Nervous about a singles event? A calm plan for the day

It’s normal, and it passes

Walking into a room of strangers sets most people’s heart racing. The feeling is usually worst on the way there, and eases within minutes of arriving, especially once you’ve got something to do with your hands. Like a racket.

Your first few steps

1. ArriveCheck in. A host welcomes you and tells you your group.
2. Say helloTalk to one person. Just one. “Is this your first one?” is all you need.
3. The welcomeListen in. The hosts explain how the afternoon runs and how matching works.
4. Your first gameGet on court when your group is called. From here, the game does the work.

Things that help

• Ask questions. People love talking about themselves, and it takes the spotlight off you.
• Use the question cards courtside if a chat stalls.
• Laugh at the missed shots, especially your own. Everyone misses.
• Remember nothing is decided on the day. Matching happens privately the next morning, so there’s no pressure in the moment.

If you need a breather

Step out between games and grab some water. If you need to miss a game, just tell your court host. And if anything ever feels off, tell a host straight away.

Coming on your own? Read going to a singles event alone.