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2021 10 18

Avoid ups and downs during the match

Tennis match. For some players, it is an exciting moment of testing their own skills. For other players, it is a challenge that puts a lot of stress on their mental side. There is no doubt that it is not an easy job to play our own best every time we step on the court and it is even harder to play well from the beginning to the end of the battle. But is it possible to do it? Is it possible to avoid ups and downs during the match?

It is a common situation at a less advanced level that players are mixing great shots with simple unforced errors. Leading 3:0 in the first set is not the predictor of winning the set because players can blow this advantage in few minutes, just to lose the set 4:6. There are many reasons why it happens at the beginner and intermediate level, starting from technical weaknesses and finishing with unconsciousness of mental processes that are under the player’s control. However, we have to pay attention that this situation doesn’t limit only less experienced players. It is the problem also for players competing in Grand Slam tournaments.

Ups and downs usually happen most when there’s a lack of experience. And it can happen during any type of tennis sports you’re practicing, whether that’s squash, traditional tennis or padel. Padel is one of the newer sports that has increased in popularity rapidly over the past few years. We now see more and more padel courts being built throughout the UK and to be honest: we are happy about it. Padel is a fun sport that can be played with teams, which makes the dynamic different from normal tennis games. A standard game of Padel is usually played in doubles. The enclosed court is designed and big enough for four people to play in, but it’s just a bit smaller than a standard tennis court. If you’d like to mix your tennis up with a bit of padel, find your nearest padel club in the UK on padelpadelpadel.com.

Experience is not the only factor that has an impact on the ability to control own performance and show own best abilities. It is not rare to see results like 6/1 0/6 2/6 on WTA Tour or 6/4 6/4 1/6 7/6 on ATP Tour which only confirms that it is more about possessing specific skills and using them than just being on a given level of advancement. Players, who are able to maintain a stable level of performance, drastically increase their chances of winning the match because the opponent will have a really difficult challenge to deal with.

Ups and downs during the match occur because of many factors. We can’t control all of them but we definitely have an impact on many areas and exactly on them we should direct all our focus. Here is what players should do to avoid ups and downs and maintain stable performance over the course of the match:

Be aware of your winning patterns
There are a lot of breaks in a tennis match. After every point, players have 20 seconds to rest and prepare for the next match. They have also 90 seconds after every 2 games and 120 seconds when the set is over. One of the reasons why players have unstable performance is their inability to use breaks properly. In general, players are not conscious of why they are winning and they change working strategy while leading. To perform well for a long period of time, players have to think about what they are doing that they are winning and they have to continue these patterns to increase the lead.

Don’t let emotions play the crucial role
Emotions. Top players don’t allow emotions to dictate what they do and how they play. They prefer to use the brain and logical thinking to analyze what is happening and discover the most effective approach for the next points. If you are angry after an easy unforced mistake or you are too excited after passing an opponent using a tweener, it will definitely have a negative impact on your focus and the quality of the next points. Emotions will occur but you have to control your reactions to them to maintain a high level of performance.

Don’t rush
4 unforced mistakes in a row. Double fault after winning really long-rally. Missing 2 easy returns so the opponent has to just make the serve in to win the game. There are many reasons why players make these mistakes but there is also one common factor that is almost always visible in these situations. Players rush. After they make their mistake, they don’t take possible 20 seconds to analyze the point, calm down and prepare the plan for the next point. They just go to the next corner and start another point with poor quality. If you have the same problem, let’s learn from Rafael Nadal – it doesn’t matter what the score is for the Spaniard, he always goes through his routine. By taking time between the points and games, we increase the chance for correcting underperformance or for continuing high-quality action.

It is not an easy job to maintain good performance over the course of 2 or 3 hours of the tennis match. There are many factors that make this task really difficult to accomplish but every player should understand that there are also areas that players can control and should control. If you want to stay at some solid level for most of your matches, you should be aware of these areas and practice skills that will allow you to use them automatically, every time you compete.

2021 08 03

Reducing stress level before the match

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Tennis match is the real test for any player. All players want to step on the court and use own strengths to play more effectively than their opponents. However, it is easier said than done, and many times players underperform and they are not able to come even close to their regular level of performance from the practice sessions. There can be many reasons of this negative change but the one that mostly decides about the low quality of own actions is the stress. Too much stress.

