Managing Nerves and Performance Anxiety I Brent Abel

Managing Nerves and Performance Anxiety I Brent Abel

Author: Mike Rogers - Founder of Senior Tennis Unpacked October 14, 2025 Duration: 21:39

Summary

Join host Mike Rogers on "Insider's Playbook" as he sits down with tennis legend Brent Abel, a senior player with 21 gold balls and a wealth of experience. In this episode, Brent shares his journey from tournament nerves to mastering performance anxiety, offering practical tips for players at every level. Discover how to desensitize yourself to pressure, the importance of pre-match routines, and the mental strategies that can elevate your game. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, Brent's insights are sure to inspire and guide you. Tune in for an engaging conversation filled with wisdom and actionable advice.

 

Contact Coach Brent Abel:

eMail: Brent@webtennis.com

Website: webtennis.com

YouTube: youtube.com/@webtennis

Twitter:  twitter.com/webtennis

 

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction: Meet Brent Abel

01:23 - Overcoming Nerves: Anxiety to confidence.

04:31 - Pre-Match Preparation: Routines and mental readiness.

06:58 - In-Match Strategies: Managing nerves and probing opponents.

12:40 - Between-Point Routine: Brent's four-part system

19:32 - Connecting with Brent: How to reach out to Brent

20:23 - Closing Thoughts: Final reflections and appreciation.

About Senior Tennis Unpacked
Senior Tennis Unpacked brings you three ways to stay sharp and inspired on court:

·       Changeover — weekly articles with insights, stories, and strategies for senior players

·       Insider’s Playbook — expert interview series with coaches, champions, and performance pros

·       Gold Ball Tennis — my personal journey chasing national titles and sharing what I learn along the way

Join the STU Nation for FREE and get 3 bonus guides at mike-tennis.com

Bonus Guides:

·       Up Your Tennis Game — Smart strategies to win more

·       Frustrated to Focus — Mental reset for better matches

·       Get Fit Get Strong — Tennis-specific strength and mobility plan


For competitive tennis players over fifty, the game evolves. The desire to win remains sharp, but the path to victory requires a different map. Insider's Playbook: Smart Strategies for Competitive Senior Tennis Players Over 50 is that essential guide. Hosted by Mike Rogers, a seasoned senior tournament competitor and the founder of Senior Tennis Unpacked, this podcast digs into the nuanced realities of competing later in life. You won't find generic tips here. Instead, each conversation is a deep dive into the specific strategic adjustments, physical maintenance, and mental conditioning that give seasoned players a tangible edge. Mike brings on elite coaches who understand the senior athlete, national champions who are still dominating their age brackets, and performance experts focused on longevity. They unpack real, actionable strategies for everything from point construction and recovery to managing pressure during a tight third-set tiebreak. This is for players who analyze their matches, who know their strengths, and who are looking for that next piece of the puzzle to outsmart and outlast their opponents. Tune in to hear candid discussions that feel like a locker room talk with the most knowledgeable players and minds in senior tennis, all dedicated to helping you compete longer, smarter, and with more success.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 31

Insider's Playbook:  Smart Strategies for Competitive Senior Tennis Players Over 50
Podcast Episodes
Calm Your Brain, Crush the Next Point I Brent Abel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:21
How do you handle pressure when everything’s on the line? In this episode of Insider’s Playbook, Mike Rogers talks with 21-time gold ball champion and senior tennis legend Brent Abel about performing under stress in tieb…
How to Mentally Handle Playing Better Opponents I Brent Abel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:57
When you're facing a stronger player—on paper, in the draw, or in your head—how do you keep from losing the match before it even starts?In this episode of Insider’s Playbook, senior tennis legend Brent Abel (21 national…
Coaching Across Ages and Levels I Stephen Bourne [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:45
In this episode of Insider’s Playbook, host Mike Rogers talks with Stephen Bourne, founder of One Minute Tennis, former professional player, and creator of one of the fastest-growing tennis YouTube channels of 2023.Steph…
Grunt Smarter: Relax Your Body While Powering Your Shots | Mark Vines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:09
In this unique episode of Insider’s Playbook, senior tennis legend and mental-performance coach Mark Vines returns to explore one of the most overlooked tools in the tennis arsenal: the grunt. Far from being just a noisy…
The Best Warm Up Routines I Ben Wolfe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:54
In this episode of Insider's Playbook, host Mike Rogers speaks with performance coach Ben Wolfe about the essential warm-up routines for senior tennis players. They discuss the importance of dynamic stretching, engaging…
Simple Ways to Improve Your Game Even at 55+ I Ben Wolfe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:23
In this episode of Insider's Playbook, host Mike Rogers dives into essential winning tennis strategies for players over 50 with Ben Wolfe, founder of Wolfe Tennis Performance. They focus on senior tennis and the unique c…
Insider's Playbook Introduction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:54
Welcome to Insider’s Playbook — your blueprint for smarter senior tennis. Hosted by a fellow senior tennis player, this interview series features elite coaches, top competitors, and mental performance pros who know what…