Expert advice from a tennis pro who coaches mixed doubles

You and your S.O. love playing tennis. Why not play together? Joining a mixed doubles league might sound like a great idea, but as with anything else, communication is crucial.

Tennis pro and seasoned coach Rachel Manasse has seen all kinds of couples dynamics in her experience working with the mixed doubles teams at Palos Verdes Tennis Club.

I asked her which conversations she thought most important to have before you hit the court with your sweetie.

Here are her answers.

Question #1: WHY are you playing together?

You probably each know why you play tennis. But it's important to be intentional about why you want to play tennis together. Is it to spend more quality time together? To meet other couples? To lose weight? To have something other than work to talk about? Whatever the reason it's important you're both on the same page.

Question #2: HOW will you handle conflict when it arises (and it will)

Any team playing a sport together is bound to run into conflict from time to time. A tennis match can be a real pressure cooker. It's important to discuss ahead of time how you want to handle any issues tat may arise. Maybe one of you isn't quite on their game during a particularly crucial match. Maybe one of you is poaching a little too often. Maybe it's the team across the net that's being contentious. It's good to have a plan before the situation arises so you can keep cool heads.

Question #3: HOW do you each want to be supported, and when?

This might seem like a no-brainer, but not everyone weants their own personal cheerleader on court. Some people prefer encouragement after every point. Others might want to wait until after the match to hear what a rockstar they are.

Question #4: HOW do you want to receive feedback, and when?

Similarly, during the course of a match you might find yo have some. Advice for your partner. Be sure to discuss ahead of time whether you want to hear about ways to improve while you're playing, between sets, or back at home over a glass of wine by the fire. And you may even find that the best time to coach your partner is...never. Depending o your dynamic you might want to keep thing positive and leave the coaching to the pros.

If you and your partner discuss those four questions before you start playing mixed doubles together, you'll be way ahead of the game/set/match!

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