under pressure.

Tennis is one of the most psychologically demanding sports. Its nature—indefinite time, quick decisions, lack of coaching, high variability, intermittent play, and competitive isolation—makes the mind the key factor in performance (Crespo, 1995).

The tennis players who have excelled in 2020+ share a clear psychological pattern: flexible focus, emotional regulation, resilience, flow , momentum management , and solid self-confidence. And most importantly: all of these skills can be trained.

As Pico (n.d.) reminds us, mental training is not a complement, but a fundamental pillar of athletic performance. It is the fourth leg of a table composed of three others, which, while supported by the physical, technical, and tactical aspects, is balanced and strengthened by the psychological and mental state of the player. Therefore, contacting a sports psychologist can be a key element in the development of any athlete.

References

Crespo, M. (1995). Psychological characteristics of the winning tennis player . Communication presented at a congress. Base document used for the conceptual structure of the article.

Pico, I. (n.d.). Psychology and sport . PsicoPico. Retrieved from https://psicopico.com