Commit - and You Will Outhit!

Take a close-up look at Andy Murray playing indoors at Paris-Bercy 2009 for an quick example of top level play....What do we see?

If you commit, you will outhit!

Before walking onto the court:

*Commit to a deliberate and complete "split-step", what some coaches better call a "hop-and-go". Murray makes a committed and deliberate hop-and-go before every single opposing shot coming at him.

*Commit to a full follow through on every swing of the racket. Watch how Murray never fails to follow through. In other words, finish what you start - for maximum swing power and spin on your shot.

*Commit to moving forward and cutting off angles. Murray moves his body weight into each and every shot, whenever possible. For example, in his case he likes to stand well back behind the baseline on service returns to allow him to do this.

*Commit to staring at (not simply watching) the ball and the point of impact, so that your head keeps still through the shot. Murray looks like he is hypnotized by the ball.

Best, Gary

Five Quick Tennis Tips & Concepts

1. Tennis is about being relaxed and confidently going for your shots. Relaxed confidence is your best weapon.

2. Tennis is about "controlled aggression" - controlled with your strokes, and aggressive with your feet - or put another way, controlled with your goals, aggressive about getting there.

3. Tennis is about execution - hitting through the line of the shot, and leverage - letting the racket head do the work.

4. In tennis, the most important point is the next one.

5. Tennis is a game of percentages. (There are no guarantees, only probabilities.) Thus, follow the directionals almost all the time, and manage your errors.

Post Script: It's a bit amazing, but if you substitute the word "life" for the word "tennis" in the above 5 points, it all still seems to ring true! Yes, tennis can be a metaphor for life.

Best, Gary

The Health Benefits of Tennis...A Sport for Life

A comprehensive review of the many health, wellness and cognitive performance benefits of tennis has been published by a team of researchers led by E. Paul Roetert, Ph.D.

See: Health, Wellness and Cognitive Performance Benefits of Tennis, Journal of Medicine and Science in Tennis (Pages 14-19)(Updated December 2016).

A very good argument can be made for the "long view of tennis" as a sport for life which offers a lifetime of health and fitness benefits...including, among many others, maintaining aerobic capacity, managing body weight and stress levels, and prolonging muscular endurance.

Happy tennis!

A Brief History of Tennis*

(*or the Ten Minute Tennis Time Capsule)

*Tennis in Ancient History: Some historians trace the origins of tennis before the year 1000 to the Egyptian town of Tinnis on the river Nile, and the origin of the word "racquet" to the Arabic word for palm - rahat. Stronger historical evidence tracks tennis to the crude handball game of 11th and 12th century French monks which later became known as jeu de paume or "game of the hand".

*Tennis is Patented in 1874: Major Walter Wingfield is issued a British patent for the game of tennis. The game spread in a matter of weeks through Britain, Ireland and other English-speaking countries. Wimbledon is launched in 1877. Dr. James White is credited with bringing tennis to the USA, and became known as the "Father of American Lawn Tennis".

*The 1880s Through Early 1900s: The Renshaw Brothers (William and Ernest) from Britain dominate Wimbledon singles and doubles in 1880s. Richard Sears wins the first U.S. Open Championship in 1881. The Doughtery Brothers (Reggie and Laurie) also from Britain dominate tennis in the early 1900s.

*The Roaring 1920s - The Golden Age of Sport and The Tilden Era: "Big Bill" Tilden of Philadelphia dominates the sport, and is the first American to win Wimbledon, then goes on to play essentially undefeated from 1920 to 1926. Tilden helps popularize lawn tennis in America with books such as the classic The Art of Lawn Tennis, and later dominates the thinking of the sport with the book many consider his masterpiece Match Play and the Spin of the Ball. Tilden's influence on the sport is unmatched, and he is voted by ATP Sportwriters as greatest player of half-century later in 1950. Other top stars of the day - Suzanne Lenglen and French Four Musketeers (Lacoste, Borotra, Cochet & Brugnon).

