🇲🇽 GS Champs In Action

Day two at the WTA 1000 event in Guadalajara delivered some thrilling tennis and a few surprises. The day finished two wins out of three for former Grand Slam champions.

Here’s what went down…

Azarenka Dominates
Victoria Azarenka, the two-time Grand Slam winner, crushed Robin Montgomery with a stunning 6-1, 6-1 victory, only dropping one point on her first serve.

Kenin's Smooth Sail
Sofia Kenin, another Aussie Open champ, had an easy day, defeating Carol Zhao 6-4, 6-3.

Pliskova's Heartbreak
Karolina Pliskova's match was the talk of the day. She lost after holding match point against young American Hailey Baptiste, who mounted an incredible comeback for a 7-6(5), 5-7, 7-6(4) win.

Other Notable Results
Veronika Kudermetova secured her place by defeating Eugenie Bouchard 6-2, 6-7(4-7), 6-4. Emiliana Arango upset No. 11 seed Anastasia Potapova, while Marta Kostyuk overcame Stacey Fung in a thrilling three-setter.

Exciting Matches Ahead
Tomorrow promises more action with top seeds, including No. 1 Ons Jabeur and No. 2 Maria Sakkari, taking the court for exciting clashes.

Azaranka & Kenin through. Pliskova…

🧘 How to overcome game anxiety

We came across a talk by a 92 year old monk who had spent most of his life in isolation meditating. He had an interesting reflection on how to approach anxiety. You can’t stop anxiety from happening. You have to learn to deal with it. One must pause, and let life happen. Well, it all sounds easy but in reality it is more difficult. When it comes to getting your best performance on court, there are ways to manage your anxiety. The guys and girls over at Tennis Connected share 7 strategies to help. Here they are in short…

🧠 Mental Visualization:
Imagine your success with closed eyes. Visualize every detail of your victory to rewire your brain and reduce anxiety.

Example: Before my your match, visualize hitting a winner to finish triumphantly, boosting focus and confidence.

🌬️ Deep Breathing and Relaxation:
Combat anxiety with deep breaths – inhale for four, pause, exhale for four. Progressive muscle relaxation eases physical tension.

Example: At ends during a tennis match, deep breathing can help regain composure for a stronger performance.

🪴 Delta 9 for Anxiety:
THC, found in edibles, may help anxiety but consult a healthcare pro first. It's not for everyone.

Example: Some athletes use THC for anxiety relief and better sleep, enhancing their overall performance.

✊ Positive Self-Talk:
Swap negativity for optimism. Focus on your strengths and past achievements.

Example: Replace "I can't make this shot" with "I've trained for this moment, and I can do it."

📔 Preparation and Routine:
Establish a pre-game routine to feel grounded. Stick to warm-ups and rituals that boost your confidence.

Example: Rafael Nadal's meticulous pre-serve routine keeps him grounded and performance-ready.

🧘 Mindfulness and Meditation:
Stay in the moment. Mindfulness and meditation maintain focus and composure.

Example: Kobe Bryant used mindfulness meditation to enhance mental resilience on the basketball court.

👩‍⚕️ Seek Professional Help:
If anxiety hinders your career, consult a sports psychologist or counselor for tailored strategies.

Example: Serena Williams worked with a sports psychologist to manage anxiety and maintain peak performance, showing even legends seek professional guidance.

Now get out there you awesome human and show your opponent who’s boss!

For the full article follow the link here.

 ⏰ Shot Clock

😲 Emma Raducanu falls outside top-200. The Brit, who underwent three surgeries in May and hasn't played since. She started the season ranked at No 78 in the world but after playing 5 tournaments injured she fell down the rankings.

🤕 Tsitsipas Withdraws From Laver Cup The greek who has had troubles with form this season has pulled out due to injury. He will be replace by dynamic 19 year old Frenchman Arthur Fils

👶 Nadal’s son holds tennis racket. In his interview with Moviestar Plus+ Rafael Nadal shared a nice story about how his son, who was born last October, held a tennis racket for the first time at his academy. The Spaniard said his son found it fun, but no more fun than holding spoon.

👗 Fritz walks the runway. Taylor Fritz isn’t on court at the moment but has graced the runway at the NYC Fashion week. The 25 year was walking for brand Hermes. Oh la la.

🙅‍♀️ Remembering the Battle of the Sexes. With the 50th anniversary of the historic event this year, Inside tennis shares a look back at the match for the ages between Bobby Riggs and Billy Jean King.

🇨🇭 Roger pays visit to Laver Cup teams. Federer made a surprise visit the the International team while they were practicing ahead of this weekend’s fixture. Tiafoe was quick to comment that the last time they saw him on court he had a lot of tears in his eyes.