Francesco Dandekar: The Unique Mental Hurdles Tennis Players Face (And How You Can Overcome Them)

In 'Winning Ugly', Brad Gilbert shares insights on how to succeed in tennis by exploiting opponents' weaknesses and maximizing one's strengths, emphasizing mental preparation and strategic play. The book offers anecdotes from Gilbert's career, including matches against tennis legends like John McEnroe and Boris Becker. It provides valuable advice for players of all levels looking to improve their game.

This book, first published in 1974, focuses on the 'Inner Game' played within the mind of the player, against obstacles such as self-doubt, nervousness, and lapses in concentration. Gallwey introduces the concept of two selves: Self 1, the thinking brain that analyzes and judges, and Self 2, the 'feeling and doing' brain that can master skills naturally if not interfered with by Self 1. The book provides strategies for achieving 'relaxed concentration' and overcoming internal mental and emotional obstacles, making it relevant not only to tennis but also to other areas of life such as music, writing, work, and personal relationships.