Former Swedish tennis star Stefan Edberg frequently talked about his experiences on the court and the difficulties he encountered while playing. He offered some observations, one of which was about the atmosphere at professional tennis matches.
Think of a tennis match as a big-audience musical performance. There is a tremendous amount of excitement when you are performing late at night for a crowd that has been anticipating your arrival all day. It can be hard to concentrate on your game or hear your coach or partner giving instructions because of the loud cheers and applause from the crowd.
This idea is perfectly encapsulated in Edberg's observation that crowds are especially noisy during evening matches. The excitement and energy of those who watch late into the night also contribute to the noise, as does the audience's reaction to plays on the court. It can be overwhelming to try to have a conversation in a room full of loudly talking people.
Born in Stockholm in 1966, Stefan Edberg went on to become one of the most successful Swedish tennis players in history. Throughout his career, he won multiple Grand Slam titles and was renowned for his extraordinary singles and doubles abilities. His success was greatly influenced by his capacity to perform under duress and remain composed in front of boisterous audiences.
By revealing this information regarding crowd noise during nighttime tennis matches, Edberg draws attention to a crucial component of professional tennis: the requirement to successfully control distractions while maintaining concentration on the game. This is important in tennis as well as many other high-stress scenarios where performance can be impacted by outside variables.