How to Play Against Higher Ranked Tennis Player / Personal Story

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Does competing against higher-ranked players make you feel worried and nervous before the match?

Here’s a story from when I was in my late 20s, competing in a local tournament:

Before a match, as I was entering the tennis club, the lady at the front desk, who knew me, told me that it should not take me more than 40 minutes to beat my next opponent.
Her statement put so much pressure on me that all I could think of was how embarrassed I would be if I were to face her after ‘losing’ that match.

I eventually won, but even now, after 20 years, I remember the involuntary pressure that the ‘lovely’ lady put on me and how much it affected my performance on court.

Therefore, when playing a higher-ranked player…

  • Keep in mind that even your higher-ranked opponent may feel nervous against you, especially if they have a reputation to defend. After all, they are the expected winner, not you.
  • Resist the temptation to play at a level that is above you. This means going for shots that you do not yet control. This would be the quickest way for you to head to the locker room defeated. Instead, stick with the play you feel comfortable with.
  • If you still feel intimidated by your higher-ranked opponent, try to avoid eye contact as much as possible during the match. Keep your focus on your strings between points, and walk confidently.
  • Ultimately, keep in mind that you have nothing to lose against players with a better reputation.

Enjoy the chance to compete and learn from such opponents.

Cosmin Miholca

Cosmin Miholca

Certified Tennis Coach

Check out my work at WebTennis24 where I share with you my best video tennis lessons, drills and tips for players, coaches and tennis parents.

Question from a Tennis Parent

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I recently had a conversation with a tennis parent, who is helping his 10-year-old son to develop his game.

After taking lessons for a couple of years, he noticed that his son tends to hit a lot of the balls back to his opponent, and the father asked me ‘How to guide him to place the ball better?’

Here is the answer, and tips I gave him:

“This is a common problem with (young) players who are used to doing a lot of drills and very few matches: they are used to hitting the ball back to a partner or coach.

On the other hand, players who grow up with a game-based approach are better at tactically placing the balls.

There are certain drills you can do with your son. For example:

  1. You stand on one side and have him hit two balls back to you, the third one away from you (put it away).
  2. Play a set (or a few games) where he will lose the point if he hits the ball back to you (which means you would have to make at least two steps to get to the ball).
  3. Feed balls to him from the basket while you stand in the middle of the court (just behind the service line center); after each feed, stretch your racket or arms to the side and you should not be able to touch (without moving) the balls sent by him. He gets a point if he can pass the ball without you touching it, otherwise, you get a point. Play first to win 10 points.

The bottom line is that, in my opinion, your son got used to drills where he had to hit the ball back to the coach/partner. Do drills where he aims to targets or any area away from the coach or parent.”

Do you agree with the tips I gave this tennis parent? Do you have any extra suggestions to improve somebody’s ball placement and creativity when it comes to playing?

Let me know in the comment box below. 

Cosmin Miholca

Cosmin Miholca

Certified Tennis Coach

Check out my work at WebTennis24 where I share with you my best video tennis lessons, drills and tips for players, coaches and tennis parents.

How to Avoid Hitting the Ball Late / Off the Back Foot

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In a recent email, I received a question from a tennis player seeking advice on how to avoid consistently hitting the ball late. Additionally, she asked if I could recommend any tennis drills to help improve her ability to make contact with the ball earlier.

In response, I have created a video (see above) that not only addresses her concern but is also beneficial for anyone looking to enhance their forehand and backhand groundstrokes by making contact further out in front.

The tennis drill I present in the video is quite straightforward.
While rallying with a tennis partner or utilizing a ball machine, focus on pushing your body forward each time you strike the ball. Make sure that at the completion of your swing, your weight is shifted onto your front foot (assuming you step forward to meet the ball) while simultaneously elevating your back foot.
If you’re practicing with a partner, it’s a good idea to communicate the purpose behind this technique to avoid any bewildered expressions. Just let your partner know what you’re aiming to achieve with this footwork adjustment. This way, you can steer clear of any amusing or puzzled looks. 🙂

I encourage you to try this drill, and share your experiences or any alternative suggestions you may have for achieving early ball contact in the comment box below. Your feedback will be appreciated.

Cosmin Miholca

Cosmin Miholca

Certified Tennis Coach

Check out my work at WebTennis24 where I share with you my best video tennis lessons, drills and tips for players, coaches and tennis parents.

6 Ways to Instantly Improve Your Tennis and Win More Matches

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Related tennis programs and courses:
– Tennis Mastery – technique lessons, drills, tactics and strategies for singles and doubles players
– Tennis Questions and Answers – all your technique, tactics, and mental strength tennis questions answered
– Visual Tennis Lessons and Progression Drills – the easiest way to learn or teach tennis techniques.

Cosmin Miholca

Cosmin Miholca

Certified Tennis Coach

Check out my work at WebTennis24 where I share with you my best video tennis lessons, drills and tips for players, coaches and tennis parents.

How to Stay Focused During Tennis Matches

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Often, during a match, players allow themselves to be distracted by certain external factors. By the time they realize what’s happening, they have already lost a set or even the entire match. This raises the question: How can a player stay focused during a match?

In this article, I will highlight four tips that I’m confident will help you concentrate more effectively in your next tennis match:

Keep your eyes on the court.
It’s easy to get distracted by noises from the surroundings, such as people shouting or crying babies. Therefore, it’s crucial to keep your eyes focused on what’s happening on the court. This includes paying attention to your opponent, the ball, and the umpire or scorekeeper if applicable.

Learn to watch the ball.
While it may seem obvious that you should be watching the ball as it approaches you, sometimes our attention shifts prematurely toward where we want to send the ball. To address this, I have an exercise that I would like you to practice:
Find a quiet spot, either sitting or standing, and choose a spot on the wall or any object to direct your gaze towards. Try to maintain your focus on that spot without allowing your eyes to wander for a minute or two.
This exercise will improve your ability to concentrate and track objects like the ball during a match.

Always remember the score.
To stay focused and engaged in the match, it’s important to continuously be aware of the score.
I recently witnessed a match where my younger daughter was losing. She approached the fence near where I was watching and asked, “Tati, what’s the score?” This made me realize that her lack of focus on the score was impacting her performance.
Not knowing the score during a game is a sign that your attention is wavering, and your mind is not fully in the game.

Stay focused during long rallies by counting.
A helpful technique to maintain focus, especially during extended rallies, is to count each time you hit the ball. Start from one and continue counting with each stroke.
This method keeps your attention anchored to the ball and ensures your presence in the rally.

Give these four tips a try, and I’m confident you will experience improved focus and, hopefully, achieve more victories in your tennis matches.

Cosmin Miholca

Cosmin Miholca

Certified Tennis Coach

Check out my work at WebTennis24 where I share with you my best video tennis lessons, drills and tips for players, coaches and tennis parents.