Sports Drink
I always have a water bottle and a container of Gatorade powder in my bag, so that I can make up my own sports drink throughout the day. The powder form is much cheaper than buying Gatorade in ready to go bottles, so I save money as well. I know some people prefer water, but I personally prefer to drink something with a bit of taste, and the fact that the various sports drinks help to give you energy is a bonus.On longer days, I'll bring a body building protein bar or two along as well, in order to give me a decent lunch substitute that won't slow me down. These give me about 20 grams of protein, some carbohydrates, and are low in fat, so they are fairly fast to digest.
Balls
I have a few balls around in my bag to use for practice days, as well as for tournaments where the control desk isn't giving out balls to play with until the matches start. Beats having to do shadow play to warm up!Shoe Cleaner
A old rag in a ziplock bag can be useful for days when the floor is a bit slippery. You can dampen the rag and wipe your feet on it between points to improve your grip on the floor. Between matches you can put the rag back in the ziplock bag, so that it doesn't get water and dirt all over your equipment. At the end of the day you can either throw it away or put it in the wash to use again.Optional Extras
OK, that's about the full list of what I carry to competitions. Now I remember why I need such a big bag! There are a couple more items that you might want to consider bringing along depending on your own situation, so I'll mention them below.Band-Aids/Sports Tape
For those of you prone to getting blisters or sore toes, some band-aids or sports tape can be a good idea to allow you to keep going when you get these little irritations. It can be very difficult to be playing with a sore toe distracting you all the time.
Sports Cream
If you tend to get a little stiff or sore after a few matches (or even before you start playing!), some sports cream (such as Dencorub, Deep Heat, or Flex 454) can be a lifesaver, helping those trouble spots to stay warm and flexible.
Sports Brace
For those of us with dodgy knees or elbows, a good sports brace that provides some support and helps keep the area warm can be a smart idea as well. If it's good enough for Werner Schlager, it's good enough for the rest of us!
Chemical Ice
These are the 'instant ice' packs that activate when you need them. Very good for icing down sprains immediately, to minimise any bruising or swelling.
Grip Tape
If your hands tend to get sweaty, you might want to consider using grip tape on the handle to absorb more of the sweat. If you do, make sure you always have a couple of extra rolls on hand(!) for those really sweaty days.
Headbands/Sweatbands
Again, if you are person who sweats a lot, headbands and sweatbands can be very useful in mopping up the excess sweat, and stopping it from getting on your racket. Just make sure you put them in the wash at the end of the day - there's nothing worse than having a hot day ahead of you and finding your sweatbands are all stinky!