Every day is a great opportunity to prepare for the next tournament. Players have training sessions that they should use to learn new things, improve weaknesses as also to build strengths that will allow them to get advantage over the rivals. Additionally, they perform physical workouts or even mental consultations to make sure that their body and mind can function optimally when it really counts. If they work really hard, they see the daily and weekly progress in their performance so they are positive about their chances for obtaining good results. However, when it gets really close to their first match, they start to get stressed. They feel stiff, have doubts in the mind and make a lot of unforced errors in the beginning games. Overall, their performance is much worse than it was few days ago while practicing.

Why is the stress so bad? At the beginning, it is important to understand that stress is not a negative thing but its volume can be really detrimental. Actually, stress is a reaction of our body that suppose to protect us from the danger but if it is too much of the stress, it starts to paralyze the player. Even the best players in the world feel stressed before stepping on the court so our job as athletes is not to avoid the stress or get rid of it but rather to be able to consciously reduce the amount of it to be able to function normally. With specific steps, players can control the level of stress and play well from the beginning of the match even when they compete in the final in front of thousands of fans.

How to reduce the stress level before the match?

1. Have plan based on your strengths To be able to play quality match, you have to start doing things before the match that will help you to achieve good performance. You need a plan that you will want to execute against specific rival and that plan should include both your skills and the skills of your opponent. The more you know about your next opponent and the more conscious you are about your strengths and weaknesses, the better performance goals you can set and execute them without thinking about how technically to hit forehand or which serve to use while having 40:30.

2. Do mental routine The most typical reason of underperformance while being under pressure is related to the mental side. If you want to increase the chance for solid performance in the competitive match, you have to prepare for this uncomfortable environment. Dynamic stretching and jump rope take care of your body preparation but the mind decides how your body will be able to function. Use breathing routine and dedicate at least 10 minutes before the match to visualize your performance. These 2 simple steps will significantly reduce the stress level and will allow you to show your opponent how good you really are.

3. Focus on things that you can control The stress occurs because of our automatic biological response but it can go to the much higher level than necessary when the focus is placed on things that players can’t control. Focusing on score, opponent’s ranking spot or the opinion of others are definitely the things that our mind shouldn’t be occupied with. To reduce the stress level, player has to focus on proper preparation, healthy nutrition as well as the equipment needed to perform at own best. Thinking and doing things that can have positive impact on the future performance is definitely a better and more effective solution for stress reduction than sitting and worrying about the probability of making the double fault in the first point of the match.

Tournament can be a great experience but it won’t happen just by luck. To play well and show own best performance, players have to be aware of the challenges that will occur while competing. Stress is definitely something that bothers a lot of players but not many of them know how to deal with it with simple actions. Use tips from this article and observe how your opponent struggles during the first games while you playing with ease and quiet mind.

2021 07 09

Why the Emma Raducanu Story is Important for World Tennis

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Wimbledon is the oldest and most prestigious Grand Slam event on the circuit, and every summer, it delights tennis fans around the world.

Last year the tennis calendar was disrupted, meaning when the first serve of Wimbledon 2021 flew over the net, fans were eager for their fill of excitement. They didn’t have to wait long; an 18-year-old wildcard entry ranked 338th in the world captured a nation’s heart with her dogged displays.

Emma Raducanu was barely expected to get past round one, but as Yahoo Sports reports, she defeated Vitalia Diatchenko to get her first tournament win. In the second round, she shocked 2019 French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova, then ensured the run of Sorana Cirstea came to an end in round three. It put her in round four without dropping a set and into the second week.

Sadly, round four was a step too far for the teenager, who only completed her A-Levels this year. She was forced to retire with breathing difficulties during her game against Ajla Tomljanovic, which cost her a possible quarterfinal game against Ashleigh Barty. That could have been a sensational encounter for the home fans, with Bwin ranking the World Number One as the outright favorite for the title. Instead, Tomljanovic set up the all-Australian game, which she lost 6-3, 6-1. Few in Great Britain noticed that result, though, as they focused on their breakout star.