*The 1930s and 40s - The War Years: The Tilden Era makes way for the Budge Era - Don Budge invents the "Grand Slam" - winning all 4 majors - with one of the best backhands in history. Other top stars of the day were Ellsworth Vines (California USA), Bobby Riggs (also California) and Fred Perry (Britain). The game of tennis evolves into largely a baseline game, emphasizing ball control. WWII interrupts tennis growth.

*The 1950s - The Jack Kramer-Pancho Gonzales Era: The game sees the start of a professional player circuit. Pancho Gonzales rises to No. 1 in the world for a record-setting 8 years in the 1950s, and is generally considered the game's greatest player. Maureen Connelly wins the Grand Slam on women's side. The game evolves into the serve-and-volley enterprise. The top players develop a serve-and-volley as a quick and effective means to win points, games and matches on the grass courts which tennis was played on. Dr. James Van Alen opens the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1954 in Newport, R.I. USA as a "shrine to the ideals of the game."

*The 1960s - The Aussies Rule: "Rocket" Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Frank Sedgman, Lew Hoad, and Roy Emerson dominate on the men's side, essentially carrying forward the serve-and-volley tradition. And for women, Margaret Smith Court dominates. Laver wins all four majors in 2 years, 1962 & 1969, thus becoming first man (and only man) to win 2 Calendar Grand Slams. Laver is widely regarded as the game's greatest player, inheriting that mythic mantle from earlier champions Bill Tilden and then Pancho Gonzales.

*The Open Era - 1968 and Early 1970s: Tennis allows both professionals and amatuers to compete together in the Grand Slams, and thus the "Open" Era is born. Laver, Arthur Ashe and Billie Jean King dominate. Margaret Smith Court wins the Grand Slam. John Newcomb and Stan Smith for the Aussies continue the Land-Down-Under's winning tradition. In 1973, Billie Jean King beats Bobby Riggs in the "Battle of the Sexes".

*The 1970s - The Connors-Evert Era: Tennis undergoes revolutionary changes: The tiebreak is introduced at the U.S. Open in 1970, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) is born and computer rankings are started. In perhaps the biggest single change in tennis in decades, wood rackets make way for metal rackets (example the Wilson T-2000), then graphite and composite rackets (example Arthur Ashe Head). Two new superstars emerge, defining the sport for the decade: the fiery Jimmy Connors and the stoic Chris Evert, employing a two-fisted backhand and flat-ball baseline game. The other great champion of the era is: Bjorn Borg who established a record, in a relatively short career, as one of the all-time greats. More than that, Borg became the first "rock-star" and mega-bucks tennis player.

On the women's side, Czech Martina Navratilova, the all-time serve and volleyer emerged. Near the end of the 70s, New Yorker John McEnroe, also one of the all-time top volleyers begins to rise. Other highlights: Arthur Ashe wins Wimbledon in 1975. Tracy Austin wins the U.S. Open twice, first in 1979 and later in 1981. Tennis takes on a soap opera feel, with on-court (and off-court) characters such as "Nasty" Illie Nastase, "He-Man" Guillermo Vilas, "Party Animal" Vitas Gerulaitis. Some 30 million people, an all-time record, are reportedly playing tennis in the USA, then a nation of some 250 million.

*The 1980s: Tennis Evolves - The Bjorn Borg vs. John McEnroe battles became part of tennis lore, together with the great battles between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. For the women, Navratilova went on to win 18 Grand Slam singles titles through the 80s. On the men's side, the Wimbledon Final in 1980 in which Borg defeated McEnroe in a 5 set thriller is considered one of the best ever. After Borg left tennis in 1983, new faces began to be seen: Swedes Stefan Edberg (serve and volleyer) and Mats Wilander (baseline wizard), and later German Boris Becker (another serve and volley artist).

Czech Ivan Lendl developed a power baseline game, and became the Number One in the world in the mid to late 80s. Lendl is widely considered to be the forerunner of modern "power tennis". Meanwhile, on a parallel track, McEnroe, Edberg and Becker moved tennis into the serve-and-volley style. McEnroe's serve-and-volley skills, in particular, helped establish him, by most critics, as the top doubles player of all-time. Meanwhile, in a trend that started in the 70s, more court surfaces transitioned over to hard courts, as 3 of the 4 Grand Slams began being played on one form or other of hard courts.

