Professional Tennis on the ATP Tour: A Case Study of Mental Skills Support

in The Sport Psychologist

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John F. Mathers University of Stirling

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2016-0012
Keywords:
mental toughness; mental skills intervention; professional tennis
In Print:
Volume 31: Issue 2
Page Range:
187–198
Restricted access

Success on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) World Tour requires a specific blend of perceptuomotor abilities, technical proficiency, tactical awareness and mental skills. This case study describes the competitive structure of professional tennis and outlines the program of mental skills delivered to a professional tennis player over a 3-year period. The program embraced five stages: (1) education; (2) assessment/profiling; (3) mental skill learning; (4) application of mental skills in context and (5) evaluation, and was associated with some positive outcomes. This case study provides some possible guidelines for sport psychologists who may wish to provide consultancy services within professional tennis.

Mathers is with the School of Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK.

Address author correspondence to John F. Mathers at j.f.mathers@stir.ac.uk.
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