What the dynamic Spaniard’s game can teach you. 1. Don’t play the score. Nadal has become one of my favorite players to watch because of his sensational attitude. Whether he’s up 5-0 or down 0-5, he maintains his intensity. The only thing on his radar screen is winning the next point. If Nadal plays it [...]

Three tips from his game that you can use in your own. 1. Use your serve to set up the point. Marcos Baghdatis, who’s risen from outside the Top 50 to a spot inside the Top 10 in the span of a year, is aggressive and likes to make things happen on the court, so [...]

How the Russian Top Tenner works around her weak serve. 1. Accept your shortcomings. Elena Dementieva has a lot going for her on the tennis court. She’s strong, athletic, and one of the best movers in the women’s game, and her ground strokes are outright weapons. But her serve is a signifi cant liability. Not [...]

Davydenko uses his aggressive footwork and precise timing to take the ball early 1. Hit through the line of the ball. Davydenko doesn’t have the extreme grips and wide-open stances that are commonplace in today’s pro game. In fact, his style is reminiscent of what you saw on tour 10 to 15 years ago. One [...]

The American has lifted his game with percentage play. 1. Improve your weaker side. Blake’s backhand has always been a liability, but in recent years he’s done a great job of shoring it up. I don’t think he’s really changed his technique—he may be hitting a little more out in front of his body—but it’s [...]

Three ways the athletic Russian’s game can help you. 1. Go for a balance of power and spin. Some players, such as Lindsay Davenport, hit through the ball exceptionally well but don’t use much spin. Others, like Patty Schnyder, hit shots with tons of spin but little penetration. Kuznetsova is a hybrid. She generates great [...]

The Serb has beefed up his game. Here are two ways to help you do the same. 1. Take your chances. Novak Djokovic has a lot of the ingredients that make some players superstars. He’s athletic; he can play offensively; he knows how to take the ball early; he’s not afraid to end points at [...]

Two things you can take from the smooth-hitting Slovak. 1. Keep it simple. I often see club players try to imitate the wristy ground strokes that many top players use. That’s fine for the pros because they have the time to continually perfect and groove their swings, but it’s not a good idea if you [...]

Make three elements of her complete game work for you. 1. Be aware of your court positioning. Many club players struggle to choose the right moments to be aggressive. This often boils down to smart shot selection, a discipline in which Justine Henin excels. She rarely pulls the trigger on a backhand down the line [...]

The retired British star got the most out of his game. You can, too. 1. Know your strengths. When I started working with Tim Henman before the Paris Masters in 2003, I asked him, “Why don’t you tell me what you think your assets are?” While it might sound odd to say something like that [...]