Cheetah
Hall of Fame
edit: Sorry the title got cut off. It should say 'How can i get more games off of this guy'?
I've found a new hitting partner. He's 45 years old, from France, and used to be a pro for 2 years he's said. Says he comes from a tennis family where everyone in his family and parents family are all good in tennis etc etc. He has worked for a while as an agent to a couple of pros too. One of his good friends who was Andy Roddick's agent died the other day btw.
Anyway, we've played about 10 times now. The best set i've had against him was 6-4. Usually he beats me 6-2, 6-0, 6-1 or something like that. Almost every point is the same. If I don't hit a winner or a good approach shot and volley he will win the point 99% of the time. He doesn't hit hard. Almost ALL of his shot are wide. If i hit any ball that's not wide he will angle it a lot and pull me off the court. If i can get to it he's there waiting for it. Also all of his shots are low. He doesn't hit with extra top spin and they are always close to the net and angle out wide and pop up. His slice is very very good. Best slice I've ever seen in person. They don't ever bounce higher than like a foot. We played today and it seemed like he didnt give me one ball the whole afternoon that sat up or that didnt pull me wide.
So usually the points go like this. I serve, he returns usually down the middle. I hit a decent reply and then he hits a great angle. i get to it and he's waiting there and slices it in the opposite direction. He serves, i return it he hits a deep shot, i rally back and he angles it wide or slices really low, i reach it but have to hit up on it and then it's point over. I've tried going to his backhand but it has to be a rly hard shot for him to hit a weak reply. I've tried to come to the net on both sides but that angle shot of his is too good. They're not fast but just low and at a wide angle. I try to anticipate and push him back but if i dont hit a deep shot then he's going to have time and push me off court wide. Then i try to hug the baseline so that i can get to his slices but if i cheat in a step he will see that and hit it near the baseline and never right at me.
So I guess he's a lot better than me but how can i get some more points off of him? The only way I ever get a point is if i hit 3-4 very good shots in a row. and by good i mean fast heavy balls where he isnt. but i have to hit 3 in a row. 2 is not good enough because then he'll angle/slice and point is over.
I don't make a lot of EU's it just that his placement is too good.
So... any tips or strategies I can employ to give him a better match? I dont expect to beat him but there must be something tactically that I can do better or change that would make it a little bit more competitive.
I've found a new hitting partner. He's 45 years old, from France, and used to be a pro for 2 years he's said. Says he comes from a tennis family where everyone in his family and parents family are all good in tennis etc etc. He has worked for a while as an agent to a couple of pros too. One of his good friends who was Andy Roddick's agent died the other day btw.
Anyway, we've played about 10 times now. The best set i've had against him was 6-4. Usually he beats me 6-2, 6-0, 6-1 or something like that. Almost every point is the same. If I don't hit a winner or a good approach shot and volley he will win the point 99% of the time. He doesn't hit hard. Almost ALL of his shot are wide. If i hit any ball that's not wide he will angle it a lot and pull me off the court. If i can get to it he's there waiting for it. Also all of his shots are low. He doesn't hit with extra top spin and they are always close to the net and angle out wide and pop up. His slice is very very good. Best slice I've ever seen in person. They don't ever bounce higher than like a foot. We played today and it seemed like he didnt give me one ball the whole afternoon that sat up or that didnt pull me wide.
So usually the points go like this. I serve, he returns usually down the middle. I hit a decent reply and then he hits a great angle. i get to it and he's waiting there and slices it in the opposite direction. He serves, i return it he hits a deep shot, i rally back and he angles it wide or slices really low, i reach it but have to hit up on it and then it's point over. I've tried going to his backhand but it has to be a rly hard shot for him to hit a weak reply. I've tried to come to the net on both sides but that angle shot of his is too good. They're not fast but just low and at a wide angle. I try to anticipate and push him back but if i dont hit a deep shot then he's going to have time and push me off court wide. Then i try to hug the baseline so that i can get to his slices but if i cheat in a step he will see that and hit it near the baseline and never right at me.
So I guess he's a lot better than me but how can i get some more points off of him? The only way I ever get a point is if i hit 3-4 very good shots in a row. and by good i mean fast heavy balls where he isnt. but i have to hit 3 in a row. 2 is not good enough because then he'll angle/slice and point is over.
I don't make a lot of EU's it just that his placement is too good.
So... any tips or strategies I can employ to give him a better match? I dont expect to beat him but there must be something tactically that I can do better or change that would make it a little bit more competitive.
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