Pros Match Analysis
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Use lobs to keep the opponent off the net
Doubles, Pros Analysis, Pros DoublesIn this point we see two important tactical concepts. First, we see the returner following her return to the net. It is usually a good idea to return and attack the net on a weak serve when the server stays back. Doing this puts pres...
When in Doubt Aim at the Feet
Doubles, Pros Analysis, Pros DoublesIn doubles you want to be the team hitting down so aiming low at the opponent’s feet should be an on going tactic. This exchange is a good example of this concept.
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The Player Diagonal to the Shot Covers the Middle
Doubles, Pros Analysis, Pros DoublesA big misconception in doubles is that the player with the forehand volley covers the middle. In reality the type of stroke does not play any role in this decision. It all has to do with the geometry of the court. This pos...
Change your net position to defense
Doubles, Pros Analysis, Pros DoublesWithin a doubles rally the net player will often have to back up quickly to give himself more time to react in case the opponents play aggressively at him/her. In our clip, the net player stays too close to the net and is unable to contr...
Cover the middle when partner hits down the line
Doubles, Pros Analysis, Pros DoublesAny time your partner hits down the line and you are at the net you need to move towards the centre of the court and make sure the opponent’s volley does not go through the middle.
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Fight for your Position at the Net during a Crosscourt Rally
Doubles, Pros Analysis, Pros DoublesWhen playing one up and one back the players at the net should be in constant motion trying to poach or to defend against a poach. Too often players make the mistake of standing on one spot watching their partner play. When at the net ge...
Move Forward at the Net as your Partner Serves
Doubles, Pros Analysis, Pros DoublesWhen you are at the net and your partner is serving, make sure you move forward as you hear the serve. This will get you ready to move for any ball hit close to you. Here we can see a good example as the Jurak/Morosi team serve. The pl...
When at the Net Focus on The Opponents
Doubles, Pros Analysis, Pros DoublesWhen you are at the net and your partner is back, keep your eyes on your opponents. Do not follow the ball back and forth. Pay special attention to your opponent at the net. His movements will reveal the quality of your partner’s sh...
Aim at the T when Putting a High Volley Away
Doubles, Pros Analysis, Pros DoublesOne of the most important goals in doubles is to make the opponents play. Therefore, making a large percentage of returns is essential. Whenever you find yourself missing too many returns or hitting too many high returns that can be atta...
Offensive Game Situation – Gulbis approach and drop shot
Groundstrokes, Pros Analysis, Pros SinglesDuring a point, everything can change in a fraction of a second, from offense to defense and back to offense. In this match between Gulbis and Ferrer at the Madrid Open 2014, we find Gulbis with an opportunity to attack the net. He choos...
Pros Matchplay – How Rafa uses the court
Groundstrokes, Pros Analysis, Pros SinglesDo not Change a Winning Tactic: Once you find something that works, stay with it. Here for example we see one of Nadal's favorite serves to open the court. The distance between the bounce and the opponent's contact point is 9.8 m. From t...
Doubles – Play Both Back to Return if you are Having Trouble Keeping the Return Low and Crosscourt
Doubles, Pros Analysis, Pros DoublesOne of the most important goals in doubles is to make the opponents play. Therefore, making a large percentage of returns is essential. Whenever you find yourself missing too many returns or hitting too many high returns that can be atta...
Opening the court with the serve and having options for the next shot
Pros Analysis, Pros Singles, ServeHere we can see Maria Sharapova against Lucie Safarova opening the court with a wide kick serve. The serve creates many options for the next shot even though it is aimed at the opponent's forehand. She could play down the line or hit beh...
Dominic Thiem – The right shot selection after a full speed sprint.
Groundstrokes, Pros Analysis, Pros SinglesIn this video analysis of the match between the NextGen rising star (in 2016) Dominic Thiem and Stan Wawrinka at the Mutua Madrid Open, one can identify several factors that make tennis such an attractive sport and at the same time make ...
Tommy Haas – A Smart Winner
Groundstrokes, Pros Analysis, Pros SinglesTommy Haas show us a great example of a winner in which most risk factors were neutralized, a winner played with minimal risk and with a high probability for success.
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Playing a drop-shot and moving into the court
Groundstrokes, Pros Analysis, Pros SinglesHere we see a drop-shot situation in a match between Jeremy Chardy and Janko Tipsarevic. Chardy hits a drop-shot and moves well into the court (5.2 m/17.0 feet) in order to cover a possible counter drop shot. Tipsarevic has to split step...
Guaranteed Success – Wide kick serve
Pros Analysis, Pros Singles, ServeBased on official statistics, the second serves to the ad court have the highest success quota. Samantha Stosur has definitely one of the best wide kick serves.
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Recovering the court after approach shots
Groundstrokes, Pros Analysis, Pros SinglesWhen the opponent hits the tape, it is easy to start bickering about one's bad luck. However, with a little foresight a ball that hits the tape does not always lead to a lost point. It can sometimes be to your advantage. This ...