Emma Raducanu headed into the tournament 338th in the world, which saw her as the lowest-ranked player to compete this year. Whilst fellow British wildcard entries fell early, Raducanu battled through to become the poster girl not just for the nation but for world tennis. The likes of Steffi Graff and Boris Becker made their names at Wimbledon, and with each emerging star, the game gets a shot in the arm in terms of popularity. So who is the latest emerging name?

Raducanu was born in Toronto, Canada, to a Romanian father and a Chinese mother before the family relocated to London when she was two. Since a young age, she has played tennis but always harbored a desire to compete in motorsports, and she participates in go-karting and motocross in her spare time.

“One of the best things with Emma is that she was exposed to a lot of sports early on,” said Matt James, a Lawn Tennis Association coach. “She was doing golf, ballet, motocross and horse riding from a very early age. It means that when she’s learning a new skill, she has the ability to pick things up very quickly.”

The head of women’s tennis for the LTA went one further, “It was Emma’s first Wimbledon, and she only played her first match on tour three weeks ago,” he said. “But all the evidence we have seen this week suggests she has a very bright future.”

Indeed it does. She made her WTO main draw debut in June at the 2021 Nottingham Open, and just a month later, at the age of 18 years and 239 days old she became the youngest British woman to reach the last 16 of Wimbledon in the open era. That alone guarantees her a top 185 place in the WTA rankings, a leap of more than 200 places.

Raducanu leaves Wimbledon $251,000 richer, having previously amassed career earnings of just $37,000. More importantly, she has already secured sponsorship from Nike and Wilson and will now seek to impose herself on the global game. Marcel Knobil, the founder of the Brand Council consultancy, believes this is only the start for the young star.

“Fame can evaporate very quickly, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here. Especially in a climate where we’ve been so down in the doldrums. We’re looking for an opportunity to raise optimism, and brands want to be associated with that.”

After 18 months or more of restrictions, curfews and the pandemic, a story like that of Emma Raducanu is enough to lift not only the nation of Great Britain but the whole tennis world, reinstalling the belief that anyone can aspire to be anything they want to be.

2021 07 06

“What can I do?”

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Playing a tennis match during the tournament is always exciting. Players draw the opponent and they have to show better performance on a given day to advance to the next round. To win the tournament, players have to beat 5 opponents but every opponent will have exactly the same task to achieve: to beat us. Knowing that, players have to be ready for physical and mental challenges that will happen during the match to never give up and always fight for the win up to the last point.

Tennis is one of the sports that official coaching is not allowed during the matches. There are some exceptions to this rule like ITF tournaments or ATP Cup but on a daily basis, players have to decide on their own what to do after every point and they are the only ones who will have to deal with all the effects of own actions. Because of this format of competition, good tennis coaches always try to make players self-assess own game and be responsible for tactical adjustments to make sure that players will never find themselves on the court without a clear plan for the next points. Unfortunately, it is easier said than done and players, who are underperforming and losing, have a negative body language and look at the coach for possible solutions to get. That’s definitely not the most effective way of competing.

“What can I do”? That’s the question that every coach doesn’t want to hear from his player. “What can I do” is more than just the words. This sentence shows the overall mindset and the feelings of the player. Player, who says these words, is focused on his difficult situation but doesn’t try to look for solutions to get out of the slump. He thinks that he has tried everything and the opponent is just too good on a given day. That’s not true. Tennis is a dynamic sport where everything can change in few minutes. Including the fact that there is no time-limit in the match, until the last point is won by the opponent, we have always a chance to change the momentum and win the match.

How to avoid the state of “What can I do” mindset?

Remember that you can control a lot of things during the match
Be responsible for your game and results
Analyze the previous points and be aware of how they have ended
Understand if “you are losing the points” or if “the opponent is winning the points”
Be aware of opponent’s weaknesses and try to put more pressure on them
Use different factors (spin, direction, trajectory, power, consistency) to put opponent into more difficult situations
Take full time between the points to prolong the match as well as to have enough time to plan everything
Always have a plan for the next points based on the previous actions – not on the emotions
Have positive mindset
Focus just on one point at the time
Always believe that you can win

Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams are great examples of athletes who never give up. Even while playing poorly, they always fight to the end and believe that they are one decision away from getting on the right way to win the match. Tennis is a mental game and good performance starts from the thoughts – if the mindset and attitude are right, it is much easier for the body to function effectively and help player execute strategy with high quality. It is important to understand that points in tennis last much shorter than the breaks between the points so using the time after the point is finished should be priority for any player to relax, understand own situation and prepare conscious plan to never stop doubting in own chances for the final win.

