The following post is an excerpt from the Second Edition of The Tennis Parent’s Bible
Available through most online retailers!
Opponent Profiling Checklist (“Paying Attention”)
(The following checklist is designed for the coach/parent to review with the athlete.)
- Paying attention to the opponent’s current style of play.
A top player won’t stick to a losing game for long. They’ll often shift to a different style of play known as their pre-developed plan B. They may lose the first set with plan A but win the match with plan B or C.
- Paying attention to the opponent’s stroke strengths and weaknesses.
Don’t stop attacking the weaknesses until they have proven repeatedly that they have solved the problem. Stick with the same old boring winners.
- Paying attention to the opponent’s movement and spacing likes and dislikes.
Some opponents are terrific from behind the baseline yet pitiful when pulled forward into the forecourt.
- Paying attention to patterns of play (theirs and yours).
If a particular serve pattern of yours works like a charm, revisit it on game points. If the opponent is killing you with a particular pattern, expect it on big points and shut it down early.
- Paying attention to the opponent’s negative emotional cues.
Remember, not all forms of communication are verbal. Watch between points for the opponent’s negative facial expressions and body language. Whatever caused their negative reaction, plan on repeating it.
- Paying attention to where the ball is landing on both sides of the court.
The court zone in which the ball lands dictates shot selection. For example, if you hit a short ball, weak into their service box, that ball has landed in their attack zone. Preparing your defensive skill sets early is court awareness.
- Paying attention to the opponent’s court position and strike zone at contact.
For example, an opponent who is drifting back 15 feet beyond the baseline and meeting the ball at a head level strike zone, is most likely in a defensive position. You should be moving inside the court preparing to execute an offensive reply.
- Paying attention to the ball you are giving to the opponent.
“Think like a baseball pitcher versus a baseball batter.” Yes, you are hitting a ball but your stroke is their incoming pitch. Are you throwing the same 67 mph fastball, 2 feet over the net directly into their wheelhouse over and over again? You then walk away from the match saying, “They were too good! I had no chance!” The reality is you made them look good.
- Paying attention to the speed of play.
This includes ball speed as well as between point and changeover playing speed. If the opponent prefers an aggressive, quick pace of play, slow it down. Controlling the pace of the match is called rhythm disruption and it is very much a part of high performance tennis.
- Apply proper changeover rituals.
Use the allocated 90 seconds to design or modify the next two game’s plan of attack instead of simply getting a Gatorade stain on your new shirt while watching the players over on court #6.
- Apply proper between point rituals.
The proper between point rituals are just as important as change-over rituals in implementing a successful plan of attack. Defeating a top ranked opponent is a complicated affair. It may require a bit of mental warfare to outsmart a seasoned champion.
A top NCAA award winning coach told me that he doesn’t teach strokes…he teaches “paying attention.” The art of winning requires opponent profiling under stress. This is part of the essential mental component applied in high performance tennis.
