Andre Agassi excelled in windy conditions compared to most of his opponents. He attributed his ability to cope with strong winds to living in Las Vegas, where windy weather was common. Similarly, Roger Federer trained in Dubai from noon to 4 pm, allowing him to acclimate to the sweltering summer heat he would face during the Australian Open. These are just two examples among thousands of professional athletes who train in challenging environments to prepare for any situation they may encounter.
Imagine training indoors for seven months and only experiencing mild summers during your outdoor season. Then, you participate in a tournament in Palm Springs, California, where the climate is hot and dry. How do you think you would fare? Would the heat affect you during a lengthy match? If your opponent regularly trains in hot and arid climates, would they have an advantage? Although it may not always be the case, many players struggle when competing in unfamiliar environments.
For instance, in 2003, I competed in the Windmill Cup, a clay court tournament in the Netherlands. In the second round, I faced a player who was highly skilled on clay courts. He was more comfortable maneuvering on red clay and employed more topspin than I did. He won the first set 7-5. However, due to heavy rain that flooded the courts, the tournament director moved our match to an indoor carpet court. This faster and more predictable surface favored my style of play, allowing me to win 6-1, 6-0. On clay, my opponent had the upper hand, but indoors on a flat and fast surface, I held the advantage.
Over time, I dedicated more effort to training and competing on clay courts, which eventually enabled me to excel on that surface. Sometimes, I would even defeat superior clay court players. It's essential to identify your weaknesses and learn to adapt to various environments intuitively.
If you find yourself disliking certain surface types, windy conditions, extreme heat or cold, humidity, early mornings, or late-night play, recognize that this aversion often stems from insufficient training in those conditions. Your first step should be to identify and list the specific aspects that make you uncomfortable, such as "I struggle with high balls to my backhand."
Once you've compiled your list of discomforts, analyze how you can acclimate to those elements. While you may face some limitations, find ways to adapt within your constraints. For example, if you can't move to a warmer climate for training, arrive at tournaments a few days early to practice with other competitors and get used to the faster-paced play.