For a tennis beginner, it can be hard to gain the upper hand. It’s even harder to top your opponent early in a match, before you’ve even really had that much time to learn about their playstyle. If you want to always build the early lead in your matches, it’s simpler than you may think.

Come In With A Plan

Stress will play with your nerves and make it harder to focus on the court. That’s why the best way to begin playing better is to destress- and that starts with making a plan. Do you know anything about your opponent, and what they might play? Even if you don’t, it’s still easy to make a plan before the match. It’s easier to maintain a high-quality playstyle if you know what you’re doing beforehand, and all of that can be easily planned out.

Research Your Opponent

The more you know about your opponent, the more you can use against them. Many players will have social media feeds where they try to show off their prowess, and these are often publicly visible. If you know who you’re playing beforehand, you can find examples of their common play styles and learn how to prevent being tricked by them.

Always Warm Up Before Matches

One of the leading causes of tennis injuries is not warming up. Instead, always make sure to do some light exercise and stretches before you begin the match so that your body is fully ready to move! This is also a great time to plan your match, so you can do two things at once and enter the court both mentally and physically prepared.

Building The Perfect Early Lead

Remember, the easiest way to become a better tennis player is to practice! If you’re not good at gaining an early upper hand now, it’s not impossible to become better. Just keep practicing and learning about your opponents, and pretty soon you’ll be a star.