Full Court Tennis with Brian Teacher: Vision to Reality

Why You Choke in Tennis and How to Stop It — Sinner Djokovic and Alcaraz Never Do (Most Coaches Never Teach This)

August 27, 2026·11 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Every tennis player chokes. Even the top pros have bad days. But here is the difference — Sinner, Djokovic, and Alcaraz have built systems to get out of it. Most players haven't. And mostcoaches never teach you how.In this episode I break down exactly why you choke — the technique insecurities, the negative mental loops, the critical voices from your past — and give you the real tools to stop it.Breathing. Strategy. Self-talk. Simple cues. Managing your game instead of guiding the ball.And I'll tell you the story of Felix Mantilla — top 10 Spanish player in the world — choking away a set to Greg Rusedski at the Australian Open on rebound ace in 137-degree heat. Greg could barely stand. He was just lobbing balls over the net. And Mantilla — playing three times better tennis — couldn't win the set because he lost his strategy completely. It's almost humorous. And it's the most powerful example of choking you'll ever hear.Plus the El Capitan analogy — what Alex Honnold free soloing 2000 feet with no ropes teaches every tennis player about focus under pressure.Choking is not a character flaw. It is a solvable problem. And this episode tells you exactly how to solve it. Verify your technique and build your confidence → Download the Full Court Tennis app fullcourttennis.com Tell me in the comments — what do YOU choke on most? Serve? Forehand Backhand? Match situations?

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