Over the next two weeks, thousands of fans will flock to Flushing Meadows to watch their favorite tennis players at the U.S. Open. If you’re in the crowd, you might be tempted to glance down at your phone or grab a snack during breaks of play, but resist the urge—especially during changeovers.
The 90-second break after odd-numbered games offers players a chance to rest and reset. It also gives fans a unique look at how the world’s best approach the mental side of competition.
No two players take an identical approach to the changeover. If you’ve watched enough tennis, you’ll notice certain rituals, like Rafael Nadal’s insistence on placing his bottles of water and his recovery drink in a specific order.