Nancy Gill McShea, longtime tennis writer, posted this response on our Facebook page: "It's totally mental. I once wrote a story about a national junior champion and asked her what it takes to be a champ. She said BRAINS!!!!!!!!"

Teaching pro Howie Burnett, who recently released a book called "Net Notes: Common Sense Ideas to Lift Your Game," shared his opinion via Facebook. He says, "Confidence in one's ability creates mental toughness! A confident world-class athlete lacking solid fundamental skills will, under the pressure of high level competition, crack like cheap china when push comes to shove.

"The quotes about tennis being 99% mental come only from those players who have already done the back-breaking work to cement into place expert footwork and racket skills, as well as having fully digested a firm understanding of tactical logic and risk vs. reward behaviors. Any discussion of of the mental component of the game cannot be taken seriously unless and until the measure of the players skill set has been taken into consideration. I'm a coach by profession and I always chuckle at the suggestion that the game is 99% mental unless the player to whom you have asked the question already has a toolbox full of the sharpest blades and heaviest hammers. Competence creates confidence! Have no doubt about that!"

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