2021 06 08

Using medium-pace shots to dominate the rival

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Definitely modern tennis is based on power. Blasting serves and fast forehands are hallmarks of professional tournaments so it is not surprising that younger players try to imitate their idols and play in the exact same way that they see on TV. However if we take a closer look even at the matches of Federer or Osaka, we can discover that not all the shots are played with maximum power. Top players vary the pace of own responses to make sure that they can increase own chances for winning the match.

The reality of tennis at lower level is completely different. Players either try to hit the ball as hard as possible with maximum speed or they decelerate the racket and push the ball to the other side of the court hoping that their opponent will send the next ball into the net. Either the first or the second approach is not the best option if we want to win constantly and force rival to show high-level skills if they want to beat us. It is important to learn when to play really offensive and more risky shot and when to control the ball with medium pace to achieve expected result and beat opponents even during the „bad days”. However the keyword in this formula is control because many players don’t have skills that allow them to hit with moderate pace and still send the ball exactly where they want.

Over the whole year players will play many matches. During only small percentage of all of these games, they will play almost perfectly and the opponent won’t have a chance to get the win. Also during only small percentage of all of the matches, players will completely underperform so against even intermediate rivals, they will have to leave the court as losers. Definitely during the most of the time, players will play well but some areas will tend to produce more errors than usual. It happens because every day is different, every opponent is different and every ball is different. Player has to constantly adapt to the new situation and it is not easy to be able to always find the best response when you have only 1 second between first and the second shot. In the scenario of having problems with some areas, players should consider playing at moderate pace to still make the ball into the court and look for winning opportunities with other skills from their repertoire. It is the biggest mistake when players tend to hit the ball hard all the time and they falsely hope that at one point it will start to work. It will rarely happen so adjustment in own strokes is necessary if we want to win matches even while not playing own best.

One more time I would like to emphasize that playing at moderate pace doesn’t mean pushing the ball on the other side. If offensive play is around 80% of maximum power and defensive play is about 30-40%, then medium-pace shot we can calculate at about 60-65%. That is enough power to not make a mistake and at the same time, that is enough power to not give advantage to the rival right away. Here you can see situations during the match that you should consider aiming at 65% of your power to be effective and win matches that you have previously lost.

1. Missing many second serve’s returns

Yes, second serve from the opponent is a great opportunity to win the point with ease. If you feel the ball well and you provide winner after winner, then continue that. However, if you are making many unforced errors and the opponent wins service games even while missing first serves, then you have to apply some different approach. Remember that your goal is to win the point so you are not limited just to hitting winners from the first shot. Use medium-pace return to the side of the court and then build the point to get easier opportunity inside the court or even to come to the net and put a lot of pressure on the rival. No more easy points for the server!

2. Missing many first serves

First serve is the big weapon in modern tennis. You can either get the point right away or you can get advantage and finish the point with the next shot. However, if you are missing many first serves you are losing much more than just the delivery. Firstly, your opponent can move forward on the second serve’s return so he achieves more offensive position right from the beginning. Secondly, he feels less pressure while returning second serve because second serve is always less challenging than the first delivery. Thirdly, more missed first serves will make you lose confidence because you will be aware that you are missing on a great opportunity to make your life easier and win service games more often than not. In this scenario, use medium-pace first serve to make it in and avoid negative side effects of constantly serving under pressure using second serve.

3. Losing rallies

Many rallies are lost because of easy unforced mistakes within first 2 shots. Players tend to react slow, use too much power or make late tactical decisions that prevent them from making the balls consistently into the court. If you have an easy ball, then it is obvious to capitalize on this opportunity but if you got more challenging ball, then you should take some pace off and control the shot using medium speed. In tennis, patience is crucial so don’t think that only power can win you the match against solid player.

