Playing the way you like or playing to win: finding the real balance

In my experience with young tennis players, boys and girls, very often I listen to say: “I just want to play the way I like.” It’s understandable — everyone wants to have fun, express themselves, and feel free on the court.

But behind that phrase often hides a mental trap that limits progress and leads only to frustration.

When a player chooses to play “the way they like,” it usually means relying on instinct, flashy shots, and improvisation. However, this approach — if not supported by discipline and tactical awareness — leads to too many unforced errors. And every mistake chips away at confidence, eventually making the game less enjoyable than it seemed at first.

On the other hand, when a coach introduces a more “correct” way to play — one that’s more tactical, patient, and efficient — many young players get bored. They see it as a constraint, as a style that “doesn’t represent them.” But that boredom only exists because they don’t yet see the results behind the effort. They don’t realize that this kind of play, which feels less exciting at first, actually builds the foundation for winning, improving, and — over time — expressing themselves with true freedom and effectiveness.

Playing “the way you like” sounds great, but if you don’t learn how to do it properly, it becomes self-deceptive. It feels like freedom, but it actually traps you in the same mistakes and disappointments.
Real joy in tennis doesn’t come just from hitting hard or hitting spectacular winners — it comes from feeling in control, from being able to make the right choices, from being the master of your game. And that feeling only comes when you learn to combine freedom with discipline.

So what should we tell a young player who thinks this way?

“Your mindset isn’t wrong because you want to enjoy yourself, but it’s incomplete. Playing the way you like is a great goal — but you need to build the foundations to do it well. If you keep playing your way without learning the method, you’re punishing yourself — because you’ll never be fully satisfied: you won’t win enough, and you won’t feel like you’re improving.”

Tennis, like life, teaches us that true freedom comes once you’ve mastered the rules.
First, you learn to play smart — then you can truly play “the way you like” — with results, satisfaction, and the deep pleasure of knowing that you’re doing things right.