BEWARE THE TENNIS WOUNDED DUCK



Gael Monfils, his tennis shirt stained with clay from numerous falls during this nearly 3-hour match, is bent over his racket, looking like he can't go on. Will he continue? Can he even run to another ball?

You bet he can!

During his long career, Gael Monfils has been involved in many matches like this. Gael Monfils employs the classic "wounded duck" strategy often and successfully.


Imagine that you've worked your way back into a match after losing the first set and have continued to control the momentum by dominating the 2nd set.  At the start of the third set, everything feels under control. Your opponent is making uncharacteristic errors and physically and mentally looking like a beaten player.

You have established momentum in the match but is everything as it seems?

During a match, momentum can be with you, with your opponent, or in a neutral state whereby both players are trying to wrestle control of it.

Players who adopt the wounded duck strategy are ultimately trying to disrupt the momentum you have created. Unable to break your stranglehold on the match, they attempt to change your mindset. They want you to pull back from the game, relax knowing that the competition is virtually over, and even feel sorry for a (supposedly) "beaten" opponent.

Many matches change completely at this stage because if the wounded duck player can successfully take you out of your confident mindset, the game will flip, and the previously dominant player will begin to lose momentum. Once you lose momentum, it's really tough to gain it back!

Gael Monfils has been the classic "Wounded Duck." for most of his career


Here are some things to remember when encountering a wounded duck in a match.

Realise what's happening.

Perhaps you've fallen for the wounded duck routine several times already. You've now been warned! There's no excuse for allowing your mentality to slip and to lose momentum during a match. If your opponent looks fatigued or injured, that's fine, but if they don't actually retire from the match, be careful; they could be preparing for a fight back. Realise what's happening and maintain your momentum at all times.


Play scared and never let up.

Rod Laver used to say, "Play Scared and Never Let Up." What he is suggesting is to always respect your opponent's ability. Complacency is your worst enemy when playing opponents who are ranked below you or around the same level as you.

Don't get involved in "ranking mind games". Telling yourself that your opponent is ranked below you and, therefore, the expectation is that you should win is dangerous and counterproductive.


Adopt a defensive mindset always.

Adopting a defensive mindset when you play is always a good idea. Throughout the match, assess what could go wrong and how to avoid your opponent staging a comeback. This might seem negative, but too much confidence can be a double-edged sword, leading to complacency. I'd far sooner adopt a defensive mindset and stay aware of where trouble in the match may originate.


Don't get mentally involved.

During the 1975 Wimbledon Men's Singles Final, Arthur Ashe spent the change of ends with a towel draped over his head. Ashe's opponent that day was the brash American Jimmy Connors. Connors was bold and confident, at the top of his game, and expected to win easily that day, 

But Ashe had a plan. He avoided giving Connors a rhythm by reducing the speed of the rally and playing "junk" balls short in the court. It was a master class in avoiding an opponent's strengths by giving Connors balls he didn't like.

Ashe knew Connors would try to get "inside his head" during the match and avoided all interaction, and maintained his focus by putting a small towel over his head during the changeovers. This simple strategy confused Connors even more! 


Match momentum is valuable, and you must first try to gain it and then retain it for the rest of the match. The Wounded Duck opponent has probably succeeded multiple times at disrupting opponents' rhythm to gain control of the game. 

Make sure you don't fall victim to a Wounded Duck opponent.


 





Location: Bangkok, Thailand

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