Above you can find 3 basic situations that you have definitely experienced in your career. There were matches when one or more of these areas didn’t function as expected and there is a chance that you have not adjusted properly to these challenges. Right now you know what you should do but remember that firstly you have develop skills that will allow you to confidently play with 65% pace. It looks easy but if you will try to do it under the pressure, you will see that without proper number of repetitions you will either miss or play with less pace that will give opportunity to the rival to finish the point. Learn, practice and win with proper pace.

2021 05 05

Playing against rival who returns really well

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Every point in tennis starts with serve and return. Experts say that serve is the most important in the game because server has total control over all the factors that have an influence on the final result of the serve. However, if we take a look at the matches during the competition, it is visible that players, who are able to break opponent’s serve, are the ones who are winning the titles. Keeping that in mind, athletes have to develop serve that will give them advantage and make returns more difficult to execute.

Looking at the effectiveness of the service games, there are many variables that have to be put into consideration while assessing it. Of course, technical preparation and tactical decisions can’t be omitted to make sure that the serve has proper quality but sometimes it won’t be enough to win the service games, and the match too. Sometimes opponent just responds to great serves with great returns and it seems like there is nothing more players can do to change this negative scenario. Is there really nothing to do?

There is nothing worse than seeing how good serve is neutralized by perfect return. It doesn’t hurt when it happens once per game but if the opponent is hitting winner after winner in deciding moments of the match, it shouldn’t be a surprise that some players give up and lose motivation to fight. It is definitely not the most comfortable situation in the world and the score also doesn’t build the confidence but these are the factors that servers can control. As with any task in sport, to achieve improvement, players have to focus on areas that they can control. And in the situation where opponent hits great winners, there are some factors that if addressed, can change winners into errors or easy to attack returns.

To be able to solve this problem, players have to understand that words „There is nothing I can do” are not true. There is always something that we can change to expect different results so if one adjustment doesn’t work as expected, players have to try put pressure on the rival in different way. If you have the situation that you don’t get advantage with your serve and your rival hits great returns, it is time to implement specific steps into your service games:

1.Use variety

Opponent finishes the shots because he feels comfortable. Major goal while serving is to put returner into uncomfortable state so he feels pressure while waiting for the next delivery. Players can hit into different directions including the body serve that is almost always omitted. Then player can also use different depths, power, spins and trajectories to see how well opponent can adapt to different types of serve. If he deals well with one type of serve over and over again, changing one or two factors can produce more errors from the other side of the court.

2.Look for the patterns of play

Tennis is not about making the serve or missing the return. Tennis is about winning the points and not all the points have to be won during the first 2 shots. If the opponent is hitting one great return after another, you can discover that all the balls are going in the same direction. If you have this knowledge, you can choose given serve and quickly move in expected direction to get advantage over the rival and have more time for preparing successful response. With this conscious work, even the best returns won’t be a problem for you if the opponent will not include variety into his returning games.

3. Take him out of the zone

„Being in the zone” is the state that all players dream to access. There are many factors that have an influence on the chance to play in the zone but if it happens it looks like every ball is going into the place we want it to go. It is not easy to take opponent out of the zone but there is one thing that players should keep in mind: time. The longer the time the more difficult it is to stay in the zone so using available time between the points while serving can be enough to see how opponent’s returning performance decreases. Sometimes doing nothing and waiting can be effective solutions but they have to be done consciously – not because we don’t know what to do.

Momentum during the match can change from minute to minute and that is why tennis is not the easiest game to succeed with. Winning own service game is a priority for most of the players to get good score, build confidence as also to put more pressure on the opponent’s service games. By implementing recommendations from this article, you will never panic again when the opponent will start making great returns because you will know what to do and what you can control to change this situation. Practice this approach as often as possible and your opponent will always respect your delivery.

2021 03 02

Preparing for the international tournament (beginner/intermediate level)

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Tournaments are part of the tennis journey. It doesn’t matter if you have just started playing tennis or you play tennis for several years, at one point you will start competing. Firstly you will play in domestic tournaments but later on you will want to feel like top stars. And compete in international tournaments.

