The US Open shows it every year: in tennis, the match is often decided in the head. How to keep your cool despite being behind and turn your game around.
A seemingly hopeless deficit, shaking hands at match point, or the sudden loss of your own line: the dramatic rallies and emotional rollercoasters at the US Open offer not only first-class entertainment, but also valuable lessons for your own game on clay or hard courts. When the pros in New York fight for every centimetre, it is rarely just about the better forehand. It is about mental strength, tactical adjustments, and the ability to pull yourself out of a crisis.
How to rescue yourself from an almost lost situation was demonstrated by Frances Tiafoe in his dramatic quarter-final against Alex Michelsen. According to reports from Tennis Majors and Tennis365, Tiafoe was already two sets and a break down. Michelsen was already serving for the match at 5-4 in the third set and was only four points away from the semi-finals. But two double faults and the opponent's nerves were enough for Tiafoe to completely turn the match around and ultimately win 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (6).
Jessica Pegula also showed extreme resilience in her quarter-final against Emma Navarro. Despite being a set down and quickly 0-2 behind in the deciding third set, she fought her way back. After the match, she explained that it was primarily an internal battle against her own negative thoughts. She had to command herself to block out the doubts, just keep playing, and actively solve problems on the court. According to statistics, Pegula is the WTA player with the most wins after falling behind since the beginning of the decade.
The fact that even absolute exceptional players are not immune to sudden collapses was shown in the match between Iga Swiatek and Qinwen Zheng. Swiatek was already leading comfortably 5-0 in the first set, but then lost seven games in a row and was ultimately eliminated 5-7, 3-6. Former US Open finalist Greg Rusedski analysed on Off Court that mental "scar tissue" often plays a role in such moments. When the momentum shifts, even top pros find it difficult to stop the opponent's run and adjust their own game in time.
On the other side, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka shows how to defy tight situations. In her quarter-final against Linda Noskova, she also fell a break behind in the third set. However, she remained aggressive, trusted her shots, and finally finished the match with strong nerves, hitting an ace on her second serve. For Sabalenka, it was her 18th consecutive victory at the US Open.
For recreational athletes, concrete strategies for their own training and the next competition can be derived from these dramatic professional matches:
Your takeaway: A tennis match is only over with the final point – remain active even when far behind and concentrate only on the next rally.
This article was generated automatically with AI from the sources listed above and has not been editorially reviewed.