Can dark arts lighten Murray's mood?

A column by psychological tennis for MurraysWorld.com on February 11, 2011, 01:38 pm

To seek or not to seek help from behavioural/sports psychologists? For Andy Murray, looking suitably dejected after his latest grand-slam final disaster, that is the question.

To most tennis observers, it's becoming increasingly obvious that Murray struggles with his form from time to time, most notably in grand-slam finals. But why is this?

Many are saying that the underlying cause or theme of his on-court disappointments is his mental strength – or lack of it, at times. It's clear he needs to develop greater consistency in this area.

Pressures

The modern game throws up many pressures – such as media responsibilities and expectations, fans, the British public and tournament directors. And the biggest pressure of all could be the one he places on himself.

These all conspire to affect his mental state. At 23 years of age, Murray is a young man desperate to succeed in his chosen profession, and we've already seen glimpses of his genius. Nevertheless, the question remains: does he have what it takes mentally to go right to the very top of men’s tennis? Or will his Achilles heel (his mental frailty) forever hold him back?

At the sharp end of modern men’s tennis, the technical margins separating the best from the rest have shrunk. It's now less about how a shot is executed and more about a player’s mental strength and wellbeing both on and off court.

This is where support teams become invaluable. These entourages typically comprise a principal coach, fitness advisors, hitting partner, a nutritionist and family. In some cases, one person takes on many functions. They work together to ensure the optimum level of performance of their charge. Among these teams, you'll sometimes find the dark arts of a behavioural/sports psychologist at work.

Banished

Since winning his maiden grand slam title in 2008, Novak Djokovic has been in and out of form. But it's been reported that he recently took on a psychologist to help strengthen the mental side of his game. By winning his second Australian Open title against Murray at the end of January, he showed us he had banished the mental frailties he once had.

This was a more confident, more self-assured Djokovic. There was a certainty about the way he imposed himself on his opponent's game. The same could not be said of Murray. His own mental frailties became more apparent as the match wore on.

Strangely, though, in Masters, ATP 500 finals and other matches, Murray keeps a relatively calm, positive demeanour. Although prone to the odd mid-set wobble, he more often than not finds a way back. So the question remains: why can't Murray translate this attitude to the five-set format?

Behavioural/sports psychologists are commonplace, and most sportsmen and women now use their services to gain a mental edge over their opponents. Brad McCollum, PGA Director of Golf, speaks on the importance of behavioural/sports psychology: “For an athlete at any level to reach their full potential, they will need to work on both the physical and mental hurdles that stand in their way".

Badri Narayanan, tennis coach in Salt Lake City, Utah, adds: “If I could somehow translate the importance of working on mental skills to [my] students, it will help them become not only better tennis players but also champions in life".

More prevalent

With the mental side of the game sharing top billing with ball-striking, behavioural/sports psychologists seem set to become even more prevalent in men’s tennis. Murray could benefit from behavioural therapy to help him manage the internal struggles he endures during some of his matches.

The Scot often aggressively hits his racket head with his fists, on occasion drawing blood. Add to this his constant wide-eyed, answer-seeking glare in the direction of his box, the way he berates himself and mentally unravels, and a picture emerges of a young man who, in that moment, is directionless, frustrated and not focused on the task in hand.

Conversely, at times, he can appear calm, focused and in control, managing his emotional outbursts appropriately. In those moments when he roars out loud after playing a spectacular shot – pumping himself up and grabbing back the momentum of the match – he produces some of his best tennis.

Between Murray's week-one performances at the 2011 Australian Open and his second-week efforts, a shift in on-court demeanour was obvious. Should we put his out-of-sorts manner down to the higher-ranked opponents he was facing as the tournament moved to its conclusion?

Or should we dare to consider the unthinkable? That Murray realises he is in an era where men’s tennis has never been so keenly contested. Perhaps he has doubts about his game and ability to get to the top. Is he prepared to sacrifice himself completely to this cause? Does he have the mental drive for such a sacrifice?

Winning mentality

It seems that those who do rise to the top of their professions not only sacrifice themselves to their cause but also have a unique winning mentality. They ooze a never-say-die mental strength, and never show frailty on court. Look at Rafael Nadal on the men’s tour and Serena Williams on the women’s tour and you'll see mental strength and inner confidence at their best.

When fully fit, these players rise to the physical and mental challenges of the game, raise their level of play, and become truly focused on every shot and every point until they win. To them, it's not a lost cause until the match is over. It's almost as if they dare their opponent to beat them.

For all Murray’s prowess, he has weaknesses. The one that seems to manifest itself when he is at maximum stress is his mental frailty. When he is playing uninhibited tennis, he has incredible self-belief and determination.

But still those doubts and frustrations creep into his game, often because of self-inflicted pressure, pressure from his opponents, or from variables he simply can't control, like wind or crowd noise. We've all seen him implode and vent his frustrations on court inappropriately, at cost to himself, or just simply underperform. At these times, his nerves inhibit every aspect of his game, creating mental discord and inconsistency.

Internal struggles

So how could a behavioural/sports psychologist help? He or she could help Murray find ways to deal appropriately with these nerves and internal struggles. They could work with Murray and his support team to identify why these issues manifest themselves to such an extent, particularly in grand-slam finals.

But first he has to recognise that he needs help. However, many fear that Murray’s obdurate tendencies and his desire to work things out for himself will perhaps stop him from taking this step. In the meantime, his fans will hope he gets the support he so needs and finds a constructive way to deal with his inner struggles, which sometimes do his game no justice at all.

Times are changing. No longer is it taboo or a sign of weakness to admit you need psychological help. Murray's fans will be hoping that he and his support team will at least consider the idea of introducing a behavioural/sports psychologist into their set-up.

After all, what is there to lose? Except, perhaps, another grand-slam final.

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