There are different goals for all players however there is one common factor that applies to everyone. It is the willingness to compete. Even when we step into the tennis world with the motivation just to have fun and be in good physical shape, after some time we change our goals. The progress we make and the experience we get tempt us to go for more and more means testing own level in the arena of competition. There is no better feeling than stepping on the court during the tournament and fight both with own internal weaknesses and real opponent at the same time. It is uncomfortable but at the same time it is also really rewarding. Short and long-term.

Tournaments differ. A lot of players start with club competition or regional tournament to just experience how it is to play points with the pressure and possibility to compare own game to other participants. As we know from the first match, our training performance is completely different than our tournament performance so that is why we want to play more and more competitions to learn how to play well and beat the player on the other side of the court. After getting some experience, we set more ambitious goal: we want to compete in bigger national tournaments and if we do well, there is the last stage that is unknown but interesting too. These are international tournaments that are played abroad.

Traveling to other country and competing against the best players in own category is something that pro players do week by week. However, nowadays this type of tennis career is not reserved just to Federer or Osaka – amateurs or semi-professional players have a lot of opportunities to leave own country and try to beat the rival from other country or even from the other continent. The result in international tournament depends on many factors but one of the basics is the preparation. Players who know what to do before they travel abroad increase own chance for playing good tennis and achieving solid results. That is why it is important to plan some things ahead to make sure that we are ready to face this international challenge.

Get informed about the country

Your travel is not a touristic one but definitely you should get some information about your next destination. Information like necessary documents, payment’s methods, safety procedures or local food are important to lower the uncertainty and maintain proper competitive mindset. If you will get negatively surprised by different things while being in other country, it can have negative impact on your mind and of course your on-court performance will deteriorate. It is the same situation like with the opponent on the court – the more you know about him, the less pressure you feel before facing him.

Be aware of the tournament’s organization

Many players don’t read details about the tournament. That’s a big mistake. Information about the practice courts availability can let you plan your practice sessions after getting to the club. Information about the official balls allows you to practice at home using these balls and getting accustomed to the equipment that will be present during competition. You should also pay attention to the check-in deadline because it is the priority to get access to the tournament – remember that it is set in local time so check the time change to plan your arrival way ahead of this time.

Get to the club as early as possible

Tennis traveling can be expensive but you have to keep in mind that sometimes it is better to pay some extra money to achieve great preparation. International tournament is held in place that you don’t know. You don’t know the court, the environment, the weather to name just a few factors. That is why if it is possible, you should get to the club at least 2 days before the tournament to do some quality practice sessions and get more familiar with the surrounding that will be your arena of battle for the next days. The bigger change between your home’s environment and tournament’s environment, the more days you will need to prepare your game for optimal performance.

Pro players spend most of the year in hotels in numerous countries. That is an exciting lifestyle but it is also a really tiring way of living. Beginners and intermediate players play definitely less international tournaments so they should focus on maximal preparation for every tournament they have a chance to play outside of own country. Taking care of details will allow you to focus just on own performance and will increase the chance that your foreign experience will be really positive.

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2021 02 01

Take care of the basic equipment

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The market of tennis equipment is huge. Players can choose any racket they want. From light-weight and oversize heads to stable frames going over 320g and with smaller heads that guarantee more power. But to play tennis you need more than racket. Grips, balls, shoes also count and can have a big impact on on-court performance. That is why it is crucial to take care of basic equipment to play up to your level.

It is not necessary to pay a lot of money for the equipment to increase own level of play. Players don’t have to buy new racket every year, clothes from the latest design or strings that professional players use. Of course the quality is important but players have to balance own budget and level of play to help own game without spending too much money. It is much better to invest additional money into quality coaching or more tournament experiences than to shine with gadgets just only to look good.

Do good players can play well with any kind of equipment? Yes that is true. Do good players can play own best with any kind of equipment? Unfortunately not. All players need different specifications to suit their needs, game style and preferences so that is why players use rackets, grips, shoes, clothes and balls from different companies. More popular companies don’t always produce better quality equipment but definitely there are some labels that always guarantee good price to quality ratio. However without taking care of basic equipment players can underperform and even have problems with health.

