Originally authored by Magnus Gunnarson, ATC Junior Program Director & Six-Time Davis Cup Player for Team Iceland.
The week before a competitive tennis tournament isn’t the time to change your game or tennis strategy; it’s the time to sharpen them.
If something feels slightly off — your backhand, your serve, your footwork — this is the week to clean it up with extra reps. The lead up to a big match or local tennis tournament is not the moment to reinvent your entire tennis strategy.
7 Tournament Prep Tips for Junior Players
Tournament preparation is about locking in muscle memory, dialing in the right mindset, and polishing the same tactics and game strategy the player has drilled over and over in practice.
How to Prepare for a Tennis Tournament
Practice Rallies & Real Points
During the week of a tournament or important competition, I try to structure Advantage Junior program practices to reflect real match-play scenarios. We’ll spend time rallying to lock in timing, but we’ll also play real points. I want players working on serve-plus-one patterns, returning with purpose, and building points the way they actually want to construct them during match play.
Movement is critical in competitive tennis. That’s why we spend plenty of time on footwork and recovery steps; focusing in particular on the transition from defense to offense.
Follow a Simple Game-Day Plan
Tactically speaking, one should go into a tournament with a simple plan. How will you handle a pusher who makes a lot of balls? What’s your strategy against a big server? Where are you most comfortable finishing points: crosscourt or down the line? Going into a tournament with a clear plan makes a big difference.
Do Less
I’m being serious. The mistake of overtraining is one I see players make much more often than I’d like. Who hasn’t been tempted to embrace a “do more” mindset after registering for a local tennis tournament over in Queens or Midtown? It’s a natural response for many ambitious players, but do yourself the favor of resisting that urge, at least during tournament week.
Despite how much players believe that cramming more reps in before competition will give them a competitive edge, that’s just not the path to a trophy. The reality of a competitive tennis tournament, is that you need stamina to win. Players want to feel sharp, not tired when they step onto the court.
Stay Healthy
Make sure you’re resting well between practices and staying on top of hydration and nutrition.
Prioritize Your Mindset
The day before an event should feel calm and organized. Make sure your racquets are freshly strung, grips are ready, and your bag is packed. I encourage players to write down three to five quick focus points. They can be as simple as this:
“High first-serve percentage”
“Move my feet at every point.”
Use Visualization
Mental preparation is just as important as the physical training we do during practice. During tournament week, visualize different match situations. Picture yourself down a break. Picture yourself serving for a set. When those moments come, they won’t feel unfamiliar.
Trust the Work
Once match time starts, your preparation time is officially over. It’s time to trust the work, stop thinking about technique, and focus on competing and making smart decisions. If you’ve prepared well over the last week, you’ll be well-equipped, both physically and mentally, to handle whatever comes your way.
Final Tennis Mindset Tips
For players: Focus on what you can control this week: your practice, your rest, your mindset. Everything else will sort itself out on match day.
For parents: Trust the plan we’ve got. If your kid sticks to their normal routine, they’ll feel more confident and ready when it matters.
Over the years, I’ve seen a clear pattern with tennis tournament preparation: players who keep their usual practice rhythm before a tournament play more consistently.
Even great preparation can’t guarantee a win, but then… what can?
Before every local tennis tournament we host over on Roosevelt Island, I encourage my players to remember what matters most, even in the heat of competition tennis:
Try Your Best
Practice Good Sportsmanship
And Have Fun!