What to take from this match

[Trey]

I played a guy today that usually plays 4.5. That is one level above me so I expected a very tough match. He ended up beating me 6-2, 6-2. But it was much closer than the score indicated. The match took 2 hours and 20 minutes. Every single game went to multiple deuces except 1 or 2 games. It seemed like every time he got down and I had a break point he would come up with a good serve/big shot and eventually hold to get to deuce and then eventually would win.

His game- big server and all court player with topspin off both sides. He usually got 1 -2 service winners a game. His ground strokes were not at the level of his serve and he rarely blew me off the court.

My game- retriever/counterpuncher. Slice backhand with occasional topspin and topspin forehand. He had no problem with my serve although he rarely hit serve return winners off them. He did comment that he could not remember seeing anybody my age that could run down shots like I did (I guess that was a complement? :wink: )

It was a very demoralizing loss, because I was in so many of the games but his serve kept pulling out when he needed it or he came up with a big shot when he needed it. I guess the good thing is he said that he wanted to play me again and gave me his cell phone #.


How should I approach the next match?

[jun]

The same thing happens to me as well. I have done it to players below my level, and players who are above my level do that to me.

I think one of the differences between 4.5 and 4.0 is that 4.5 is able to play a percentage shot and stay consistent on important points. While 4.0s might press and go for low percentage shot...I think I do this when I am playing someone better than me, because I feel like I have to create something. But when I playing someone equal to my level, or below my level, I know I can wait for the right shot to go for...

[Mahboob Khan]

6/2, 6/2 finishing in 2 hours, each set taking an hour! It means that you can play the ball but cannot end it, finish it, in your favor. You can improve certain areas of your game:

-- Make your serve little stronger, and try to impose it on his weaker side. Keep him guessing with his returns. He should not expect same type of serve all the time. Move your serve around e.g. wide, body, up the T. If you pull him wide on one side, then plug the ball to the other side!

-- When you are receiving: On harder serves, hit a neutralizing return deep either cross court or deep down the middle. On his second serve, try to be aggressive and return it down the line so that he will be stretching to your return.

-- When you are at the baseline rallying: Match him stroke by stroke, deep to deep, until he misses, or gives you a short ball. If this short ball is in your right zone, hit your approach shot deep to his backhand and close in for a volley. If this short ball is to your backhand in your left zone, hit your approach shot deep down the line, and close in for volley. If the short ball is in your mid-court, use inside-out and inside-in combinations to win the point. The reason your match went so long was because you did not take chances when they came. Instead of hitting a winner on a short/easier ball, you kept on playing the ball expecting that he will miss the ball for you, that approach did not serve you well. It served your opponent! If you find yourself in a corner, go cross court; if you find yourself little inside the court .. on a bit easier ball .. go down the line. On a difficult ball add more topspin, and nail the easier/chest high ball.

When you are attacking/playing at the net: If your approach shot is deep down the line, your volley should be short/angular cross-court. If you are hitting your volley below the level of the net, keep your volley deep .. in such a case use your deep volley as an approach shot. However, if the ball is well above the net, go for a winner in the open court. On mid-court balls, use inside-out and inside-in combination of shots!

When your opponent is attacking/he is at the net: Keep your passing shots low and dipping. If his approach shot is down the line, go cross-court with your pass; if his approach shot is cross-court and short, go down the line with your pass. Remember, lob is also a passing shot. Use it early in the match, and you will put many options in the mind of your opponent .. he has to worry about your passing shots and lobs .. this will prevent him from getting too close to the net, enabling you to find gap for your passing shots!

Jerk him around and shake him well to extract errors from him. Control your unforced errors, and go for winners whenever possible!

Have fun.

[Pahansuopa]

[ If his approach shot is down the line, go cross-court with your pass; if his approach shot is cross-court and short, go down the line with your pass. possible!]

Well written and though out advice and i think the same way about tennis tactics for the most part but...

Passing shots are IMHO more effective when they are hit back to the direction where approach shot came from. Because usually it is difficult for the opposing player to change their direction specially when they are closing on net (moving forwards and sideways at the same time).

[jun]

If the person hits approach down the line, s/he is going to try to cover the line, because that's percentage play, espcially if the other player gets there late. If s/he approaches crosscourt, then s/he has a lot of ground to cover since s/he has left down the line open.

Obviously you want to mix it up, but percentage wise and strategically, Mahboob Khan is dead on...

[kevhen]

If his groundstrokes are consistent but not powerful, get to net and finish those points sooner. At least experiment with that on the return of serve and if you have success, maybe serve and volley some on your serve. On break points, mix things up to fool him if he always seems to step up and win those. Just enjoy the nice long match and don't worry about the score so much. You will start to get more used to his serve and things should get closer next time out.

[andfor]

Maboob is dead on about passing CC when your opponent approaches DTL. I like to go CC until I get him guessing that way and then will surprise him with DTL passes later in the set/match. After a few CC passing shots he will begin to lean that way and the line will start to open up.

Parroting Maboob, do not neglect the lob. Defensive or when the occasion presents itself with a weak approach go for a offensive lob with topspin. For example, yesterday in my match when pulled out wide with a kick serve in the ad court I threw up a couple of deep lobs back near his baseline. My opponent missed one OH and simply put the other into play allowing me to get back into the point.

It's a balancing act but take your chances when they present themselves and keep your errors down. I bet you'll do better next time. You may want to try some of these suggestions against opponents of equal or lesser ability first before you go back out and play this guy.

Remember this guy is a 4.5 and your a 4.0 you have nothing to loose. Playing up as does playing lesser opponents allows excellent opportunity to improve for those like you who think it through and work to improve.

Good luck next time,

Andy