For plenty of professional tennis players, listening to music is a deliberate psychological strategy that helps them sharpen their focus and get their emotions under control in those tense moments leading up to a match.

When Iga Swiatek reached her first Wimbledon final earlier this summer, she credited her pre-match playlist consisting of AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones as key to securing a 6-2, 6-0 win over Belinda Bencic in the semis.

Meanwhile, at this year’s Mutua Madrid Open, four-time Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka said that listening to music allows her a quiet space to think before matches, and named “We Are The People” by Empire the Sun as her go-to pre-match song.

But why do so many tennis players listen to music ahead of a match and what are the benefits of doing so? We’re here to break it down:

It changes the brain’s chemistry

Research by Christopher Ballmann, associate professor at the University of Alabama, showed that when people listen to music they love, it alters their brain chemistry and triggers the release of key neurotransmitters.

Dopamine fuels motivation and reward, while norepinephrine heightens alertness and helps the mind shift into a focused and energised stage. For pro tennis players, the chemical boost can enhance concentration and help build the ideal mindset for stepping onto court.

It blocks out distractions

Some players thrive on the buzz of the crowd atmosphere as they walk out onto court, while others prefer to block out the noise. For the latter, listening can create a ‘mental bubble’ which helps them remain laser focused on the match ahead without listening to any of the outside noise from the fans.

It can set the tempo of the match

Tennis is as much a mental battle as it is a physical one and a player’s mindset in the opening moments can define the rhythm of their entire match. Music can provide a simple yet effective way to influence that rhythm both physically and psychologically.

Findings from a collaboration between Professor Costas Karageorghis and researchers at Brunel University revealed that tennis players who listened to fast, loud music before playing had quicker reaction times, more positive emotional states, and higher alertness levels.

That said, it’s not a one size fits all approach. For those players who may be feeling a little more anxious in the lead up to a match, calmer or slower music can help to slow down breathing and reduce any tension or nerves they may be feeling.

It can build confidence

Studies show that when athletes listen to their preferred music, it can increase their self-confidence before playing a match compared to not listening to music at all. This effect may come from associating certain music with previous successful performances or because it helps boost an athlete’s personal beliefs about how their emotions affect their performance.

It anchors pre-match rituals

Rituals are a huge part of player’s mental preparation before a match. Having a familiar routine can help manage nerves, get a player in the right headspace and help maintain focus ahead of the match.

For some players, that might mean taking some time away to sit quietly and meditate, or others may use visualisation techniques and positive self-talk. However, for others, music is a structured part of their rituals that help control their mental state and signals that it's time to compete.