At all levels details can make a difference. Details related to technique can give advantage to one player over the other. Details related to physical preparation can result in quality of the playing points at the end of the match. Details related to equipment have influence on comfort level and ability to play at own highest level. If you want to make sure that you are not limited by the factors that are under your control you have to take care of your basic equipment.

Racket

Visual aspect is important for many players but remember that design won’t win you the match. You have to be sure that the tool in your hand listens to you and lets you use your strengths from the beginning to the end of the match. Too heavy racket will put you in trouble while playing longer rallies on clay. Too small racket head can be the reason why less advanced players hit more balls closer to the frame. Take care of your racket and play with the one that suits your game – not your ego.

Grip

Sometimes small details have bigger impact than players can imagine. This rule applies to overgrips. A lot of players love to see new grip on their racket but they shouldn’t think about changing overgrip just by paying attention to the visual aspect. Poor condition of grip can cause less control over the shot, more mistakes during crucial moments of the game as also can be the reason why player has blisters on the hand. That is why it is important to check the status of own grips before the practice/match and change them before it will be too late.

String

Many players don’t understand the value of string in the racket. They are not aware how string can help them to get more spin, power or control. Additionally they wait until the string breaks and then they invest in the new one. That’s not the best approach especially when you play at lower levels of performance. Firstly you should get some knowledge about the specifications of the string and think what you need at your level. Secondly you should treat it the same way you treat oil change in your car. Don’t wait until the engine will be broken – change it consistently to take the most of your game.

Balls

Tennis balls are not the most durable.Their longevity depends on the level of players but overall balls lose quality quite quickly. If you play all the time with used balls you won’t be able to compete effectively during tournaments. There is totally different control over the new ball. Additionally new balls bounce higher than the used ones. These factors entirely change the performance of players so investing in new balls from time to time is a good way to improve own level of play as also to get ready for optimal performance during the competition.

The market of tennis equipment makes great business. It offers a lot of necessary tools for tennis players but also some gadgets that are sold in big amounts because of great advertisement. Players should be aware of the basic equipment they have to use consistently to play tennis and make sure that they take care of this equipment. By taking this approach it is guaranteed that things that are under player’s control will work to his favor.

2021 01 04

3 situations when you should use down the line direction

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In tennis we can choose only 2 directions to hit. Either we can hit the ball cross-court or down the line. The lower the level the more shots should go diagonally because it is safe direction that guarantees good consistency. What about the down the line direction? Should it be restricted just to players who we can watch on TV? Not really.

It is important to understand what advantages and disadvantages wait for the player while hitting the ball cross-court or down the line. Let’s start with cross-court shots. By using this direction player hits over the longest distance on the court so the ball has more space to get into the court. Additionally cross-court shots can move opponent behind the sideline so it creates tactical advantage for the next shot. We can’t forget also about the fact that while hitting in cross-court direction the ball flies over the center of the net which is the lowest part of the net. And one more thing. Even when you hit the ball late in cross-court direction the ball will still bounce on the court so you won’t lose the point.

Completely different situation is related to down the line shot. Hitting the ball in straight line is a good option to put more pressure on the opponent because he has less time to get to the ball and prepare own response. Players have to be aware of the fact that they hit over the highest part of the net as also every late point of contact will result in ball landing outside the sideline. It simply means that players need much more control over down the line shot than over cross-court option.

It looks like it is a good decision to constantly use cross-court shots but this strategy will lead to being predictable to the opponent. Players have to vary own shots to make opponent adapt all the time and force him to lose quality of own shots. That is why being aware of situations when down the line direction is a preferable choice is a first step to get advantage on the court and win points easier.

3 situations when you should make your down the line direction work:

After good cross-court

The better the cross-court the more your opponent will have to run outside the sideline. That should be your goal while hitting the ball diagonally but you should always have plan what you want to do after achieving your first task. If you put your rival into difficult position on the court it is a wise move to place the next ball down the line. This strategy guarantees at least weaker response from your opponent but many times it can be your last shot in the point too.

Drop shot

It is not always necessary to hit all the balls close to the baseline. This approach is good to put pressure on the rival’s groundstrokes but players have to keep in mind that tennis court is quite big and they can use all the zones on the court to get advantage. One of the possibilities to use short zones to check opponent’s physical skills and technical adaptation is playing drop shots. Using down the line direction while hitting the ball short gives less time for reaction and preparation so only players who train responses to drop shot will be able to hit the ball successfully.

