Tournament Fatigue at Manly Seaside Championships

Why Players Run Out of Fuel

The Manly Seaside Championships delivered the usual mix of brilliant rallies, long days, and unpredictable conditions. But if you looked closely this year, one thing stood out — a growing number of players who started strong, then faded. Not physically — but mentally.

What they were really battling? A drained mental battery.

The Myth of “Always On”

Most competitive players grind through matches in full-on mode — constantly thinking, anticipating, stressing, planning. Every point, every moment. That kind of intensity might feel committed, but it’s also unsustainable.

Mr. Miyagi had it right:

“Switch on, switch off.”

Switching Off Is the Secret Weapon

The best players know how to switch off between points — using those crucial 15–20 seconds to decompress, lower their heart rate, and mentally reset. Then they switch back on to play the next point with sharp focus and full intent.

The key? Play one point at a time.

Too many treat a tennis match like a 2-hour sprint, staying in full-activation mode from start to finish. That might work for a few games — but not for the long haul.

Mental energy is finite. Burn through it too quickly, and everything starts to crumble:

Tactical clarity fades
Footwork slows
Emotional control slips

This was on full display in the latter stages of many Manly Seaside matches, and the Men’s Final.

One of the clearest examples was local hero Andre in the Men’s Final. After a brilliant, high-octane semifinal, he came into the final emotionally and mentally tapped out.

Early on, his ball-striking still had rhythm — but when the match got tight, he just couldn’t summon the same composure or clarity. The tank was empty. Not physically, but mentally.

Science Backs It Up

Recent research shows that even brief cognitive tasks impair physical performance in repeated sprints and jumps — not by tiring the muscles, but by exhausting the mind.

At Manly Seaside, we saw this play out in real time:

Sloppy errors at key moments — not because of nerves, but because of mental overload.
Poor footwork in late sets, despite no visible signs of cramping or fatigue.
Emotional overreactions to routine mistakes — a sure sign the brain’s energy buffer is depleted.

Your Mental Energy Is a Budget

Think of your mental energy like your phone battery — if you leave every app running, you’ll be at 10% before the second set.

Smart players manage their energy like pros manage rallies:

Breathe between points. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Set a 4-7-8 breathing rhythm that calms the system.
Look away briefly from the court. Shift focus to your strings, towel, or a calm spot. This is your off switch.
Have a reset ritual. Bounce the ball. Spin your racquet. Something simple, consistent, and automatic.
Then re-engage. Right before you step into return or serve, snap back into “on” mode. Use a cue word or image to dial in.

Tournament Tennis Is a Mental Marathon

At a week-long event like the Manly Seaside Championships, winning isn’t just about who hits the best forehands — it’s about who can still think clearly on day four or five.

If you burn through your mental fuel in round one, you won’t have the reserves for a deciding set at 5–5 two days later.

And it’s not just about match management — event overload is real.

Playing too many events?

That’s another fast track to burnout. Choose your battles wisely.

It’s far better to go deep in one or two draws than to spread yourself thin and fizzle out across the board.

Wrap

Tennis rewards the players who know when to push — and when to pause. Between points is your sanctuary. It’s where you reset your brain, reload your focus, and recharge.

Be like Mr. Miyagi.

Switch off. Breathe. Reset. Then switch on — and go play the next point!

Reference

1. Sci Med Sport. 2024 Feb;27(2):105-112. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2023.10.016. Epub 2023 Nov 2.

Tournament Fatigue at Manly Seaside Championships