Tournament preparation

• Find an event through regional associations, tournament platforms or your club.
• Read eligibility, age and residence restrictions, entry dates, fees, format and official ball details. Group play followed by knockout rounds is common.
• Find a partner with compatible ability and temperament.
• Follow the online form or message-entry instructions and payment procedure; many events fill in entry order.
• Check the draw and first-match time when published.

Seven to three days out, refine established skills rather than rebuilding technique. Agree on positioning and poach signals with your partner.

Two days out, keep rallies and serves light and check strings early enough to settle into a replacement. The day before, rest, pack, check travel and parking, reconfirm your start and sleep early.

Pack at least two rackets, spare shirts and socks, towels, a cap, overgrips, water, a sports drink, snacks, basic first-aid supplies, entry confirmation and identification.

Wake with time to eat easily digested carbohydrate, using only a light snack close to play. Aim to arrive about an hour before your match for check-in and court orientation.

About thirty minutes before play, use dynamic movement and mini tennis if a practice court is available. Between matches, snack and drink in small amounts and keep warm with gentle movement.

In your first event, play the opening two games with safe margins. Give doubtful calls to your opponent. Evaluate whether you tried your practiced patterns rather than judging the day solely by wins.

Team agreements can outweigh individual shot-making.

• A first serve landing around 70% can be more useful than a harder one landing 50%.
• Default to deep crosscourt returns away from the net player.
• Move together toward the ball to close open space.
• Use the middle as a safe, effective target.
• Agree on poaches with clear signals rather than improvising without coverage.

Encourage your partner after errors and discuss the next point briefly. See Doubles tactics for formations and patterns.

Nerves are something to manage, not eliminate.

• Use a repeatable between-point or pre-serve routine, such as two bounces or straightening strings.
• Replace “I must win” with an actionable cue such as “deep crosscourt return.”
• Slow breathing can help: try a four-second inhale and a six-second exhale between points.
• Allow a brief reaction to a lost point, then turn toward the next task.

Experience itself is mental practice. Keep entering suitable events rather than waiting to feel perfectly ready.