Are strategies relevant today in Modern Tennis?

[bad_call]

Originally Posted by arche3

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

could be as serious as the torreball...or not.

[arche3]

Originally Posted by bad_call

could be as serious as the torreball...or not.

The Torreball is very serious bidniz. Dont mock it..

[treblings]

Originally Posted by luvforty

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.

truth be told, i´d rather watch a badminton match than a tennis match myself these days

[Calor1]

If you don't like watching tennis, don't watch it...simple as that.
I don't see strategy in badminton because I only watch it once in 4 years (olympics), but that doesn't mean it's not there.
Same for tennis, just because you have to 'detect' strategy because maybe you -no offence- have few experience. Believe me, if you were playing tennis at a high enough level yourself, you would enjoy watching modern day and classical tennis alike .

[5263]

Originally Posted by Calor1

Same for tennis, just because you have to 'detect' strategy because maybe you -no offence- have few experience. .

I think the pt above is good.

[treblings]

Originally Posted by Calor1

If you don't like watching tennis, don't watch it...simple as that.
I don't see strategy in badminton because I only watch it once in 4 years (olympics), but that doesn't mean it's not there.
Same for tennis, just because you have to 'detect' strategy because maybe you -no offence- have few experience. Believe me, if you were playing tennis at a high enough level yourself, you would enjoy watching modern day and classical tennis alike .

no offence, but i still may prefer one or the other just like someone might prefer watching Federer over Nadal or vice versa

[tennis_balla]

Originally Posted by 5263

I think the pt above is good.

Pretty much my opinion as well.

[luvforty]

if I don't watch tennis on TV, is it my fault,,the tennis' fault, or the TV's fault?

[treblings]

Originally Posted by luvforty

if I don't watch tennis on TV, is it my fault,,the tennis' fault, or the TV's fault?

maybe the couch is pointed in the wrong direction?

[luvforty]

Originally Posted by treblings

maybe the couch is pointed in the wrong direction?

ok I forgot about the couch.

but seriously... i mean probably 50/50 between tennis and TV.

tennis has turned into brain dead hitting.

TV, it still looks the same from a broadcast from 100 years ago. a stupid trapezoid in the middle of the screen.

I myself can't be wrong, because the customer is always right.

[treblings]

[quote=luvforty;7122899] ok I forgot about the couch.
never, never, never forget about the couch
but seriously... i mean probably 50/50 between tennis and TV.
oh...that was a serious post
tennis has turned into brain dead hitting.
not really, it´s still a strategic game
QUOTE]

gonna lie on my couch for a while and watch some tennis.

[Relinquis]

luvforty, have you ever watched a pro-level match live? what about university level/high-level juniors?

it could be an awakening for you if you haven't, but it would mean leaving the couch.

[luvforty]

notice i gave TV 50% ... visited US open and Toronto (Rogers) multiple times, as well as pro golf, basketball, hockey.... college (all sports)...

watching pros on TV is about as exciting as watching couple of my 4.5 buddies courtside.

[TennisCJC]

Almagro is a good example of a pro who does not use enough strategy or tactics. He served for the match 3 times in AO and looked totally lost all 3 times. His 1st serve percentage for the match was poor. He was blasting almost all 1st serves frequently hitting 135 mph. Yes, he won almost all 1st serve points but his serve percentage was 47% for the match. Almagro has a world class kick 2nd serve. I think he would have won the match if he mixed in a few aggressive kickers as 1st serves. I have seen Federer, Djoko and Isner all mix in a kicker. Also, Alamgro's slice serve was not all that great. He hit a couple of boomers wide but was not consistent with the slice serve. Serving wide would have opened the court and given him room to take control of the rally on the next shot.

Ferrer is not the greatest tactician either as he mostly grinds but he was serving much smarter. Ferrer would hit a 110 mph serve near the line on several key points for an ace or unreturnable or to setup a weak reply. Almagro consistently went for 135 MPH serve and missed.

Almagro also looked confused on when to pull the trigger on DTL shots frequently going for too much too soon.

Almagro reminds me of Blake which is basically blast it and if that doesn't work blast it harder. Almagro really needs to work on strategy and tactics and the mental aspects of the game. He certainly has the physical skills to have won the match. But, mental and tactical errors lost the match for him.

[luvforty]

not sure i'd call it strategy.... the guy choked, plain and simple... it's hard to blame him though, 12 previous losses plus a bull dog of opponent is a very tough situation to over come.

Ferrer was basically just sending every ball down the middle and turn it into a contest of consistency... and almagro missed a few easy balls.

if that can be called a strategy.... well, then tennis would be too primitive, strategically speaking.

[sureshs]

I would not call mental strength a strategy.

[rkelley]

Originally Posted by luvforty

not sure i'd call it strategy.... the guy choked, plain and simple... it's hard to blame him though, 12 previous losses plus a bull dog of opponent is a very tough situation to over come.

Ferrer was basically just sending every ball down the middle and turn it into a contest of consistency... and almagro missed a few easy balls.

if that can be called a strategy.... well, then tennis would be too primitive, strategically speaking.

That's a strategy in my book. It forces Amagro to choose - go for the winner or hang in the rally. Ferrer's saying (with his tennis) that he can hang with Almagro all day long. So now you're Almagro. Do you try to hang with Ferrer and stay conservative? Can't go too conservative or Ferrer will hurt you. Or do you get brave and take Ferrer dtl at some point? When? Higher risk shot, and you know that if you don't hit it well that Ferrer's going to run it down and now you've potentially put yourself in a bad position. You have several hundred milliseconds to make your decision while you're running down the next shot - take your time.

Originally Posted by sureshs

I would not call mental strength a strategy.

Again I disagree. Mental toughness, keeping your head in the point, having the confidence that you can hit extra balls and not go for the winner too soon, is a weapon. You fold that into an overall strategy of when and how to get aggressive or stay conservative.

Remember that these guys are hitting big almost every shot. Even the conservative shots are pretty good rips. I don't think that maintaining that belief in yourself, and not letting the doubts creep in, is trivial.

[luvforty]

tomayto tomahto

[morten]

i agree with suresh on this one, a bore compared to before...

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by rkelley

That's a strategy in my book. It forces Amagro to choose - go for the winner or hang in the rally. Ferrer's saying (with his tennis) that he can hang with Almagro all day long. So now you're Almagro. Do you try to hang with Ferrer and stay conservative? Can't go too conservative or Ferrer will hurt you. Or do you get brave and take Ferrer dtl at some point? When? Higher risk shot, and you know that if you don't hit it well that Ferrer's going to run it down and now you've potentially put yourself in a bad position. You have several hundred milliseconds to make your decision while you're running down the next shot - take your time.



Again I disagree. Mental toughness, keeping your head in the point, having the confidence that you can hit extra balls and not go for the winner too soon, is a weapon. You fold that into an overall strategy of when and how to get aggressive or stay conservative.

Remember that these guys are hitting big almost every shot. Even the conservative shots are pretty good rips. I don't think that maintaining that belief in yourself, and not letting the doubts creep in, is trivial.

Yeah the whole level is different I suppose. Easy for me to say mental strength is not a strategy, but holding it together for 5 sets is quite a taxing situation.