Do some cardio training. Try to run at least 3 times a week. Do some lightweight training. The goal here is to not bulk up and become muscular, but to make sure you are fit and your body is prepared for the gruelling time you’ll experience on the court. Consider hiring or consulting with a personal trainer who will help you put together an exercise routine that fits your schedule and goals. [1] X Research source
Establish a schedule for yourself that engages you as many times a week as you need to improve. Many pre-professional players train six days a week for several hours a day. Psychologists say that it takes about 5 years, or 1,000 hours to become an expert at something mainly involving sports. [2] X Research source
Start playing in junior Zone Advancement Tournaments (ZATs). When playing ZATs, you’ll have the opportunity to accumulate points. Points will enable you to progress towards higher tournaments and competitions. Champ up. After ZATs, you do a thing called “champing up” which happens after you accumulate a certain amount of points from winning matches. This means that the more tournaments you play, the more chances you have to advance to higher-level tournaments. Once you get to a thing called “super champ,” you can now participate in national tournaments. At this point, you will have gained a reputation in the tennis world as one of the best junior players in the nation. After you gain really good rankings in the United States, you will be invited to play in worldwide tournaments for juniors such as the junior U. S. Open, or even junior Wimbledon.
To win scholarships, you’ll not only need to have a winning record as a player on the court but also have good academic records. If you’ve won tournaments or attended the junior Wimbledon or something comparative, your chances of winning a scholarship will increase. Top programs for men include the University of Southern California at Los Angeles, the University of Virginia, and Baylor University. Top programs for women include Duke University; Vanderbilt University; and the University of California at Los Angeles. [4] X Research source
Focusing on improving parts of your game instead of focusing on simply hitting the ball. Top players use every practice session as a way to improve different elements of their game. As a result, over a long period, their whole game improves. Set yourself a routine. Most pro players have a specific routine before every match. Whatever your routine is, make sure you master it and you’re comfortable with it. [5] X Research source Embrace your own approach. One thing many tennis pros agree upon is that there is no one correct tennis technique. Ultimately, a swing or technique that works for one person might not work for another. Just make sure to practice as much as you can and get feedback so you can identify the best technique for you. [6] X Research source
Join a league or a club with players who are better than you. If you’re a high school player, you might want to see if you can practice against some college players in your area. They’ll surely have more skill and experience, and you’ll learn from your matches with them. Avoid playing against people you always beat. While it might be fun to win, you won’t learn much from playing against the same people and beating them all the time. Play against people who are older than you, even if they are significantly older. People who have been playing for decades might enjoy playing against younger players. The benefit is for both players: they’ll enjoy having an energetic and enthusiastic youth to play against, and you’ll learn from their many years of experience on the court. [7] X Research source
Expect to be challenged. Having someone else guide your training means that you’ll be pushed harder to improve. It won’t be any easy process, but your payoff will be greater in the end. Make your coaching time count. Pay close attention to the advice you receive while you’re training. If you really want something to become a part of your technique, make it into a mantra that you repeat (aloud or in your head) as you play. Spend the time to find good coaches. Bad coaches are out there, believe it or not (from personal experience). Your time will be paid back when you get superb coaching. [8] X Research source
Asking your coach or someone in your practice cohort/circle to introduce you to someone who is exceptionally skilled. Cultivate relationships with skilled or professional athletes you meet at tournaments and at other tennis-related events. It is best to slowly engage and communicate with people you want to mentor you, rather than to just ask them outright. Look for mentor programs through local and national tennis organizations.
The average age that top players started tennis was 6 or 7 years old. The later you start in life, the lower your chances of becoming a top competitor are. Starting in your late-teens drastically decreases chances of becoming a professional.
Top players are often faster and more agile than their competitors. Top players practice less on average. Top players do more fitness training than other players. Top players are often slimmer than their competitors.
Your academic career in secondary school and college will probably suffer. Many professional tennis players are tracked as pro in middle school or early high school and are unable to attend college until later in life. Your family, social and love life will be impacted as much of your time will be devoted to practice and travel. [9] X Research source
You’ll need money to pay coaches early in your career. You’ll have to pay for travel and other costs associated with competing in tournaments far from home. Most professional players do not make money playing. It is estimated that it costs $160,000 to compete professionally on the circuit every year. Look for financial aid from organizations like the United States Tennis Association. Financial aid, if you qualify, will help pay for travel and other expenses related to competing. [10] X Research source
The USTA is truly one of the most important gateways to a professional career. The USTA has a great website where you can search for tournaments in your area. See: http://tennislink. usta. com/Tournaments/Common/Default. aspx If you don’t live in the US, search online for your country’s competitive tennis organization.
