Playing passively and Passive pro players?

[looseleftie]

I got thinking, about what I love about certain players, and the kind of players that grind and grind points, then finish it off, to players who are more like wham bam thank u mam kinda players, then got thinking into who are the passive players on tour?

Also does playing passively a positive in tennis.. I was taught always, always get the next shot back, and then do the same for the next one, if u can kill it, kill it, otherwise it was always about consistancy..

Use to love Mecir, effortless seemingly, Hewitt agressive passive if u could say that?

I look at Tomic and think this guy is just consistant, with the potential in the near future of doing some real damage with the potential of his shots, or should I say his 6'5" frame.

Love your thoughts peoples
Cheers
Looseleftie

[Mongolmike]

I think it was in the book "Tennis Mastery: 10 Keys to Unleashing your on court potential" by Saviano he talks about matching your own personality to your court style.

I think this is very true... if you are a serious focused person in "life" then you probably play tennis the same... if you are lighthearted, then you probably are just as competitive, but your style reflects that.

My wife in life is very focused, conservative (money-wise), and competitive... and her game is also very serious and she is a conservative baseliner. She hits safer shots, doesn't go to the net often, hates to lose, and is somewhat reluctant to try new shots (drops, spin serves, etc.)

I am much looser, upbeat, confident, a risk taker... and my game is like that too... I go with the big first serve, tough kicker second, like to charge around the court and take risks for put aways, I like to bang topspin FHs and often try for down the lines and drop shots.... all the while (especially with friends) I'm usually in the middle of the wise-cracking and joking about points or cracking on friends... for me to play all serious, even in leagues or tournaments... that isn't fun for me.

Some people are passive, some are risk takers... I think it shows in their game. Look at Nadal and Djokovic or Serena and Wozniaki... I think their games reflect their personalities.

[Limpinhitter]

IMO, being a passive player (read: "pusher"), can be very successful, to a point. That point is when the pusher meets up with someone who hits big and at the same time understands high percentage shot selection, hits to those high percentage targets with discipline, and has the "shot tolerance" to wait for high percentage opportunities to attack. But, when a pusher is playing against a big hitter who doesn't play high percentage tennis, and doesn't have high "shot tolerance," the big hitter is going to beat himself with UE's more often than not.

[LeeD]

Pushers can certainly make the top 5 in men's pros, and number one in womens's pros.
But more usual, they are in the top 30's thru top 10's.

[vil]

I think if you are not aspiring to break into ATP ranking and is quite happy to remain social or club player, then it doesn't really matter what type of aggressive or passive game you chose. People always follow and try to copy those who are on top.
I personally like the way Mecir used to play. OK his serve was a bit of let down but his game was elegant and smart. Though it looked passive, he put his opponents to sleep and then exploded. I like how he varied his shots.
I think you can be pretty passive, providing you don't make many UE's and you don't have to be a pusher. You can keep hitting solid shots aiming to smart targets and basically that's all you have to do.