*The 1990s: The Sampras Decade - The 1990s produced the greatest player of his generation "Pistol" Pete Sampras and the ultimate serve-and-volley game. He dominated the decade amassing 14 Grand Slam singles titles and No. 1 rank for 6 straight years, with a fiercely determined but unassuming temperament. Sampras was widely thought to be the greatest player of all-time. His rivalry with Two-Handed Backhand Baseliner Andre Agassi, career Grand Slam winner, made for some of the great matches of the decade. Steffi Graf on the women's side establishes herself as one of the all-time greats, with 22 Grand Slam singles titles, and both a Calendar and Golden Slam. Other notables: Jim Courier and Monica Seles.

*The 21st Century - The 2000s: The Federer/Nadal/Williams Era. The new century saw the emergence of yet more dominant players and the development simultaneously of the All-Court Game and the Power & Spin Baseline Game. Many fans, critics and commentators say that Swiss great Roger Federer, the human whip in perpetual "kinetic-chain" motion with his all-time 16 Grand Slam singles title record, may be the finest player that the sport has ever produced. His elegant all-court game with all strengths and no weaknesses may have taken the sport to a new level.

In contrast, the Spanish swashbuckler Rafael Nadal and his power topspin baseline game with 6 Grand Slam titles, Olympic Gold and Davis Cup for Spain, firmly places this play style on the front burner also. His game on clay is unsurpasssed, earning him the title "King of Clay". The Nadal vs. Federer rivalry produced what many consider the greatest match of all-time in the 2008 Wimbledon Finals, a 5 set masterpiece won by Nadal in the evening hour darkness.

On the women's side, the sister pair of Serena and Venus Williams has established a new standard for the power baseline game in women's tennis. Serena has amassed 12 Grand Slam singles titles, and Venus 7 Grand Slam singles titles. Other notables: Justin Henin, with 7 Grand Slam singles titles and a magnificent all-court game and one-handed backhand, Andy Roddick, 2003 U.S. Open Champ with the fastest recorded serve, and rising stars Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. The 2000s also saw technology advance further in tennis, with developments such as Hawkeye and Shot-Spot computer systems for player challenges, more retractable roofs such as that at Wimbledon and new powerful string technology.

*The 2010s - 2020s and Beyond - The Global Sport: By the 21st century, tennis had grown into a global sport, second only to soccer in popularity, with top players coming from around the world. The game's top stars win millions in tournament prize money, enjoy multi-million dollar endorsement contracts and bask in world-wide celebrity status.

Why is study of the past relevant? Does the past teach us anything? An argument can be made that the past defines where we came from and how we got here. And even more important, the past can sometimes be a prelude to the future . . .

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know no way of judging the future but by the past. Patrick Henry, March 1775

Congrats to the 2010 Australian Open Champions!

Photo: Findlay Kember/AFP/Getty Images

Congrats to Roger Federer and Serena Williams, two of the top players of our time, for their wins in the men and women singles at the 2010 Australian Open finals! Congrats also the Bryan Brothers (Bob & Mike) for their victory in mens doubles! Same to Serena and her sister Venus Williams who won the women's doubles! Well done!

All displayed some awesome tennis in their wins: Federer over Andy Murray, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (11), Serena over Justine Henin, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, the Bryan Brothers over Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3, and the Williams sisters over Cara Black and Liezel Huber, 6-4, 6-3.

Each set personal or historic records. Federer won his 16th Grand Slam singles title, adding to his all-time record. Serena won her 12th Grand Slam singles title, now tied with Billie Jean King for 6th on the all-time list behind only Margaret Court, Steffi Graf, Helen Wills Moody, Chris Evert & Martina Navratilova. The Bryan Brothers won their 4th Australian Open doubles title, and now enjoy 8 overall Grand Slam doubles titles. The Williams sisters won their 4th Australian Open doubles title as well, 11th overall Grand Slam doubles title.

Federer and Serena, I think, are the supreme examples currently of the big-match mental toughness...

And as many critics, fans and historians say, Federer at the end of the day may well be the finest player this sport has ever produced...

