Adverse conditions and formidable opponents are all part of playing tennis. From external factors to performance swings, there are many frustrating ways you can lose a tennis match.

The 2020 French Open tennis tournament had its share of controversies. Players complained about the balls, the court, the weather, and the line-calls, among other things. The frustration of playing tennis under imperfect conditions was on full display.

Club players can probably relate. The professional players’ complaints sounded a lot like the excuses they hear at the local tennis club. If you occasionally feel that factors beyond your control contributed to your loss, you are not alone.

So, here are six frustrating ways you can lose a tennis match.

Your opponent outplays you

A player who knows how to take advantage of your weaknesses can be a frustrating opponent. Rafael Nadal tweaking his game to beat Diego Schwartzman at the recently-concluded French Open is a perfect example. Schwartzman, who had beaten Nadal in their last encounter, found himself at his wit’s end as he tried to return topspin shots that kicked up above his shoulder.

When your opponent dictates play and limits what you do on the court, it can make for a frustrating match. There is always merit in adopting the strategy of making your opponent play one more shot.

Despite his loss, my new tennis hero is Diego Schwartzman.

You fritter away your lead through unforced errors

Ever get the feeling that your opponent didn’t beat you, you beat yourself?

There are days when you just can’t seem to close out points. From double-faults to over-hit shots to squandered leads, unforced errors can cost you matches. The pros do it too. Roger Federer losing the Wimbledon 2019 finals after holding two match points, should make you think. Felix Auger-Aliassime failing to hold serves against John Isner at the 2019 Miami Open, when he had the sets on the line, is another classic example.

Tennis Gods are not on your side

When every net cord bounce and mishits go in your opponent’s favour, you know that luck is not on your side. Throw in a few shots that skid off your baseline and a couple of missed “gimme” overheads at the net, and the picture is complete.

When you play against players in your peer group, lucky breaks that go against you can often cost you the match. A lucky shot may not sound like something that can impact a match’s outcome. However, if you have ever lost a closely-fought tie-break on a net-cord point, you will understand

Adverse weather conditions throw your game off

Serving with the sun in your eye can be daunting at the best of times. High-toss serves and overhead smashes are more challenging and less effective when dealing with flashes of light that blind you briefly.

Players who rely heavily on their serves can find it frustrating to lose their leverage by having to tone things down.

In tennis, the wind is not your friend. Serves, volleys, and overheads are less dependable when the wind moves the ball around in the air. The wind direction may also mean that you expend more energy while playing against the wind and playing it safe when you switch sides.

Reports of professional players fainting from the heat at the Australian Open, and freezing from the cold at the French Open have been in the media.

Having to retire from a match when you hold the lead can be an extremely frustrating way to lose a tennis match.

Indoor courts are perfect, but

Indoor courts are a boon for tennis enthusiasts who play tennis around the year. While indoor tennis removes the weather elements from the playing conditions, it adds other limitations to your game.

Improper lighting on indoor courts can impact your visibility. Like the sun’s effects, glare from the lights or shadows on the court can have a bearing on your game. Momentarily losing the ball as you go for an overhead shot can cost you the point.

Divider nets are an essential part of indoor (and outdoor) tennis and keep the courts separated while also preventing balls from rolling off to the adjacent courts. Club players have been known to take advantage of the nets by going wide on crucial points. If you are a counter-puncher who covers vast areas of the court to put balls back in play, divider nets can affect your game. Not getting to a ball that you know you can return is not a fun way to lose a point.

Backdrop curtains on indoor courts provide a neutral dark backdrop for players for improved visibility. While the playing surface dimensions are fixed across tennis courts, the distance from the baseline to the backdrop can vary from court to court. If your opponent is someone who hits Nadal-like topspin, you can potentially run out of court trying to move back to a position where you can play the ball.

You can only hide your injuries for so long

Injuries always appear to happen at the least opportune moment.

Playing through injuries is never a good idea. However, it is not uncommon to see players both at the professional and club levels do it. Kinesiology taping and short-term physiotherapy may see you through temporary muscular ailments. But, with so many moving body parts like the shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, and ankle, critical to a tennis shot’s execution, hiding an injury can only take your game so far.

Losing a match because your body is not at a hundred percent can be a frustrating experience.

As with any sport, in tennis, you win some, you lose some. But, the winnable ones that you lose are the most frustrating.