You’re on the court. You’re warmed up. You know you can win this match, and you certainly need the mental boost you’re going to get from a win. How can you make it happen? These tips can help.

1. Find the Weakness: Maybe your opponent has a weak backhand. Maybe you know he or she doesn’t cope well with a spin or a drop shot. Every tennis player has a weakness, and you can manipulate that game with that one weakness. Take your knowledge, and apply it where you know your opponent is weakest. If it’s the backhand, hit more shots to that wing. Use what you know to win.

2. Positioning Matters: Tennis is all geometry and angles. It’s not always obvious where to stand, but if you can work it out, you have a much better shot at the win. Many players will always sit at the center after they hit from the baseline, but the reality is that recovering to the right position after you’ve hit is an absolute must if you’re going to win.

3. Go Deep: If you can land a deep shot within three or four feet of your opponent’s baseline, you’re going to help increase the chance that he or she will make a mistake. Deep shots make it tough to place a winner over the net, and pushing your opponent as far back as possible gives you opportunities to play a drop shot.

4. Stay with What Works: If you don’t stay consistent, you won’t win your next match. You have to keep playing the ball back into the court because every time you do that, you force your opponent to make another shot, and that means a much higher chance for a mistake. If you’re only focused on your killer shots instead of sticking with the consistency that will keep you going through a match, you’re going to lose repeatedly.

Not sure a win is every going to be possible for you? Consider some private tennis lessons to help improve pieces of your game so that the next time you step onto the court; you’ll have a much better strategy in place to get that win.