Free The Super Mental Training Book by Robert K. Stevenson Page B

afterwards, "You never let me in the match!" Then the guy informed me that the man I'd have to play the next round would give me a cardiac arrest (he gave me the impression that I'd get my butt kicked).
    The next round was the semi-finals (the next day at 8 in the morning), and my opponent turned out to be the second seed. He was a friendly man and a good player. For this match it was basically the same thing: I took my warm-ups and gave myself my regular suggestions. In the first set I had some bad breaks, and lost it, 6-4. After that first set I sat down on the bench and gave myself the suggestion to "Kill!" And that's what I did. I dominated my opponent totally, and took the second set, 6-1. The third set was a continuation of the momentum of the second set, and I won it, 6-3. I played really well, but my opponent always kept trying and was never psychologically out of the match.
    The finals at 12 pitted me against the first seed, Bob Kisner, a middle-aged veteran of the courts. The crowd was for "the Kid" because Kisner would swear and throw tantrums on the court. I gave myself the usual suggestions before the warm-ups, the main one being, "You know you can beat him." During the warm-ups and start of play Kisner didn't say one word; instead, he gave me cold looks. In the first set we both played really tough. I was playing good, but just barely lost it, 7-5. The second set I
    came out the same way, same attitude. Kisner also started this set playing well, but his game slowly deteriorated. I beat him, 6-3. At the end of this set my opponent blew up with combinations of swear words and racket throwing. In the third set I came out to win—I had to win! I started playing out of my mind. In fact, I played the best I had during the entire tournament. Meanwhile, Kisner was gone, as evidenced by the time he creamed the ball over the fence. I steamed through, 6-2. I was astounded by my victory, and the crowd was ecstatic!
    Shaver, now an engineer, continued to use self-hypnosis, not only for tennis, but also in studying for tests while in college. His tournament story, though, is important because it exemplifies perfectly the value of self-hypnosis for junior tennis players. Shaver, then age 17, played tough tennis throughout, especially in his three-set matches. This is significant because juniors frequently "crack up" during the third set. Their relative immaturity makes them less able to handle pressure situations. As a result, they get upset quite easily, which seriously affects their play. But, as Shaver pointed out, it was the middle-aged opponent in the finals who blew his cool. By contrast, if you go to any juniors tournament, you will note that the youngster who keeps his head is generally the one who wins the match. The first racket thrown into the fence is a sure tip-off as to which player will not advance to the next round. As with Paul Shaver, proper hypnotic suggestions can provide you a mental toughness that is no strain to sustain. As you maintain your composure during the match, it becomes more likely that your opponent will ultimately degenerate into your typical "temperamental tennis player" (a plus for you).
    Along these same lines, it can be said with justification that strategy books on winning tennis are not usually helpful. Those tips that make great reading go out the window as soon as you get emotionally carried away by your opponent's quirks, or by the excitement of the moment. Remember Shaver noting his opponent's silence and cold looks in the finals; to many players such actions would prove disconcerting, mind-blowing. It is the type of thing that causes one to completely forget his game plan. Paul Shaver, however, was able to shrug off this incident. He maintained his composure primarily because his mind was already preoccupied with the hypnotic suggestions he had given himself. His mind, in short, was totally focused in on winning, and no antics originating from his opponent could disrupt Shaver's