How do players not get pushed deep behind the baseline?

[oneguy21]

I know this question may be naive, but how do players like Federer and Djokovic stay very close to the baseline regardless of how high the balls are? I mean in junior tennis if you hit a deep loopy ball your opponent will get jammed deep behind the baseline and will probably moon ball it back.

 

[Ballinbob]

they hit it early, which requires really,really good timing

 

[sureshs]

1. They are tall
2. At the pro level, a ball which loops so much that it bounces over their heads must necessarily be slow, giving them plenty of time to either take it on the rise or hit an overhead-smash style shot
3. Their own shots do not provide enough time for the opponent to hit those loopy shots

In the WTA, Patty Schneider consistently uses the moonball to push her opponents back. But such slow shots will not cut it in the men's game.

 

[RestockingTues]

1. They are tall
2. At the pro level, a ball which loops so much that it bounces over their heads must necessarily be slow, giving them plenty of time to either take it on the rise or hit an overhead-smash style shot
3. Their own shots do not provide enough time for the opponent to hit those loopy shots

In the WTA, Patty Schneider consistently uses the moonball to push her opponents back. But such slow shots will not cut it in the men's game.

This is mostly it; if you can't apply pressure off the serve/return, or at least start the point of neutral then you're going to be scrambling. A LOT.

 

[Kai2008]

From what i've observed (note quicly i'm not an expert and the following is my own personal view i'm an adult not 12 but dont want too spend ages sorting punctuation and sorry for long post and i split it so iot doesnt look like one chuink of text read on for my observations. tnx's)They seen to 1/2/ semi 1/2 volley the ground shot if it's deep with power and take in on the rise/early if it's deep but loopy and try to get it back hopefully to a decent length. This is not an easy thing too do and it seems to be that if your not in top form you make loads of unforced errors appear to be going for to much too early(miss hits) shanks ect.(you probably seen Federer have matches like this were he just seems too not be able to hit the ball n its cause he wants his basic ground strokes to be more aggressive than most other players). Often the commentators talk about how fed never gives up territory with regards to the baseline except on clay.

Now if it works you take time away from your opponent and is devastatingly good to watch and extremely effective.they most often don't hit a winner with this but like i said try to get it back with decent length cause guys like Djokovic and especially Federer they move so good they are confident of being able to retake control of the point at a later opportunity. i'd say kids are less confident in there ability to track down and take control of the rally so they step back and try to defend like a trooper and hope for an error.

again i'd like to state i'm not an expert just a tennis spectator so all that could be bull**** so if any of the above is bull**** pls dont try to sue me.