I have stated many times that the game of tennis has become extremely fast. Players are hitting groundstrokes 65-85 miles per hour when setting up the point and often over 100 mph when hitting a winner. Average serve speeds have increased as well. However, the ability to mix in a slice, a slower, well placed…
I just attended Wimbledon for the first time as a spectator last week. My visit reminded me that it is the most prestigious and important tournament in the world and that there is no way this will change. The history is unmatched by any of the other grand slams. The All England Club has made…
Novak Djokovic just won his third French Open and 23rd Grand Slam tournament. His accomplishments are just incredible. What is even more amazing is how his game has evolved. He has shifted from more of a defensive player and counter puncher, to a player who can control the majority of the points, hurt his…
Two players were disqualified during a women’s doubles match at the French Open yesterday after one of the players hit a ball (in between points) that hit a ball girl in the head. Most of the spectators did not agree with this decision and I have read many comments on social media saying that…
One of the biggest changes in modern tennis is the increasing number of players who are positioning themselves way behind the baseline (literally at the fence or beyond on a stadium court) to return serve and often, to play the entire point. This has happened because of the speed the ball is traveling through…
There is a lot of conversation about the different grips that players use when hitting a shot, especially on the forehand side. Many players lean towards a semi-western forehand grip but the grip varies slightly from player to player. Coco Gauff has a pretty extreme western grip on her forehand and the consensus is…
Watching Carlos Alcaraz play continues to amaze me. He can basically do everything and has a huge selection of shots to choose from. Jim Courier stated that Alcaraz is very unpredictable and doesn’t always stick to the idea of playing the same way he normally does, especially in the crucial situations. I agree with…
Many of today’s top tennis players seem to generate a tremendous amount of racquet head speed using their wrist. However, the best players use a combination of a lot of things to get speed, depth, and consistency. Using your legs to push off or step in can make your shot more effective. In addition,…
It is normal to be nervous before a tennis match. The key to dealing with the nerves that you feel on the court is to focus on one or two simple thoughts. If there are too many things going through your head, the chaos that is moving through your mind will show up in…
I have written about this in the past but because it is so important, here it is again: Tennis matches can be an emotional rollercoaster. You hit a great shot and win an important point, and then lose three points in a row to be down love 40 in the next game. It is…