Many also say that Serena, together with her sister Venus, have defined the power baseline game and big-serve style on the women's tour in the 2000s, both in singles and doubles.

Federer: on-court elegance in movement and shot-making, a human whip in perpetual "kinetic-chain" motion, effortless athleticism...beautiful to watch...

Serena: stength and power-shotmaking, relentless athleticism, and refuse-to-lose competitiveness...wise to study...

Best, Gary

DVD Review: 2005 Australian Open Semi-Final...A look back

In preparation for the upcoming semi-finals and finals of the 2010 Australian Open, I'll briefly review the match DVD from TennisDVDWarehouse of the 2005 Australian Open Semi-Final between Marat Safin and Roger Federer...

It was a dazzling 4 and 1/2 hour five set thriller and one of the best matches in recent memory in Melbourne, in my opinion. It was loaded with suspense and superb shot-making by two tennis giants in top form, and left some tennis lessons for us all...

Marat Safin vs. Roger Federer

Safin wins: 5-7,6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (6), 9-7

The Pre-Match Setting:
Marat Safin faced the World No. 1 ranked Roger Federer, and his 26-match winning streak in this classic Australian Open semifinal. Federer practically had a monopoly on Grand Slam titles, but was matched against an enormous raw talent in Safin who had dismantled the great Pete Sampras in the 2001 U.S. Open Final and was playing some of his best tennis ever. The pre-match hype in the media and on the Melbourne Park grounds was deafening, and the warm Australian evening brought out a full-house to Rod Laver Area - 17,000+ standing-room only. And they were in for some fantastic tennis in a marathon match between two of the game's most gifted all-around players.

What They Saw:
This match offered world-class serves and returns, first rate holds-of-serve and breaks-of-serve, net cords and drop shots, volleys and drop volleys of the highest order. Every point was a struggle as each player would punish any weak shot, and both players found themselves exchanging magnificent forehands and backhands hit with great purpose. The pressure never let up from the word "play", and in fact just intensified until the climax. Safin's serve was dominating throughout, and Federer responded throughout in kind with his own arsenal of baseline winners, drop shots and volleys. Some truly amazing tennis in a land of legendary stories of tennis...

The Theme:
Safin playing up to his enormous raw potential defeats the apparently unbeatable Federer in a grueling 4 1/2 hour epic marathon, ending his string of Grand Slam titles.

The Match Play:
Set one (Federer wins) - From the first ball hit in the first set, the play is crisp and precise, indeed scintillating, as Patrick McEnroe commentating for USA Channel noted. Federer serves first, and there are no breaks of serve until Safin serves 5-6. Federer breaks serve and takes the first set, 7-5, and seems to be in the driver's seat.

Set two (Safin wins) - Federer serves and wins the first game, then Safin follows to serve and win his game. In the third game, with Federer serving, his game play level seems to drop just a bit. Safin presses successfully and comes though with a break, going up 2-1. Safins continues to serve magnificently and wins the second set, 6-4.

Set three (Federer wins) - Federer doggedly raises his game level. Players exchange serve games. Safins seems to be pressing a bit, and his game seems to be off. Federer's level of play becomes immaculate. He takes the set 7-5.

Set four (Safin wins) - The fourth set is a thriller. The match is a service contest as the players hold serve. They exchange devastating groundstokes and volleys. Federer is up 6-5 with a match point. Safin doesn't give up, he hangs in and reaches for some brillant play to save match point. The set moves into a tie-break after Safin levels it at 6 all. The tie-break was a point-by-point nailbiter. Safin claws and fights, and wins the tie-break 8-6. He seems to have found his game. He seems now to believe that he can win. As commentator Patrick McEnroe said at the time watching Safin's play level throughout, "Safin came to play."

Set five (Safin wins) - If the fourth set was a thriller, the fifth set was exponentially even higher on the suspense meter. Federer is treated by the trainer early in the set, and seems to be fatigued. Believing now that he can win, Safin pours it on, holds serve with relative ease and moves ahead 5-2. Federer is serving at 2-5 and barely hangs on and holds serve. It's now 5-3 Safin, with Safin serving for the match. Federer fights off match point, and wins the game, breaking serve. Safin seems to deflate a bit, but continues to believe and press. Federer is still down 5-4, then 6-7, each time fighting off match points and leveling the match.

