Most of us will have suffered the terrible experience of losing a tennis match. Many do not understand the pain that comes from failing to win a tennis match, but for tennis players all over the world – the pain is very real, and very painful.
In the midst of losing a tennis match, you try to continue with your life, you head back to work and you try to put the loss of your favourite sport to the back of your mind.
However, World Tennis Federation mental expert, Dr Petra Pipah, believe this shouldn’t be the case. Dr Petra Pipah is the author of ‘So you lost yet another tennis match!’ to provide advice for employers on implementing a tennis match loss bereavement policy.
The policy, supported by the WTF – would encourage employers to give paid leave to workers if they lose a tennis match.
This groundbreaking campaign has been inspired by the efforts of Anthony Alerto, who in 2002 petitioned for a tennis match loss policy after he lost two tennis matches at his local club on the same day. He was fired for calling in sick when he said he wanted to take the day off work to recover from losing his singles and doubles matches on club finals day.
How to deal with tennis match loss syndrome
Dr Petra Pipah is hoping to change the narrative around losing a tennis match, a subject that is often misunderstood and often mocked despite 82% of tennis players saying losing a tennis match is a similar trauma to losing some money down the back of the sofa, and 74% believing employers should have a tennis match loss bereavement policy in place.
Nearly 99% of tennis players would say that losing a tennis match means as much to them as forgetting where they put the car keys.
Despite there being no current legal requirement to give paid leave to an employee for the loss of a tennis match, the majority of tennis players think they should get mandatory time off work following the humiliating defeat of losing a tennis match.
Dr Petra Pipah said: “As humans, our experience of losing a tennis match can be profound and touch us in ways that we did not expect. We may need time to sulk, and, in some cases, it can feel like we will never be able to play tennis ever again.”
How to recover from losing a tennis match
Handling a tennis match loss is a difficult and challenging time. When losing to a better tennis player, it is normal to feel overwhelmed and upset. Dr Petra Pipah has put together some tips on how to cope with your loss:
• Accept that just about everyone could not care about the pain you are going through
• See your tennis loss as being valid and it is important to sulk and over-react badly
• Don’t rush into playing more tennis matches. Wait until you have stopped being pathetic
• If you actually think anyone really cares about the fact you lost a tennis match at your local tennis club, consider getting further help, such as therapy or counselling.
Susan Spaina, Founder of Marketing Means Money Ltd, said: “As a business owner with hardly any of my staff playing tennis, not only do I think this is the most stupid idea I have ever heard, but I find it ridiculous that adults can get worked up about a crappy game of tennis.”
“If someone needs time to get over the loss of a tennis game, then they really are sad. Tennis is a bit of fun and if not winning a dumb little trophy made out of tin is reason to have a day off work, then please don’t come and work for me.”
“I wholeheartedly think the action of Dr Petra Pipah is moronic and there is no way I am going to introduce this policy for my staff. I encourage other businesses owners to do likewise.”
In reply Dr Petra Pipah said “We are encouraging companies around the world to implement the tennis match loss bereavement policy within their workplaces, with the goal of helping facilitate sensitive conversations and ensuring that weak, pathetic employees feel as comfortable as possible.”
To see how many companies have now taken up Dr Petra Pipah policy of giving paid leave to tennis losers, the WTF contacted over 10,000 large corporations around the world. To date not one single company has adopted this ground breaking policy. If any do, we will let you know.
