Tennis Players Confront the Jitters of Closing at the French Open

In the upcoming weekend, a man and a woman must step into uncharted territory in the world of tennis. Their challenge? To clinch a Grand Slam title, their biggest opportunity yet. Mirra Andreeva, Maja Chwalińska, Alexander Zverev, and Flavio Cobolli are the contenders. They must seize the moments and overcome the pressure, a task that has defeated many at the French Open.

The struggle to close out a match affects even the top players. Jannik Sinner, for one, may still replay last year’s men’s final in his mind. He held a two-set lead and three championship points against Carlos Alcaraz, his closest rival, only to let them slip away. This year, Sinner faced a shocking second-round exit, losing to Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerúndolo. Many players share his struggle.

American players Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe have each had their own difficulties. Paul squandered two match points against Casper Ruud of Norway, while Tiafoe let a strong lead against Matteo Arnaldi from Italy dissolve into defeat.

Closing a match is a unique challenge in tennis. It requires focus on each point, yet players must handle the differing pressures these points present.

Players like Coco Gauff find closing matches challenging. Gauff’s approach used to be pretending the match had no finish. This strategy slipped away against Anastasia Potapova, who outplayed the American in the third round.

Rafael Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam winner who dominated Paris 14 times, approached every point as if it were the last. His rituals and focus exemplified how players manage the tension of closing out matches. Aryna Sabalenka, stationed as the women’s world No. 1, faced similar challenges in her quarterfinal match against Russia’s Diana Shnaider. Leading securely, Sabalenka faltered as Shnaider capitalized on her errors to claim victory.

Tommy Paul knows well how much the tension intensifies near the finish, highlighting the distinction between tennis and sports like baseball that allow for player substitutions.

Flavio Cobolli experienced intense stress against Zachary Svajda. Despite a seemingly commanding lead, the pressure loomed heavily.

Jannik Sinner, once trapped in closing-out hardships, has transformed into a formidable closer. His experience with past failures, like the French Open finals, has motivated him to master tense moments. Achieving a comeback win against Alcaraz in Wimbledon displayed his progress.

The mental challenges players face are vast. Anna Kalinskaya overcame the pressure during her quarterfinal against Potapova by keeping her opponent in constant motion. Her tactics paid off, culminating in a tightly contested victory in a tiebreaker.

Returning to Jannik Sinner, his past three-year journey allowed him to build confidence in critical moments. Through experience, Sinner learned to embrace the pressure. Players like Maja Chwalińska gather such experiences quickly, learning to close vital matches in a condensed timeline.

For seasoned players like Alexander Zverev, prior experiences in significant matches offer lessons. His previous struggles, such as the challenging final against Dominic Thiem during the 2020 US Open, reflect his journey in tennis under immense pressure.

Zverev, now a multiple-time Grand Slam finalist, is preparing to avoid repeating previous mishaps. Reflecting on matches, like his Australian Open semifinal against Alcaraz, has armed him with strategies to handle pivotal moments better.

His package of skills and over 800 match experiences serve as a foundation. Zverev hopes to rely on them as he edges toward his first Grand Slam title. His primary focus remains on simple execution during decisive points, trusting in his preparation and tactics.