Back of the court tennis tactics

When you arrive on the court with your strengths, weaknesses, and all your fans, you have already determined a precise plan of action. For example, today you’ve chosen to focus on your opponent’s backhand. But wait a second, you discover that this is his strong point. Now is when you must avoid questioning your game, instead remaining open to all potential opportunities. This requires making a rapid assessment.

Indispensable principles of analysis:

Do you have time? Do you always have time after two hits? If so, what will you choose to do? If you’re far from your back line then give yourself extra time to get back into the fight, at the center of the “game”.

Have you lost your balance? Do you always lose your balance after three hits? If so, what will you do?

Or are you on the court? Are you far from your back line after two hits? Both feet on the court? Always come back to the safest spot, trying to minimize damage. This means positioning yourself at the angle bisector (midpoint) between your opponent’s two maximum trajectories (that is to say, halfway between the two furthest shots your opponent could make). This is the principal behind angle theory.

The objective is to make you aware of the actions you’re taking on the court and question whether these are realistic based on your situation (position on the court, balance, available time).

Factors and principles to simultaneously take into account:

Of course, this situational aspect depends on several things at any given time:

• On your physical form when you return a 5/4 in your favor in the 3rd set.
• On what you’re mentally capable of doing on game day at 15/40 your serve in the first game.
• On what you’re tactically (thanks to your technique) able to do on game day at 15/40 your serve in the first game.
• On your opponent (his balance, if he has time to position himself on the court).
• On facility-related conditions (covered/open, surface, time, balls, etc.)

Practical side: Principals that are symbiotic with different factors

First scenario: You’re struggling

You’re 1 meter from the back-court line to the right of the double’s alley for a right forehand (unbalanced, you don’t have time). Your opponent has just gotten the advantage, what’s your defense tactic? You have a choice, the ball isn’t 3 meters from you… Your opponent is right in front of his back line, ready to hit the ball:

1. Follow angle theory:

• You send a high, long ball with a lift along the diagonal at average speed.

2. Other options:

• Play hard, long, practically ground-level, in full range, grazing.
• You play a high, long ball with a lift along the diagonal at average speed.

If we consider the different factors, assume that you can make one of these choices:

• The first seems the most reasonable because physically you need some time.
• The second because you are tactically ready to take on your opponent and continue actively attacking by coming back swiftly.
• The third because your opponent (right-handed) has a weak backhand and, even if you are exposed, you have a chance to come back and reverse your disequilibrium.

Attention: There is coherence, rather than truth, in the choices made by you and your opponent.

Second scenario: You can breathe, circumstances have changed

You’re just behind your line and fighting in the backhand diagonal to take control of the point. Now balanced, time is no longer an issue (even if you must be vigilant, for example if your opponent decides to play along the line) and you are near the center of the court. Both you and your opponent are either right-handed or left-handed.
Your opponent finds himself in the same situation as you.

1. Follow angle theory:

• You hit backhand, passing 1/1.5m from the net, long, elevated, along the diagonal at average/fast speed.
• Still backhand, you hit a slice backhand, close to the net along the diagonal at slow/average speed.
• With a right shifting forehand, you hit the ball 1/1.5m over the net, fairly long, on the diagonal at average/fast speed.

2. Other options:

• With a side backhand, you decide to play the ball fairly high, long, with a lift, along the line at a fairly fast speed.
• With a side right forehand, you decide to shift and play the ball 1/1.5m over the net, fairly long, with a lift, along the line at average/fast speed.

If we consider the different factors, assume you can make one of these choices:

• One of the first choices because you’ve detected weakness in your opponent’s backhand
• The fourth choice to make your opponent move (physically difficult), change the rhythm (you’re taking it easy rather than constructing the game), use his right forehand (his weak spot), or set you up to use your right forehand next (your strong spot) etc.
• The fifth to make your opponent move (physically challenging), change the rhythm (revitalize the game), use his right forehand (his weak spot), or set you up to use your right forehand next (your strong spot) etc.

Attention: You must analyze the coherence of your choice, considering your immediate intentions for the game and what you would like to follow.

Third scenario: you are in full control of your game

You are in a favorable situation, perfectly balanced, you reenter the court. Time is with you and it’s up to you to take time from your opponent. He is struggling, unbalanced, out of time and has just played center/side right forehand even though he’s behind the alley to your left.

1. Follow the angle theory:

• With a right forehand, you send the ball skimming over the net, half-short/long, slightly elevated, along the line at a fast speed.
• With a right forehand, you take a drop shot, passing just behind the net, along the line, to the ground and slow.

2. Other options:

• With a side right forehand, you play wrong-footed, sending the ball fairly close to the net, half short/long, slightly elevated, diagonally, at fairly fast speed.
• With a side right forehand, you play wrong-footed, passing just behind the net, to the ground and slow.

If we consider the different factors, assume that you can make one of these choices:

• The second because your opponent moves slowly, even in a rush (without changing directions), and he’ll have trouble reaching the ball.
• The third because he doesn’t reposition himself well, too centered, without breaking to head back to the same side

Attention: To make your opponent play in a zone of movement, make him come forward, head to the side, go towards the back, and play wrong-footed to create a disequilibrium and take away the time he needs to exploit different situations and change positions on the court.

In conclusion, your position on the court, the time you have, and your balance are not trivial factors. Adapt to each ball and point! Be coherent in your choices depending on your opponent (his strengths and weaknesses), and during different points in the match when diverse scenarios are presented. Above all, keep in mind that you must always concoct your strategy and negotiate with your opponent, during each hit, point, game, set, and of course each match.