Are strategies relevant today in Modern Tennis?

[Larrysümmers]

i see a lot of strategy. i see player A trying to move his opponent around to force an error or hit a winner. this isnt football where the tactic is obvious, every shot is in its own an Independent strategy.

[luvforty]

to put things in perspective.... THIS is a strategic game.. tennis is not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI8Od4jBpUc

[tennisfan69]

Originally Posted by Larrysümmers

i see a lot of strategy. i see player A trying to move his opponent around to force an error or hit a winner. this isnt football where the tactic is obvious, every shot is in its own an Independent strategy.

unpredictability and disguising your shots are the two major strategies the top players employ. either one of the above will draw an UE from the opponent or a weak reply which you can capitalize. Agassi used to gain control of Cross court rallies and move the opponent around (insult strategy). but that is now very predictable.

[treblings]

Originally Posted by luvforty

to put things in perspective.... THIS is a strategic game.. tennis is not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI8Od4jBpUc

or you might try this..... the strategies in badminton are easier for you to detect

[luvforty]

Originally Posted by treblings

or you might try this..... the strategies in badminton are easier for you to detect

the problem is - when I sit in my magic couch and want to just relax and enjoy a good match, I don't want to detect strategy.

I want strategy to present itself to me! Lin and Lee always do.

[luvforty]

how do you put a baby to sleep - with a monotonous repetitive motion/sound at fixed beat..... that's what tennis sounds like on TV... I fall asleep in no time.

[Relinquis]

I'm re-posting this from a previous post of mine, Tennis can be like Chess:

let me clarify the chess analogy, in chess one of the basic strategies is to control the centre of the board in a way that allows your pieces there the maximum attacking angles and at the same time is protected by the pieces behind. this allows you to gradually build up pressure on your opponent as you move pieces forward or open up more angles. chess players have a lot of sequences that they put into play to gain position and adapt as the match goes on.

In tennis, you construct points by positioning yourself in a manner where you have attacking angles and can use various shots to put pressure on your opponent. you build this gradually one shot at a time picking from the arsenal of shots that you have (your pieces) e.g. serve out wide, move into position, hit inside-out forehand and then you have an easy winner into an open court. Tennis players have a lot of sequences that they put into play to gain position/footing and adapt as the match goes on.

in tennis as in chess, you have to adapt to your opponent's strategy. it's dynamic. it requires focus. it requires mental toughness.

your skill and fitness will determine what types of shots you have in your arsenal (what chess pieces you have remaining). your movement, focus and the sequence of shots will determine where you are on the court (angles and lines of attack/defense); all adjusted for what your opponent does. it is dynamic.

i can see all of this even at my lowly level of tennis. yeah, there is strategy in badminton too, very obvious. there is also strategy in squash even though there are even fewer winner-type shots in that sport (not just reflexes). strategy is less obvious in squash and tennis, but it is beautiful when you start to see the game at that level.

[bad_call]

^ allow an iteration of arche3 post...

Originally Posted by arche3

Well this thread was about ATP and WTA players.

[Larrysümmers]

idk. i see plenty of strategy when watching pro tennis. its all about perspective i guess.

[5263]

Originally Posted by Larrysümmers

idk. i see plenty of strategy when watching pro tennis. its all about perspective i guess.

Part of the problem is so rarely are the players an equal match about hitting.

Fed suffers against the top 4 because he has to do so little thinking about
strategy in the early rds. Mainly just hits them off the court to the Bh corner with
his fh & serves. Notice Nadal, DJ, and Murray are all extremely strong from that corner
along with excellent rtns.
After 3-4 rds of the same basic tactic, imo Fed is often at a bit of a loss on
what to do when the serves are coming back and the Fhs to Bh corner are getting
punished.

Point is the strategy is often shallow when the talent is a mis-match and the
hitting seems more key. When the match-ups are better, the strategy gets
more evident imo and critical to the outcome. Last nite Murray was talking
of his strategic change in big matches after losing at Wimbledon; How he
needed to play differently in finals. Subtle things still though.

[TennisCJC]

Benoit Paire was defeated by Federer in AO 1st round last night. Commentators pointed out that Benoit's FH was a bit shaky and Federer peppered his FH side with 1st serves and pace off the ground. So, there's a simple case of a pro using strategy (or, at least tactics) even in an early round against a lesser opponent. Federer even hit a few approach shots to the guy's FH when he was position to approach on the BH. Paire didn't handle pace to the FH as well as he handled it on the BH.

I seem to be in the minority but I think there is quite a bit of strategy/tactics on ATP. Yes, each player has their strengths and favor their strengths but game plans do vary.

[5263]

Originally Posted by TennisCJC

Benoit Paire was defeated by Federer in AO 1st round last night. Commentators pointed out that Benoit's FH was a bit shaky and Federer peppered his FH side with 1st serves and pace off the ground. So, there's a simple case of a pro using strategy (or, at least tactics) even in an early round against a lesser opponent. Federer even hit a few approach shots to the guy's FH when he was position to approach on the BH. Paire didn't handle pace to the FH as well as he handled it on the BH.

I seem to be in the minority but I think there is quite a bit of strategy/tactics on ATP. Yes, each player has their strengths and favor their strengths but game plans do vary.

I agree with your points about that match, as it shows he does adjust, even
in the easy early rd matches; although he was not pushed at all in this one. I
hope that did help to tune up some of his less used patterns to the Fh, he will
need against DJ.

[luvforty]

hitting to a shaky forehand is a strategy? lol

lot's of brain power required for that i guess

[luvforty]

actually, in even-matched situations, there is a big influence from strategy.. problem is TV sells that so short, it only puts people to sleep.

put the camera at court level, you see difference in pace/trajectory/spin much better, and can appreciate the strategies much better.

also can appreciate how brutal the brutal force is.

when the camera is high, it does look just like human pong.

[5263]

Originally Posted by luvforty

hitting to a shaky forehand is a strategy? lol

lot's of brain power required for that i guess

Here you say this, pointing out how little the strategy required in easy match,
then your next post you say there is lots of strategy even in the uneven matches,
but go on to talk about hitting hard with lots of spin???

Imo it makes more sense to say it as several of us have...There is always lots
of strategy involved, but it less important and obvious in many easy matches.

[luvforty]

seat available in my logical couch, 5263.

[tennis_balla]

I'd say luvforty is getting close to sureshs trolling territory. Keep it up young grasshopper, soon you will be on par with the TTW guru.

[5263]

Originally Posted by luvforty

seat available in my logical couch, 5263.

thanks, I guess I need it

[luvforty]

you young balla.

[arche3]

Originally Posted by luvforty

you young balla.

I dont even know if what you type is serious or not anymore.