As soon as the match starts, when you step up to the table you have to be ready for your match mentally, emotionally and physically. How can you do that? You always have to focus on what you can control such as your pre-performance routines and during game rituals.
Pre-performance routines are breathing exercises, imagery (visualization), listening to music and positive affirmations, just to mention a few. Confidence and focus are key factors in the process. You have to trust in your shots and also not get distracted by spectators, outside factors, and with your self-thoughts. Too many thoughts in your head can cause “paralysis by analysis“, so you have to learn how to keep your mind calm and eliminate your thoughts so that you can be “here right now”. Paralysis by analysis describes an individual when overanalyzing or overthinking a situation can cause destroy performance in tasks that would be normally quite easy.
Simplicity during your game is your friend. Focus on your rituals between points, your optimal pace, how fast you play, how much time you take between points. Keeping a confident body posture, encouraging yourself, focusing on your breathing, bouncing on your feet between points and using your towel after every six points, all these techniques are very helpful. Everyone has an optimal energy level and the key is to find this and just be in the moment. Best performance happens when it’s effortless and it comes with ease.