It's 7 all. Federer seems to be getting stronger. Safin must summon all he can now. Safin holds serve to move up 8-7. Now at the 8-7 in Safin's favor, Federer is serving to stay in the match. But Safin ups the ante and forces Federer down 15-40. Two more match points for Safin. Federer saves the first match point in the game with an ace. He reaches the second match point ball and pushes it over the net, but falls in the process. Safin steers the ball into the open court. The match is finally over. And Safin slowly limps his way to the net, waiting with humped shoulders to shake Federer's hand.

An argument can be made, say some critics, that this match rates as the best played since the 1980 Wimbledon Final between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe. It surely rivals any recent Grand Slam final or semi-final in memory for suspense, shifting momentum and unrelenting world-class play.

And I think that this match, and in particular Safin's play and methods, may even hold some lessons for us all...

The Lessons Learned:
The right attitude towards a superior foe is respect but not awe
Commentator Patrick McEnroe remarked that Safin had the right attitude throughout the match towards the seemingly invincible Federer: "respect" but not "awe." By that McEnroe referred, I think, to points in the match when Federer might hit an unreturnable forehand winner, to which Safin would simply applaud with his racket, and then follow-up by simply digging right into the next point. To me, "awe" means that you have "internalized" your opponent's superiority, and thus may have likely cededed away the match mentally. In contrast, "respect" means that you simply acknowledge an opponent's better shot on that one point, and move on calmly and deliberately to the most important shot in the match - the next one.

Intentionality behind each shot
McEnroe also commented that in the fourth and fifth sets, which Safin eventually won, "every swing by Safin has a purpose". By this, McEnroe, I think, was pointing out that each Safin shot was aiming the ball into the corner, or deep towards the baseline, or meant to push Federer from side to side. No Safin swing at the ball was just a swing at the ball to swing at the ball. There was a clear intention behind every shot. And Safin's collective intentions behind all the shots eventually paid off.

Belief in your ultimate victory
Safin never gave up. He just kept plugging away until the mighty Federer began to show cracks. It was an awesome test of wills - a stupendous mental contest. Federer too showed his mettle by fighting off match point after match point, putting the heat back on Safin. Safin, for his part, never got nervous or intimated or scared by the defending champion, never got weary or tired of the battle. He just believed that he would eventually win, and he did.

Best, Gary

Book Review: "How to Play Better Tennis", Bill Tilden (1950)

New Year 2010 is the 60th year anniversary of Bill Tilden's classic book, first published in 1950, How to Play Better Tennis: A Complete Guide to Technique and Tactics, (Simon & Schuster, Inc., 1950)(reprinted in 1973 by Cornerstone Library, and republished in 2000 by Simon & Schuster.) (See Link on Amazon to Kindle version.)

Tilden wrote the book at the close of his record-setting career, having been voted by the Associated Press Sportwriters of America as the "Greatest Player of Half-Century". He meant the book to provide insights and concepts distilled from a half-century career in tennis.

In his foreword to the book, he remarked: "This book is intended for tennis players... If you are one of the real tennis nuts - and they are legion - this is written for you in the hope that it may fill a real want... If from its pages one player learns something of value that will lift him from just a person who hits a tennis ball to that very different status - a tennis player - I am indeed rewarded."

Six decades after its publication, and even after monumental changes in the sport, the book still surprisingly retains valuable teachings still relevant to today's player and game...The book is divided into 4 Parts and 18 Chapters. It covers tennis foundations, strokes and their uses, match play tactics and psychology and some conclusions, with black and white illustrations and examples. In the words of the publisher in 1973, each chapter is a lesson from the Master himself.

New York Times sportswriter Allison Danzig wrote in 1973: "William Tilden has no superior in lawn tennis as a master of stroke production and tactics. His command of spin and pace, his knowledge of the game and his footwork have never been surpassed...[The book] is as pertinent, commands just as much respect and should be every bit as helpful, as was the book when first published in 1950." The same could largely be said today.

