Conquering Closing Pressure: Tennis Players Face Grand Slam Finals

This weekend, two men and two women face their greatest tennis challenge at the French Open. Alexander Zverev, Flavio Cobolli, Mirra Andreeva, and Maja Chwalińska will compete for Grand Slam titles. Players often struggle under pressure, as demonstrated in past tournaments.

Past French Opens saw top players falter. Jannik Sinner, famously lost last year’s final after holding a two-set lead and three championship points against Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz. This year, Sinner was upset by Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerúndolo.

Tommy Paul of the U.S. missed two match points in the fourth round against Norway’s Casper Ruud, while Frances Tiafoe lost after being two points from victory against Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi. Coco Gauff’s title defense ended when she faltered against Austria’s Anastasia Potapova.

“I should keep putting my foot on the gas,” Gauff remarked post-match, acknowledging her need to maintain momentum when leading.

Rafael Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, lived by the principle of playing each point as the last. He maintained focus through rituals and routines. Closing out matches challenges players with various pressure dynamics.

At this year’s French Open, Aryna Sabalenka, the world No. 1, couldn’t convert advantages against Diana Shnaider, losing despite leading significantly. Sabalenka’s failure to capitalize highlights the difficulty in closing matches.

American Tommy Paul, seasoned by experiences at match points, bluntly stated, “Yeah, totally,” about the significance of points nearing the match’s end. Stress is often unavoidable without “closers” to finish games as in baseball.

Closing stress almost disrupted No. 10 seed Cobolli’s fourth-round match against Zachary Svajda. Cobolli struggled after leading. He admitted, “I don’t like to think a bit; I just want to play.” His rival, Sinner, applied lessons from past defeats to become a feared closer.

Sinner focused on courage and precision under pressure. He demonstrated improvement, having reverse a one-set deficit against Alcaraz at Wimbledon weeks after his monumental loss.

Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya followed Sinner’s strategy. She kept Anastasia Potapova on the run, winning her quarterfinal tiebreak through strategic movement and effort.

Maja Chwalińska, Polish world No. 114, enjoyed a streak at the Grand Slam, closing her last five matches successfully. Experiences across tennis can guide players when facing final pressure.

Alexander Zverev, with over 800 match experiences, relies on confidence, hoping to avoid past failures when crucial game moments arise. He aims for precise serves under pressure, counting on the skills developed through years of high-stakes matches.