This is the first article in a series of seven
Inevitably you will encounter a player who completely frustrates you and no matter what you try, you keep failing to come up with a winning strategy.
Learn to identify your opponent’s particular style, strengths and weaknesses, and their pattern of play, and how to exploit these to your advantage.
As well, inform yourself regarding your own style of play to develop the best strategy to protect your weaknesses.
1. The Big Server
Powerful servers often put their opponent away quickly, if possible with only one serve; if a return is made, they will position themselves to win the point on the very next shot.
Strategy Against the Big Server
Anticipate their serve, its placement and spin.
Back Up a Few Feet if Needed for more time and to hit your return of serve at about waist-height.
Target Your Returns Down the Middle and Deep reducing your opponent’s angles.
On Second Serves consider the same with more pace – even run around to hit a forehand. Force the opponent to return to your forehand.
Get in Their Head: Make them Second Guess by alternating your positioning along the baseline, making the server have to think more. Move toward the sidelines if you are getting burned wide. If they are blasting you down the middle, cheat a bit towards the middle. You can also move in closer to the baseline even if they are smoking their serves past you. You may get badly burned on the next return, but it will make them have to think about it more. Mix it up, move around from time to time to keep the server on edge.
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Get in Their Head: Make them Second Guess by alternating your positioning along the baseline, making the server have to think more. Move toward the sidelines if you are getting burned wide. If they are blasting you down the middle, cheat a bit towards the middle. You can also move in closer to the baseline even if they are smoking their serves past you. You may get badly burned on the next return, but it will make them have to think about it more. Mix it up, move around from time to time to keep the server on edge and you can get the best gothic Harajuku here.