The best way to review this book is to quote extensively from Tilden himself on various relevant tennis topics. You are invited to read the entire book for much more detail about his ideas in his interesting writing style...

On Playing Tennis
"I urge you - Play Tennis! Tennis the most valuable sport that any individual can learn...It is the most universally played of all athletics and its rules are the same the world over...Language is no barrier to tennis players, since whether a ball is out or in can be seen and understood without spoken words. Tennis, by its small requirements of time and playing space, and it comparatively inexpensive equipment, lies within the reach of practically everyone. The tremendous increase in public courts in almost all cities has taken the game away from the classes and put it in the hands of the masses, which is a healthy and splendid thing in every way."

On the Game of Tennis"There is nothing mysterious about tennis. It is a game of sound, scientific principles, that anyone with an average mind and body can learn to play well if he will take the trouble to work at it."

On Tennis and Fitness
"The greatest benefit that tennis gives its followers is the means to keep physically fit. It is a game that can be played practically from the cradle to the grave - and it is apt to aid in postponing the latter many years...It is a game that can be carried on along with practically any form of human endeavor. The businessman, doctor, lawyer, actor, singer, writer, etc. are all able to find enough leisure time to play, and by so doing, increase their productivity by better physical condition."

On Learning from History and Past Champions
"The champion of today owes his game to the champions of yesterday, just as he will add his bit to the champion of tomorrow. The wise student should know all he can about the styles and methods of the great players of the past, every bit as much as he does of the players of the present."

On the Importance of Racquet Head Control
"[The] all-important fact...is the head of the racquet and only the head of the racquet returns a ball in tennis...Power - speed and pace- is controlled completely by the manner in which the head of the racquet is swung against the ball in hitting it...The player who will always have his racquet head hit the ball solidly and travel directly into and through the line of his shot will always have complete control of his strokes...The greatest tennis motto I know is: "Let your racquet head do the work".

On the Mind's Intention Behind the Shot"Tennis should always be played with the head consciously directing the racquet. Every shot should be played with a definite intention behind it, one that will make it of value to the player that hits it."

On What is a Tennis Player?"The viewpoint on tennis that stamps a tennis player is that the game is a science and an art. It can reach its highest expression only if a player can study and practice in an effort to master the game in all its varied facets...Remember always that even more can be learned in defeat than in victory, if you suffered that defeat when you gave your best."

On Footwork"The reason that correct footwork is so vital to good stroke production is that correct footwork furnishes an automatic way to bring the racquet head into a position to hit directly into and through the line of the stroke...One universal feature is to be found in the games of all great players...They never seem to be hurried...Watching [them], one gains the impression that they glide or float to the ball."

On Concentration"The first great fundamental of tennis is to train yourself to concentrate so that you never stop concentrating while on the court. This applies when you are learning the technique of the game, when practicing shots, or playing in practice, but above all, when playing matches."

On Shot Preparation"The great player prepares his shot on the way to it, while the lesser player starts to prepare it when he reaches the ball."

On Strokes"Strokes are the weapons with which you fight your tennis battles. The better your weapons, the greater the chance of victory. Still you must remember that weapons alone never won a war. It is the way in which they are used that determines their usefulness...[they] are not the end, but a means to an end...never be satisfied to be just a shot-maker..."

On the Net Game"The net game - the volley and overhead smash - represents the ultimate attack in tennis. It is the crushing offensive that either blasts the opponent off the court or wrecks itself by the very fury of its own attack."

On Courage in Tennis"Courage embodies patience, philosophy, and the vision, to lift your eyes to the goal far ahead. It is the ability, in spite of discouragement, disheartening disappointments, even apparent failure, never to lose sight of the goal, or belief in yourself and your ultimate victory."

On Match Play and Tennis Psychology"Keep the ball in play and give your opponent another shot at it...Play a defensive game with an offensive mental attitude...Never give your opponent a shot he likes to play if you can avoid it...Never change a winning game...Always change a losing game...

On the Ideas and Philosophy in the Book"I am hoping that [they help] contribute to the return of the balanced, intelligent game. [If so], I can feel it is the climax to my tennis, and can lay down my racquet with a sense of complete contentment and fulfillment."

Best Wishes!
Gary