So, what occurs initially, before we even get onto the court? So, I’ve talked about this before on our channel. I truly believe that to be successful in competition, you need to have a very good understanding of who you are as a player (a player identity), but most amateurs have very limited knowledge of their style and their opponents are.

We’ll call ourselves baseliners, serve and volleyers, aggressive players, aggressive baseliners, counter punchers, and other words – but they’re all quite ambiguous, and they don’t contribute anything to the table. So, rather than describing yourself in these hazy terms, I want you to attempt to understand your game from the perspective of your opponent? What would the scouting report on you be from your opponent? What would it be, exactly?

On the tennis court

Because you’re attempting to avoid it, my left side of the court shrinks dramatically. And it’s possible I already know you’re trying to dodge it. I’ve started working on the opposite side, and I’m more confident in my ability to strike forehands. And then you’re wondering to yourself, “Where do I hit?”

So, take a look at your own game and ask yourself, “OK, what are a few of the things I do very well?” Maybe I’ll be able to truly crack it if I strike my forehead from shoulder height. So I’m going to go big every time I see it, and that’ll create some pressure.” So your opponent will want to avoid playing high, but they may not be able to do so. Perhaps they’re overthinking things. That is why professional tennis players, especially at the top, make dumb errors because they are well-versed in their opponents’ tactics.

And that’s something they’re attempting to prevent. As a result, they must play with significantly narrower margins. They sometimes have to play amazing strokes to keep their opponent from hitting the shot they desire. That’s why it’s so simple to wonder, “How did he make that error?” He might have just crossed the court here. However, if he had gone cross, he may have handed his opponent the exact shot he wanted to put away.

Consider all of the advantages. Rafa’s forehead, for example, may move inside out or inside in. For example, if you make that shot and he hits a forehead and sprints around the back end, good luck predicting where he’ll go. Right? So you attempt to avoid it at all costs, and then you hit the button.

Mistakes

Have you made a blunder? It occurs all the time. However, you must comprehend your game in this manner. What, for example, are a few shots that I excel at that can apply some pressure, perhaps even early on? It might be a case of returns. It might be a problem with your serving size, or it could be something else entirely. But, by doing so, aren’t you making the court a tiny bit smaller? Your opponents will strive to avoid striking that place as much as possible. And if you can get them to hit that location repeatedly, it’ll certainly help your game and lead to more victories. To sum it up and bring this talk to a close, I believe a decent way for you to look at this is alright. Maybe you do one thing, as I do. Perhaps you’re just concentrating on your forehead down the line today. That’s a fantastic start.