Tennis resembles life in many ways. Difficulties and adversity happen in every single tennis match just as they do in real life. How we choose to deal with these situations is the difference between success and failure and in this lesson I will give you some tips on how to hopefully overcome these situations and produce a far different result.

Maintain a positive attitude no matter what the situation: Positive thinking is the most important aspect in handling difficulties. I can tell you from my own experiences that we can be our own worst enemy on a tennis court. Negative thoughts cloud our judgment and affect our play. We've all heard the saying "You are what you eat", right? Well, I believe that we are what we think we are. Instead of telling yourself "How did I miss that shot" or, "I'm playing terribly today" try saying things like "Next time I'll bend my knees and make that volley" or " This time will pass because I know I can play better then this". This type positive self-talk is essential to maintaining a positive attitude during a tough time in every match. Another thing you can try when things are going wrong; think about someone or something special to you (fortunately for me there's someone that makes me smile) for a second or two and then go back to the task at hand.

Go back to your foundation and get back on track: Hopefully you have a set style of play and have a certain 'game plan' that you usually follow during a match. Don't let a few mistakes deter you from executing this plan. What's needed here is to get back to the basics, or your foundation. If you are a player who hits big groundstrokes and relies on hitting winners, try hitting a few balls deep in play and look to attack a short ball. This will help you get into a rhythm and gain some confidence in your ground strokes. If your game plan revolves around your service game, take some pace off of your first serve and raise your percentage. This will also help to increase your confidence and get your game back on track.

Don't Give Up!! The key here is never to give up until the last point is over. Retreating during difficult times won't teach you anything. Hang in there because you really never know exactly what will happen during a match. Your opponent could start having difficulties so keep your feet moving. Take the time during the change over and think about just what is really happening. Ask yourself how your opponent is beating you or what exactly is going on? For example: If your opponent is hitting winners from the baseline, try hitting some short angled slice shots near the service lines and see what happens. Most club players are pretty one dimensional so by mixing things up and taking your opponent out of their comfort zone, you might cause them some difficulty and turn a hopeless situation completely around. The important thing is to never give up in difficult situations.

Phil Naessens is the Director of Tennis/Head Professional at the Corfu Holiday Palace Hotel and Casino in Corfu, Greece. For information regarding tennis holidays, group clinics and lessons while staying in Corfu or having Phil come to your club, he can be reached at Alphitennis@hotmail.com or by calling +30 693 644 4218.