It’s all in the mind for aspiring champions

In an era where the Sports psychologist is now anaccepted feature of top-level sport, the importance of mental preparation is universally accepted.

The players, however, remain fiercely individual andemploy vastly different means of self-motivation as they prepare for action.

Some – like Brazil’s 1997 French Open champion GustavoKuerten – thrive on the status of being tipped to win, believing favouritism intimidates their opponents and can only be a positive for themselves.

Others, including American Monica Seles, take theopposite tack.

Seles admits that she goes into every game she playsbelieving she is going to lose – but reckons that fear factor has been instrumental in the success that has brought her nine Grand Slam titles.

Britain’s Tim Henman can be a veritable Mr Angry oncourt, seemingly finding fault with everyone and everything, but sometimes he is meek and mild – if that works for him.

Martina Hingis believes seeking perfection is the bestmotivating factor.

Some players, like Jennifer Capriati, believe that victory can be achieved solo and that a coach can only play a minimal role in a player’s development.

Others, like Aussie 17-year-old prodigy Jelena Dokic,swear that the support of technicians and family members is indispensable.

Whatever the truth is one thing is clear: Mentalreadiness is essential. But what is meat to one player is poison to another.

Kuerten favours the "I am the greatest" theory identifiedwith legendary American boxer Muhammad Ali.

The fact that the Brazilian prospers on clay has led manyto tip the fifth seed to add a second Grand Slam crown this year to the one he won at Roland Garros three years ago. The Brazilian says he relishes the favourite tag.

"I think it’s better (being a favourite)," he said. "Itputs opponents under pressure. I like to consider myself favourite."

His positive agenda is shared by Colombian FabiolaZuluaga, the first round conqueror of 15th-seeded Capriati, who explained: "I always feel I am going to win and I always want to win – I never say let’s get to the quarters or the semis – we’ll just play match by match and see what happens."

But that would be an anathema to Seles, who admits thatit is the fear of losing – rather than the potential benefits of victory – that drives her on.

"My mentality since I was a junior until now has beenthinking that I will always lose this match – I am always very negative about myself," explained the Yugoslav-born American.

Reigning French Open champion Andre Agassi, meanwhile, iscynical to the benefits of both positive or negative thinking.

His landmark win last at Roland Garros enabled him tobecome one of only five men to win all four Grand Slams at a time when many thought his best days were behind him.

He has since built on that unexpected success to end 1999as world number one and currently holds the French, Australian and American crowns with only the Wimbledon title still out of his grasp.

"I had no expectations last year – that’s why (my) storywas so unbelievable," he explained.

Henman, affable off the court, can be a misanthrope onit and found fault with the officials, the weather, the spectators and even the rule book ahead of his straight sets victory over American Vince Spadea yesterday.

But the Englisman believes his fussy behaviour is key tohis success, explaining: "I wasn’T totally calm – but that’s a good thing."

Many believe that the presence of a coach/mentor figureis essential for success but Capriati believes that only the player herself matters.

Her remarks have a particular poignancy as she hasrecently split with coach Harold Solomon, credited by many for helping her back into the top echelons of the game after years of decline marked by personal problems. Since splitting with Solomon she has a 0-4 record.

"He (Solomon) was great for me – a great coach, but Itook myself back into the top 20. It is always the player who does the work," insisted the 24-year-old.

Dokic, in contrast, believes emotional support is a prerequisite for success and believes that with the backing of mentor Tony Roche and her family – including controversial father Damir – she is a more formidable proposition.

The brooding Damir remains a controversial figure withsome saying his influence over his daughter is too powerful -but Dokic is adamant that family values are an essential part of her success.

"It is great to have them (with me)," said Dokic. "Ithasn’T always been easy (without them)."

That, perhaps, would meet with the approval of Hingis,whose relationship with her mother Melanie Molitor has enjoyed many ups-and-downs.

The Slovak-born Swiss teenager was criticised by many forher petulant behaviour after her loss in last year’s final to Steffi Graf in which she wept publicly and had to be frogmarched reluctantly to the presentation ceremony by Molitor.

She has since set up on her own – although her firstventure into top level tennis without her mother was disastrous with a first-round exit at the hands of Dokic at last year’s Wimbledon.

Looking back on her Roland Garros outburst last year,Hingis was unrepentant about her behaviour saying that her mother had instilled in her that victory was all-important, regardless of how it was achieved.

Every star seems to have their own special secret tosuccess but the one common denominator seems to be: "It works for me."