So I play the local beast tomorrow...

brownie808

Rookie
I have a match tomorrow against the number 1 ranked junior on O'ahu (the Hawaiian island that I live on). I've been playing for about a year now, and my coach still can't believe i've only been playing that long, based on my game. I have a good serve, volleying is up to par, a consistent forehand and a 1hbh.

Do you guys have any tips for me? I'm not expecting to win, but i don't want to be double bagled.
 

Babb

Professional
I played a match similar to this last week. Just learn what you can from the match and don't hold back.
 

SFrazeur

Legend
I have a match tomorrow against the number 1 ranked junior on O'ahu (the Hawaiian island that I live on). I've been playing for about a year now, and my coach still can't believe i've only been playing that long, based on my game. I have a good serve, volleying is up to par, a consistent forehand and a 1hbh.

Do you guys have any tips for me? I'm not expecting to win, but i don't want to be double bagled.


Take the match as a lesson. Learn. Enjoy it.

-SF
 

Bagumbawalla

Talk Tennis Guru
Resolve to just have fun. If he is the #1 player and you have been playing only a year, you are going to lose.

Just play as if you were practicing. Hit every shot with a purpous. Play percentage tennis. Try different things, but mainly with the idea that you are testing your strengths and weaknesses as a kind of learning process and winning is not so important as playing well (sort of like the French).

Remember the fun.
 

Rickson

G.O.A.T.
I have a match tomorrow against the number 1 ranked junior on O'ahu (the Hawaiian island that I live on). I've been playing for about a year now, and my coach still can't believe i've only been playing that long, based on my game. I have a good serve, volleying is up to par, a consistent forehand and a 1hbh.

Do you guys have any tips for me? I'm not expecting to win, but i don't want to be double bagled.

Test his backhand, don't come in on anything weak, don't play too defensively, and tell yourself you have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

The pressure's on him to win so if you play without fear, you'll do fine. Remember, the pressure is on him
 

Zesty

New User
pretty much do everything thats been said thus far, remember you've only been playing for a year and youre playing an opponent who has possibly (and probably) been playing since he was a small kid. have fun and remember that you have nothing to lose and everything to gain :-D
 

chiapants226

Professional
haha same thing with me.. i have to play a guy who played in the australian open juniors next week for a school against school tennis thing. its not looking good for me, but im just gonna go in with a positive attitude, that im NOT going to get double bageled :p id be happy with 6-0, 6-1 off him :D
 

Rickson

G.O.A.T.
haha same thing with me.. i have to play a guy who played in the australian open juniors next week for a school against school tennis thing. its not looking good for me, but im just gonna go in with a positive attitude, that im NOT going to get double bageled :p id be happy with 6-0, 6-1 off him :D

I once gave someone a golden bagel!
 

chiapants226

Professional
That's when you complete a set without allowing a single point.

lol nice. that might happen to me against the guy i have to play in a week. he played aus open juniors, even though he lost first round, hes goingto destroy me. :( kris balakrishnan is his name. it'll be a good experience.
 

brownie808

Rookie
Thanks a bunch for the tips guys. I'll just try my best and play like i have nothing to lose.

Im playing him in the 16 singles open division. I'll probably lose but its going to be a great warm up for my next match in 16 singles intermediate.
 

chiapants226

Professional
Thanks a bunch for the tips guys. I'll just try my best and play like i have nothing to lose.

Im playing him in the 16 singles open division. I'll probably lose but its going to be a great warm up for my next match in 16 singles intermediate.

hehe. i think i'll probably lose against the guy i have to play too :p
 
Just don't play tentatively, better to lose having played your best tennis than to lose even worse because you played differently than you usually would.
 
You are probably going to lose but don't go in with that mentality, go in trying to win. Otherwise you're defeated before you've begun.

He's probably not going to have any obvious weakness but identify what his weakest shot is and play your strength to his weakness. Good luck and let us know what happens.
 

TheJRK

Rookie
I have a match tomorrow against the number 1 ranked junior on O'ahu (the Hawaiian island that I live on). I've been playing for about a year now, and my coach still can't believe i've only been playing that long, based on my game. I have a good serve, volleying is up to par, a consistent forehand and a 1hbh.

Do you guys have any tips for me? I'm not expecting to win, but i don't want to be double bagled.

Go into the match with the mindset that you can actually beat the guy, you never know, you might surprise yourself and everyone else.

If you go into the match hoping to not get embarrassed, you'll lose for sure.

Good luck!
 

brownie808

Rookie
Just don't play tentatively, better to lose having played your best tennis than to lose even worse because you played differently than you usually would.

Thats exactly what happened. I lost to him 6-0, 6-0, but i played my best tennis ever. I aced him a few times, hit a bit of winners, and never lost a game having 0 (love). I felt like i won against him. I was pretty confident going into my next match, but lost 6-3, 6-3 to that dreadful pusher.
 

psYcon

Semi-Pro
I disagree with Djokovicfan4life's comments. If I were you I would have been more flexible, try to adapt to your opponent's game-play and exploit the other guy's weakness. So what if you lose the opportunity to slam down some big aces or forehands.
 

Bagumbawalla

Talk Tennis Guru
Well, now you have a better idea of the depth of play out there and of your own strengths and weaknesses.

Rest up for a bit and then evaluate your play and your opponent's play.

What did he do well that won him the most points? What could you have done just a little better that would have won you some more points?

Then just keep working and PRACTICING/DRILLING and let us know how your next one goes.

Good luck.

B
 
I disagree with Djokovicfan4life's comments. If I were you I would have been more flexible, try to adapt to your opponent's game-play and exploit the other guy's weakness. So what if you lose the opportunity to slam down some big aces or forehands.

I never said that he had to go for huge shots all the time. :confused:

What I meant was that he shouldn't hold back because he was playing a superior opponent. Sort of like "playing not to lose" instead of trying to win.
 
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