Serve and volley situation from Youzhny
Pros Analysis, Pros Singles, ServeHere in the video we see a great example of a serve and volley situation from Youzhny, who serves to the "T" from the ad court. He split-steps before he reaches the service line as the opponent makes contact with the ball and hits his vo...
Shot Selection – Not Always Optimal
Groundstrokes, Pros Analysis, Pros SinglesFor each shot, a player has to choose the best alternative from a whole bag of possible alternatives and then be able to execute the chosen option successfully . This is the constant dance between tactic an technique. This po...
Dominic Thiem – Check-Mate
Groundstrokes, Pros Analysis, Pros SinglesLike in the game of chess, where a a series of moves can end a game, tennis players can also win points through well executed shot combinations. Here is an example by Dominic Thiem in a match against Stan Wawrinka....
Rafa’s high defensive shot with great angle and massive topspin
Forehand, Groundstrokes, Pros Analysis, Pros SinglesSeconds after having the advantage during the point, the player finds himself on the defensive. Tennis is a game in which players are constantly changing from offense to defense. Here we show a typical situation in which @Rafael Nadal sh...
Top Player analysis – rapid fluctuations between offense and defense – Nadal vs Nishikori
Groundstrokes, Pros Analysis, Pros SinglesThis rally between Rafael Nadal and Kei Nishikori during the Mutua Madrid Open is a great example of the rapid fluctuations between offense and defense during a point. First Rafa Nadal takes the offensive but then Nishikori is able to co...
Wawrinka Showing how to Cover a Passing Shot
Forehand, Pros Analysis, Pros SinglesThe players have no choice: Dominic Thiem can barely defend against Wawrinka's forehand. Wawrinka sees the opportunity to attack. He hits a nice slice backhand approach and attacks the net running in the direction of his approach shot. ...
Roger Federer digs deep when needed
Groundstrokes, Pros Analysis, Pros SinglesDefensive shots and footwork patterns are just as important in world-class tennis as their offensive counterparts. Roger Federer demonstrates how he is not only capable of great offense but can dig deep when needed. Roger stays in the ra...
Safety Zone or not?
Groundstrokes, Pros Analysis, Pros SinglesIt is interesting to observe how much distance players cover in a long rally. Here is an example. This is the last point between Sabine Lisicki and Jelena Jankovic. Jankovic ran 52.1 m/168.6 feet and Lisiki (44.6 m/147 feet). We can also...
World-class Doubles in Action – Move with your Partner
Doubles, Net Play, Pros Analysis, Pros DoublesOne of the reason why some double teams climb in the rankings is their ability to recognize different situations on the court and quickly change their positions to play more offensively or more defensively. Lets take a look at one specif...
Use the I Formation to Pressure the Returner
Doubles, Pros Analysis, Pros DoublesThe I formation allows the net player to stand much closer to the centre of the court before the start of the point. It also gives him the option to move to either side of the court to start the point. This puts pressure on the returne...
How to open the court with an excellent wide serve
Pros Analysis, Pros Singles, ServeHere we can see Maria Sharapova against Lucie Safarova opening the court with a wide kick serve. The serve creates many options for the next shot even though it is aimed at the opponent's forehand. She could play down the line or hit beh...
Aim High volleys at the net player
Doubles, Pros Analysis, Pros DoublesThe rule in doubles is to hit high volleys at the player closest to you and low volleys at the player farthest from you.
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Wawrinka Showing how to Cover a Passing Shot
Net Play, Pros Analysis, Pros SinglesThe players have no choice: Dominic Thiem can barely defend against Wawrinka’s forehand. Wawrinka sees the opportunity to attack. He hits a nice slice backhand approach and attacks the net running in the direction of his approach shot....
The Sneak Attack
Net Play, Pros Analysis, Pros SinglesThis clip is a great example of a sneak attack, that is, a situation when a player decides to approach the net only after he/she sees that his/her shot will get the opponent in trouble.In this case, Stepanek catches Murray leaning in the...
Taking Time Away from the Opponent
Backhand, Net Play, Pros Analysis, Pros SinglesDavid Ferrer runs around the backhand and hits a forcing return crosscourt. As he sees his opponent in trouble, David moves forward but does not have quite the time to hit the incoming shot in the air. This post is only avai...
A 30 meter running investment to hit forehands
Pros Analysis, Pros SinglesIn this rally against Bautista-Agut, Rafa wants to dominate as usual with his forehand.
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Anticipate the volley
Pros Analysis, Pros SinglesOne volley in the wrong place and it can be over in a promising attacking situation. That's the danger against defensive artists like Andy Murray.
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It can take time to win a point against Nadal
Pros Analysis, Pros Singles, TacticsIf we look at the impact points of the ball (Ball Impacts) we see that they are neatly distributed all over the field, but mostly not too close to the lines (Safety Zone).
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