No fear

When I look at shots I've missed like the ones last night and when I make those shots well, I can only imagine fear to be the culprit in those errors. Take the short half volley punch from the service line that I used against Keng. Keng is left handed and likes to drive the ball fast and low. At the start of the evening I handled those balls really well. I punched the ball back short and nick the side wall for a winner. As the night got on and I started to lose focus. I hit the tin, way below the line. It's as if I stopped my racquet in mid motion. What was that feeling that made me do that? It was fear. Fear of what? I feared the thing that I eventually succumbed to. I feared that I would be paralyzed. I feared I would not be able to see the ball. Because of fear I indeed became paralyzed and I indeed could not see the ball. The thing to do is not be afraid of fear. There's nothing to fear but fear itself.