Momentum: The Winning Edge in Tennis

In tennis, the scoreboard can’t be trusted. A player can be dominating from the baseline, winning point after point, only for everything to unravel within minutes, with nothing changing technically. No injury. No bad luck. Just momentum, the hidden force that shapes every match, and the one force most players never learn to manage.

Momentum is what separates the player who knows how to win from the one who simply hopes to. It is why the better player doesn’t always win, and why some competitors always seem to find a way through the most challenging moments on court. Understanding and mastering momentum offers the real winning edge.

In this groundbreaking book, former LTA National Coach and Head of Coach Development Alistair Higham, and Sport Psychologist Dr Ana Soares, combine decades of elite coaching experience with cutting-edge research to give players and coaches a complete framework for managing match flow. Drawing on the experiences of world-ranked professionals, GB international players, and the latest academic findings, this book is aimed at tennis players and coaches at all levels and covers:

• The phases of a match – how matches move through predictable stages and how to read the state of play in real time
• The scoring system – how tennis’s unique structure creates pressure, opportunity, and psychological turning points
• Turning points – how to identify, trigger, and embrace the critical moments that decide matches
• Tactical game management – when to stick with your game plan and when to change, and how to adapt under pressure
• Mental skills – routines, self–talk, visualisation, attentional control, and how to find your ideal performance state mid–match
• Strategic thinking – how to zoom out, assess your options at the change of ends, and commit to clear decisions
• Learning from match to match – how to review performances and build momentum management into your long-term development
• Coaching matchplay skills – includes more than 25 practical on-court drills and exercises to develop these skills in training

Whether you are a player trying to hold a lead, stage a comeback, or finally understand why close matches keep slipping away, or a coach looking to give your players a genuine competitive edge, Momentum: The Winning Edge in Tennis will improve the way you play every match.

 About the Authors

Alistair Higham Formerly an LTA national coach, and LTA head of coach development, he is GB Team Manager for the World Student Games and has captained the team to a record 17 consecutive major international medals, including twice beating the US College team in the World Team Championships to win gold in 2017 and 2025. He is an international expert on matchplay and momentum in sport which includes advising professional tennis coaches, football teams, coaches, and players. Author of two best-selling books on momentum, he presents on momentum at conferences across the world. He is also a qualified mentor working on the Premier League’s Elite Heads of Coaching programme.

Dr Ana Soares is a sport psychologist specialising in tennis and football. Ana brings an academic expertise, completing her PhD thesis on The Psychology of Turning Points in Tennis (2024). Her expertise in tennis has developed working full-time in Portugal, Spain, and Great Britain. She spent six years as the full-time resident Sports Psychologist for Spanish tennis academy Barcelona Total Tennis (BTT) and worked with professional players, including an ATP top 40 player, and Spanish Davis Cup coaches. Previously, a sport psychologist at Southampton FC Academy, Ana is currently the 1st team sport psychologist for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.

Testimonials

Alistair and Ana explain in detail how tennis matches unfold: the ebb and flows, the critical moments that can turn a match on its head, and the practical skills required to gain a winning edge using that vital ingredient, momentum. A must-read for all players and coaches. Leon Smith, Great Britain Davis Cup Captain

Tennis is far more than the execution of strokes — it is a dynamic journey shaped by momentum, turning points, and the psychological complexity of its unique scoring system. This book captures beautifully how matches can shift in an instant, highlighting the tactical awareness and mental resilience players need to navigate the ebb and flow of competition. By revealing how momentum is built, lost, and regained, Alistair and Ana, top experts on the subject, provide an essential guide for players and coaches seeking to understand and master the true competitive nature of the sport. Miguel Crespo, PhD, JD., Head of Participation & Education, International Tennis Federation

This book will equip coaches with the tools to better recognise momentum shifts, respond effectively in the moment, and engage in more constructive conversations with players during and after matches. This is an invaluable resource for college tennis coaches and a major contribution to the wider tennis community. David Mullins, Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) CEO & President, USA

This book captures something every experienced tennis player eventually learns but few can articulate: a tennis match is not a collection of strokes, but a living, breathing journey. Alistair and Ana brilliantly explain the ebb and flow, the turning points, and the hidden battles that decide matches. It’s an essential read for players, parents, and coaches who want to truly understand how tennis is won. Scott Rawlins, Education and Professional Learning Manager, Tennis Australia 

We know that tennis is a sport where the margins are small. Our greatest players ever have won 85+% of their matches played, yet only 53% of their points. We spend hours honing technique with players, but do we really unpack the detail that is often intangible that really makes a difference between those 1-2% that changes careers? Alistair and Ana explain this beautifully, and coming from a place of experience and tireless hours of research, it is a must-read for you all. Dan Kiernan, Director, Soto Tennis Academy, Host of Control the Controllables podcast

Alistair and Ana’s work on Matchflow and Momentum is insightful, unique and brilliant. Their work will help coaches and players learn the fundamentals of the psychological and tactical demands of match flow, momentum and turning points during the game. Based on successful approaches used at International level, they show how to build a “winning” coaching approach into your programme. These are vital subjects in modern coaching, and I would highly recommend their work to any coach. Mark Tennant, International Coach Educator, GB

This book is designed to help players, parents, and coaches understand how momentum works and how to handle it in a practical way. It offers clear examples and easy strategies that can be used during real matches. Momentum isn’t magic, and the best players don’t just ride momentum; they learn how to manage it! Hrvoje Zmajic, International Coach Educator, Croatia

The authors have done a remarkable thing… they have made the invisible, visible. Steve Mcloughlin, Head Coach, Leeds Beckett, GB

Alistair and Ana have pushed the door wide open on a subject that every decent coach knows exists, but haven’t been able to coach systematically. This is an original and groundbreaking work. Keith Reynolds, International Coach and Coach Educator, GB

Publication date: 22 June 2026 | print format only | £29.99 paperback | 266 pages | ISBN: 9781914066665 / 9781915855497

Book Categories: Books and Sport.