Can tanking points/games be a good strategy?

[kraggy]

I'm not talking about tanking matches, which I think is very rare (no matter what some people on TW think!). I'm talking about tanking a point or possibly even a game. And in this context, by tanking I don't mean aiming to make an error but rather a half hearted attempt at the ball, or playing very high risk shots to finish the point quickly.

The primary argument in favor of the occasional tank is that the player's energy is not infinite and there is a very real risk of running out of gas (especially in best of 5). So conserving energy or utilizing energy when it provides the best return, might be a sensible strategy. For e.g. if you are 5-0 up but 0-40 on the opponents serve, you could consider just giving up on the last point to lose the game and then winning the set on your own serve ( rather than possibly spend the next 20 mins taking the game to multiple deuces and still lose it). This way you conserve energy for future games and sets, increasing you're chances of winning them. On the other hand, allowing the opponent an easy game could give away the psychological advantage. Then if the opponent starts playing much better, you will rue the free points you gave him/her.

 

[GrassCourtFan]

The only situation in which it's possible that it'll help is when fatigue is a serious factor for you and not your opponent, and when you're already leading.

I can't think of any other situation in which it could possibly help.

Even in that situation, as you said, it gives your opponent a psychological advantage - it's hard to "turn down" your intensity for just a few points, and then "turn it back on" when it matters. It's just as likely that you'll stop moving your feet for a few points, and then be unable to get back on track when you want to. So really, for most players, fighting for every point is still better, especially for those who aren't unfit.

 

[Sentinel]

Ask Federer. He tanks championships, and now even slams !!!

 

[RCizzle65]

From what I heard, it's what Connors had to do at the end of his career, but I don't know I didn't watch tennis when I was that young, lol

 

[InsideOutBackhand]

If I recall, Sampras did this all the time. Once he had a break, he would just invest his energy in holding serve and play higher risk shots on the return to keep points short.

When up a break, he would only press on the return games if he managed to put himself in a potential break position after a string of shot making or errors from his opponent. He never turned down his game with this method. Just increased the risk of shots because he was confident he could hold serve to win the set. If anything, it provided confidence when he managed to string a bunch of high risk shots together.

 

[samboy01]

Ask Federer. He tanks championships, and now even slams !!!

LOL :lol:

 

[jigar]

As long as you are confident with your serve and your strokes are in sync, you can do it.