Shots at the net

Net game strategy is not the same as baseline strategy. The differences are visible in positioning, technique as also shot selection. Players have to understand that being closer to the rival means less reaction for both players so this fact has to be included while choosing the direction of own volley. Down the line shot is preferable because it doesn’t open the court for the rival to hit effective passing shot so every time net player hits neutral or defensive volley down the line direction has to be the priority.

The beauty of tennis is the opportunity to play any shot players want. It is related both to technical and tactical aspect. However to become successful on the court players have to get knowledge about specific tactical decisions that will increase their chances to leave the court as a winner. Keeping in mind when it is more effective to hit in down the line direction is one of the aspects that all competitive players should try go grasp and train during any given practice session.

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2020 12 17

How to prepare for the morning match

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Tennis tournament provides a great opportunity for tennis players to check own level of performance as also to try to beat other rivals in the quest of winning the trophy. In tennis you have to wait until the schedule is done to discover the time you will be playing the match but only first matches’ time is guaranteed because the next rounds’ starting time depends on the course of the previous matches. If you play morning match you have to make sure that your body and mind are ready for this challenge.

Tennis is a specific sport. In regional tournaments players can start the match as soon as 8 am. In US Open tournament professionals can finish their battles even way after midnight so we can see that players have to adjust to different schedules to increase own chance for positive results. In this article we will focus on the situation that most of the players can meet and the reality of the early morning match.

For some players 8 am is a time that doesn’t create any problems. They wake up early every day so it is not a big change for them to do the same during the weekend and step on the court when other people are still in the bed. On the other hand there are players who prefer to sleep longer and they don’t feel comfortable with waking up at 6 am – not to mention playing tennis. However if you think about being successful competitor you can’t wait for the comfortable conditions to play your best game. You have to analyze given situation, adjust to it and try to fight against different obstacles that are put on your way to the final success.

Getting up early and preparing for the morning match is not an easy task. Players feel sleepy especially when they normally sleep much longer. Players can also feel tired after last day’s practice so it also has an impact on their mindset. Additionally they can feel lack of energy and the lack of appetite to eat even the most favorable breakfast at an early hour. All these factors if not addressed will have negative impact on player’s preparation, on the beginning of the match and probably also on the final score of the competition. That is why it is important to understand the challenges that await for the player and incorporate proven methods to be at own best even during the first morning match.

If your match is schedule as a first of the day make sure you create a routine that will help you be full of energy and mentally prepared for the incoming battle. Your new routine should include:

Give yourself a lot of time
If your match is scheduled at 8 am you should wake up at least 2 hours before it starts (sometimes even more when the distance to the courts is bigger). At the first glance it can look like a big amount of time but after doing everything you need you will see that it is just enough to prepare physically and mentally.

Take colder shower
There is no better method to really „wake you up” from the sleepy mode. Get under the shower and use a little bit colder water. This simple treatment will make you more alert, ready to act as also you will feel less tired even after really intensive practice the day before.

Eat proper breakfast
Your priority is to eat breakfast. You will be competing so you need energy – skipping breakfast gives advantage to the opponent before you even step on the court. Remember to choose right products – your breakfast should include proteins and complex carbs to give you energy for longer time.

Listen to your favorite music
You have to take care of your mind because in tennis mental skills are really important. If you have good mood you will definitely play better so use this simple trick to put yourself in proper mindset. Listen to your favorite music a little bit louder than normally and pump yourself up to be ready for the incoming challenge.

Perform intensive warm up
You need physical routine to prepare your body for the match but you have to remember that match that starts in the early morning requires different physical warm up than match that starts right after noon. Your body is still affected by the 8-10 hours sleep so to be at your best you have to take your intensity to the higher level.

A lot of players complain at playing the first round of matches because it is „too early” for them. Champions don’t complain – they adjust and use every opportunity to show own value. Next time you will have the match scheduled at 8 or 9 am make sure you implement given advices to optimally prepare for the match. You will see how easy it will be to beat the rival who will be still yawning during the first set.

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