In competitive padel, technical or physical differences are often minimal. What makes the difference is the mental management.
Among the most common roadblocks, there is one that all players have already experienced: fear of winning.
Former professional tennis player (world top 180, french top 25) and former French No. 11 padel player, Jean-Michel Péquery today dedicates his expertise to the mental preparation of competitors.
Through his series of coaching themes, he explains how to understand and overcome this phenomenon that often arises when concluding a match.

Understanding the gap between conscious and unconscious

Jean-Michel Péquery distinguishes two essential parts in a player's performance.

  • Le aware, which represents experience, intelligence and know-how. He is the one who plans, anticipates and reflects.
  • THEunconsciouswhich Péquery calls the "inner player". It coordinates movements, contracts muscles and allows the movement to remain fluid and natural.

For the conscious mind, taking the lead is good news: "Great, I'm going to win!" But for the unconscious mind, the idea of ​​"finishing the match" becomes a source of tension. It tenses up, fears making a mistake, and stifles its natural momentum. This disconnect creates what we call the afraid to win.

When success becomes intimidating

Jean-Michel Péquery recounts the anecdote of a player ranked around 300th in the world. This player confided in him: "Jean-Michel, I don't think I really want to be strong." It wasn't a lack of motivation, but rather a fear of the moment victory became possible. The idea of ​​failing at the final stage terrified him more than the desire to succeed.

This is exactly what many padel players experience: they control their match until the key moment, but the pressure to finish causes a loss of clarity.

How to reassure your subconscious?

The solution is not to repeat "we have to win," because the unconscious doesn't understand that language. It needs to simple, concrete and immediate instructionsPéquery advises:

  • Tell yourself: "I'm playing for one point, not the whole match."
  • Give a clear mission: target an area, engage the partner, stay active on the legs.
  • Remember that there are still points to be played for, and therefore room for error.

Practical exercise for training

During training, Péquery encourages the players to consider each point like a mini-matchThe goal: to give your subconscious a clear mission before each exchange. This habit allows you, when the day comes, to avoid panicking when you find yourself two points away from victory.

Conclusion: Turning fear into motivation

La afraid to win It's not inevitable. By understanding the role of the unconscious and providing it with simple guidelines, a player can transform this moment of tension into a performance lever. It's a mental skill that can be developed as much as technique or tactics, and it can make all the difference in a decisive match.

To discover other tools mental preparation, Jean-Michel Péquery offers exclusive content and free webinars accessible via its website: Pequery Coaching – Your mental coach (Home tab).

Léa Deutsch

Passionate about Padel since 2018 with numerous experiences in communication and content creation, I want to share my passion with you through my writings.

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