Tennis Tactics

Our Tennis Tactics homepage is designed to provide you with resources that will help you when it comes to tactics and match play. Tennis is not just about having great technique or being physical fit, it's also about developing your mach play skills and improving the tactical aspects of your game.

Designing Drills Federer Style [Part II]

By Rufus Keown

Designing Drills Part 1 dealt with Federer's methodical opponent analysis and corresponding training regime.  Part 2 explores how coaches can use his technique to design drills for their own developing students at different ages and standards...read Designing Drills Roger Federer Style - Part 2 >>>

Why Do Some Tennis Players Hit So Many Unforced Errors?

Kyril Popoff is a former NCAA Div1 All-Conference Tennis Player, Instructor, Coach and Author.

Here's a doozy. I could literally give you dozens of reasons why people hit more unforced errors that they should, but that wouldn't do you much good. I will give you the number one reason, however: Poor balance. I've written extensively about this subject in the past, but I would like to 'connect the dots' for you, as it were, and explain how poor balance causes a subtle chain of events to occur that, explained individually, don't add up to much; but when linked together, explains how a tennis player can go from being in perfect position to hitting that unforced error in less than one second. Read Article About Tennis Players and Unforced Errors>>>>

Hit The Ball Away From Your Opponent
"Hit the ball away from your opponent into the gaps and not to him unless you mean it as a surprise. You achieve this largely by hitting for the lines. Learn to put the ball where you aim it." Mr. Harry Hopman (The best tennis Coach of all time!) This quote at first seems to be over simplistic but, once you start watching match play even at pro level you start to see how meaningful it is! How often do you see even professional players trade shots cross court to each other just a step or two away from the centre of the court, almost as if they were trying to bust a brick wall? It is indeed an exercise of energy waist as well as plain lack of global vision of the limits of tennis court and for the spectator just a boring event.....click here to read article>>>>

Improve Your Tennis Strategy

Perfecting your strokes is a never ending process which is critical for your tennis game. However, understanding and implementing different strategies is not any less important, and in many cases is the determining factor in prevailing over your opponent. There is no one "cookie-cutter" strategy that works for all players. Obviously, different players have their own style of playing, and would like to adjust their game to benefit the most of their best shots. This could mean running around the backhand for a player with a great forehand, serve and volley for a big server, or approaching the net at any opportunity for a great net player.....Click here to read article>>>>

The Federer File - The Playing Styles

One of the great challenges facing top tennis players is the different styles of opponent they must face, and master, to stay at the top of the game.  Roger Federer is a master of adapting his own game plan to break down his opponents style...read article>>>

Learning from the Masters Cup Final

By Tina Dodd

Roger Federer confirmed his dominance of the men’s game with victory in the Masters Cup Final in Shanghai.  While not a grand slam event the Masters Cup is a very prestigious event, pitting the top players against one another – with no easy early round matches.  Despite tough matches against Nalbandian, Roddick and Nadal in the qualifying matches– Federer destroyed American James Blake in a one sided final.  As always Federer provided a master class in stroke production and tactics to dismantle his opponent...read more>>

Learning from the US Open Final 2006

By Tina Dodd

The 2006 US Open was billed as the final act of the year in the growing rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Instead Andy Roddick rediscovered his “mojo” and produced his best tennis since winning the US title in 2003. By developing his transition game, maintaining a high % of 1st serves and re-invigorating himself with the fresh ideas of a new coach, Andy Roddick proved his best is not behind him...more>>

Learning from the Wimbledon Final 2006

By Rufus Keown                  This tennis article is in PDF format.

This article discusses the varying playing styles of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Federer remains the "King of Grass" and Nadal is the "King of Clay". You will learn about the effectiveness of the slice backhand, a great way to use the approach shot more effectively, why you need to cut back on your unforced errors when losing as well as learning how to serve out the match...............more>>

What Can We Learn From the French Open Tennis Final?

By Rufus Keown

Rafael Nadal confirmed he is the "King of Clay" and continues to build a reputation as being one of the great clay court players of all time.  Roger Federer confirmed his great all court abilities but fell short of the dirt ball specialist......more>>

5 Winning Tennis Tactics for Clay Court Players!

By David Horne

When you play on clay you need to construct and play points differently to when playing on other surfaces. Many great players such as Pete Sampras often struggled on clay as they didn't implement the key winning strategies of pure clay court specialists.....more>>