playing hurt/not feeling well

 Video Box of Playing Hurt

Event; Playing Hurt or Not Feeling Well

Frequency/Intensity/Level of Concern

 

 

 

The Emotions Playing Hurt Brings

Competing when you’re hurt or sick brings a variety of emotions: These emotions arise because a tennis court has nowhere to hide—every limitation is exposed. 



  • Fear (of worsening the injury or losing badly)

  • Frustration (at not being able to play your best)

  • Doubt (about whether you can handle the challenge)

  • Resignation (the temptation to give up)

  • Pride (for choosing to fight through adversity)


Awareness

The first step is honesty with yourself. Awareness means checking in with both your body and your mind before stepping on court. You acknowledge the signals—fatigue, pain, tightness, or illness—without denial or exaggeration. In EQ terms, this is emotional and physical literacy: naming what’s real in the moment. Instead of pretending you’re fine, you admit, “I’m not at 100% today.” This awareness prevents self-deception and sets a more realistic frame for how you approach the match.

Regulation

Once aware, the key is regulation. Injuries or illness can stir frustration, fear, or panic, but regulation helps you stay composed. Techniques like controlled breathing, calming self-talk, or focusing on manageable goals (“one shot at a time, one point at a time”) allow you to keep emotions from spiraling. Regulation also means pacing yourself physically: shortening points, conserving energy, or using tactics that minimize strain. It’s about adjusting your emotional thermostat so you don’t burn yourself out unnecessarily.  

Perspective

Perspective helps you zoom out from the immediate discomfort. A single match—while important—is not the entirety of your tennis journey. By widening your lens, you recognize that competing under less-than-ideal conditions can still be valuable: you can learn patience, problem-solving, and adaptability. Perspective softens the tendency toward self-criticism or despair, reminding you that setbacks are an unfortunate part of the larger story of growth and resilience in tennis.

Growth

Finally, growth is where you take meaning from the experience. Playing when hurt or unwell forces you to find new gears and strategies. Maybe you discover how to rely more on your serve, or how to win ugly by playing with grit rather than flair. More importantly, growth emerges in realizing you can endure discomfort, compete with dignity, and carry those lessons into future challenges on and off the court.

 

Video Box of Pro player playing hurt.not well 


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