Archive for January, 2009

The Fundamentals of Tennis

I trust this initial effort of mine in the world of letters will find a place among both novices and experts in the tennis world. I am striving to interest the student of the game by a somewhat prolonged discussion of match play, which I trust will shed a new light on the game.

May I turn to the novice at my opening and speak of certain matters which are second nature to the skilled player?

The best tennis equipment is not too good for the beginner who seeks really to succeed. It is a saving in the end, as good quality material so far outlasts poor.

Always dress in tennis clothes when engaging in tennis. The question of choosing a racket is a much more serious matter. I do not advocate forcing a certain racket upon any player. All the standard makes are excellent. It is in weight, balance, and size of handle that the real value of a racket frame depends, while good stringing is, essential to obtain the best results.

After you have acquired your racket, make a firm resolve to use good tennis balls, as a regular bounce is a great aid to advancement, while a “dead” ball is no practice at all.

If you really desire to succeed at the game and advance rapidly, I strongly urge you to see all the good tennis you can. Study the play of the leading players and strive to copy their strokes. Read all the tennis instruction books you can find. They are a great assistance.

More tennis can be learned off the court, in the study of theory, and in watching the best players in action, than can ever be learned in actual play. I do not mean miss opportunities to play. Far from it. Play whenever possible, but strive when playing to put in practice the theories you have read or the strokes you have watched.

Never be discouraged at slow progress. The trick over some stroke you have worked over for weeks unsuccessfully will suddenly come to you when least expected. Tennis players are the product of hard work. Very few are born geniuses at the game.

Tennis is a game that pays you dividends all your life. A tennis racquet is a letter of introduction in any town. The brotherhood of the game is universal, for none but a good sportsman can succeed in the game for any lengthy period. Tennis provides relaxation, excitement, exercise, and pure enjoyment to the man who is tied hard and fast to his business until late afternoon. Age is not a drawback. The tennis players of the world wrote a magnificent page in the history of the World War. No branch of sport sent more men to the colours from every country in the world than tennis, and these men returned with glory or paid the supreme sacrifice on the field of honour.

The following order of development produces the quickest and most lasting results:

1. Concentration on the game.

2. Keep the eye on the ball.

3. Foot-work and weight-control.

4. Strokes.

5. Court position.

6. Court generalship or match play.

7. Tennis psychology.

Tennis is played primarily with the mind. The most perfect racquet technique in the world will not suffice if the directing mind is wandering. There are many causes of a wandering mind in a tennis match. The chief one is lack of interest in the game. No one should play tennis with an idea of real success unless he cares sufficiently about the game to be willing to do the drudgery necessary in learning the game correctly. Give it up at once unless you are willing to work. Conditions of play or the noises in the gallery often confuse and bewilder experienced match-players playing under new surroundings. Complete concentration on the matter in hand is the only cure for a wandering mind, and the sooner the lesson is learned the more rapid the improvement of the player.

The surest way to hold a match in mind is to play for every set, every game in the set, every point in the game and, finally, every shot in the point. A set is merely a conglomeration of made and missed shots, and the man who does not miss is the ultimate victor.

ATP- Djokovic focusing on winning the Australian Open 2009

he current Australian Open champion, Serbian Novak Djokovic, is preparing to conquer for second time the Melbourne title at the Australian Open by playing previous tournaments. Djokovic started his season participation at Brisbane by facing the Latvian Ernests Gulbis. Djokovic lost against the Latvian 6-4, 6-4. This was the first match for both players, Gulbis played in great way and Djokovic seems during the match, that he was not able to handle the pressure. However, Djokovic is confident that this tournament and the other ones before the Australian Open will help him adjust to the Australia’s climate, the way of playing and the focus needed to improve his game.

Djokovic was criticized by several former players this new year, whom doubt about his control over the pressure and the dominance of his game as defender of the Australian Open title, but Nole is relaxed and confident about himself and is not letting their comments to affect his believes. Djokovic considers that he is a player with quality and someone that can have a better season than the one in 2008. Before coming to his first tournament of the year at Brisbane, he prepared physically and mentally in the court at Monaco for two weeks and then he spent 10 days in the mountains of Serbia. Djokovic believes that with that preparation and training he is ready for the action and the new expectations for this 2009.

On the other hand, this season ATP 2009 will be an interesting one for the Serbian, due to the fact that new faces and players are arriving, and new contenders are harder to beat. Djokovic also stated that it will be difficult to know who could become the new No.1 of the world and best tennis player for this year, but his goal is to become the one. Even so, he knows that the competition will be harder this year because Tsonga is getting stronger, Murray and Simon are on the rise and Davydenko and Roddick are also doing their job at the ATP and finally we cannot forget the eternal competition of Nadal and Federer in their fight for the No.1 spot.

At the press conference in Brisbane, prior the start of the event, Djokovic expressed that been the defender champion at Melbourne will be a real challenge but he loves this kind of pressure.

“This is a professional sport so if you intend to be one of the best players in the world you have to learn to cope with that pressure and accept it as a part of your life. I take the best memories of my career out of Melbourne last year and of course there’s going to be a certain amount of expectations and pressure as the grand slam champion but I will try to use it in my favor and look at it as a positive challenge.”

With this we hope the best for this Serbian tennis player not only at the Aussie Open but also for the whole season. The fans, coach and relatives really hope to see him accomplishing its goals at Australia, at the rankings and in every objective set for this 2009.