Tactical myths in tennis. Part two

Another psychological secret of tennis champions from the book Maximum Tennis by Nick Saviano.

Never change a winning game

This is a semi-myth. If you’re winning, you don’t want to change your game, but you better have some variety in the patterns you play. Others, chances are your opponent will start to catch on what you are doing and begin to get better at countering it.

You have to outthink your opponent 

More often than not, imposing your strategy on your opponent and executing it well determine a tennis match. Yes, many times you need to adjust ti what your opponent is doing during a tennis match, but this concept is overemphasized. Given two players at the same level who use basic, sounds tactics, who wins usually comes down to execution, control of your emotion, and minor tactical adjustments. Tennis is not a game of chess. It is more analogous to a game of checkers. I think more matches are lost from thinking too much than are won by outthinking of an opponent.

You have to raise your level of play in a tiebreaker

This myth implies that you were not playing at your best or not maximizing your concentration before the tiebreaker. I don’t agree with this mentality. Andre Agassi once said: “When I am playing my best I play every point like it is a tiebreaker.” When tennis players are at their best, they focus on one point at a time and play each point to the best of their ability regardless of the score or situation. Having said that, I like tennis players to play aggressive, yet high-percentage tennis in a tie-breaker situation where they play their strengths as much as possible.

You have to win the all-important seventh game

This is one of the most ridiculous beliefs I have ever heard in tennis. Is the seventh game at 5-1 more important that at 5-4 or 5-6? Give me a break!

Always approach down the line

Do this only if you want your opponent standing on the line waiting to pass you. That’s what would happen if everyone believed that myth. There are times to approach crosscourt, up the middle, or inside out. And I’ve discussed the importance of changing things up to keep your game from becoming predictable and to keep your opponent off balance.

Always volley to the open court

It depends on how open the tennis court is. Other factors come into play, as well. If you’re playing a real speed burner, especially on clay tennis court, you may want to hit your volley behind your opponent to wrong-foot him. The height of the ball may dictate not going for the winner but putting the ball deep right at your opponent to set up the next volley.

When you are up a break, just concentrate on holding your serve

Nonsense! Of course you want to hold serve, but why give up the aggressive play that earned you the lead? Just as at all times, you should continue to focus on just one point at a time. Maybe you can break a second or third time.

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