Serena Williams

I got up at 3:30 am here in Charleston, SC to see THE match from down under.  My roommate was asleep, they wouldn’t let me access the TV in the bar – afraid I would drink them dry I guess.  Little did they know I don’t drink.  I went to the fitness center to watch the Ladies play on TV there – convenient, I also got to work out and watch at the same time.

The “Hour Glass of Momentum” continued its turbulent run again.  Serena came out strong, but Justine with her “new” game in her admitted second career was hitting away on everything.

Serena has such strength to muscle the shots, stay so low and handle a variety of shots from any opponent. Justine has such amazing timing and agility that she can almost match Serena’s power.  Serena starts off the match serving well and would eventually finish that way as well.

Justine, with her new approach to tennis is in the games but she chooses to no longer play defense and is developing the game she feels she needs to win the one she wants — Wimbledon.  Justine has 5 or more break chances in the first set on Serena’s serve. She moves inside the baseline and goes big on the 2nd serves and did not make most of them.

Serena wins the first set and looks like she will win the match in straight sets – but wait, momentum is about to switch again.  Justine runs off 15 straight points to win the second set.  She continues to go for winners on second shots after hitting up the middle on first balls to neutralize Serena’s angles.  She is laser sharp on her shots.

Bathroom break for Serena and out they go for the 1st 3 set final in a major in several years.  Serena comes out still a little flat and falls behind on her serve.  Justine is still going for the big returns and fails to break – mistake.  Serena holds but Justine will break the next game with glimpses of her second set tenacity.

Unfortunately, she gets a little tight and the toss gets too low and she is broken by Serena.  She will go on to be broken 2 more times as Serena takes momentum away from her and serves for the match with 2 aces and a final point that pulls Justine off the court and Serena hits into the open court to win her 5th major down under to tie with Margaret Court and bring her total Grand Slam titles to 12 and tie Billie Jean King in that category.

Serena plays 12 matches in the 2 week event and wins the singles and doubles titles.  Pretty amazing – not since John McEnroe have we seen a player be so strong in both events – or even play both events.

Justine — off for 20 months and in just her second tournament has reached the finals of the first two tournaments she plays — playing a new style of tennis.  She won the hearts of the fans and is more gracious and collected in her acceptance speech to the crowd than Serena.

What can we take away from this event?

1. The hour glass of momentum will always be there – it is just who can recognize it  & control it at the right time.  Be aware of it as you play your matches.
2. Your will to win is stronger than you game to win in most cases.  It is OK to want to win strongly!!
3. How many of us will work to improve our game (you are never too old to add to your game – at 62 I have continued to improve my game)?
4. How many of us will risk losing to make the changes permanent in our game – Justine?
5. Get in shape to play the game – you can win with fitness (see Al Juodikis for his fitness program for you).

Love to play and you will always be a winner – play only to win and you will only be a score keeper.

See Serena Williams narrate her win against Justine Henin.

It snowed here in Charleston this morning.  I am off to attend another session on Quick Start Tennis for kids and adults – more ideas for you when I return to SJSRC on Sunday.

Photo Credits: Bas Van Uyen

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1.  Lob with a Purpose – there are two main reasons to lob:

1. To win the point

2. To get out of trouble

The Offensive Lob

Offensive Lob is designed to win the point.

1. Aim point – about 10 feet over the opponents head – hit quickly so they have little chance to run it down or react to the sudden elevation of the shot.

2. Location – best placed over their backhand side of your opponent – be aware of lefties when you plan your lob.

3. Disguise – prepare for the lob as though you are going to hit a drive then at the last moment lift the shot into a lob.

The Defensive Lob

The Defensive Lob is designed to get you out of trouble buy time and keep you in the point.

Height is the key factor in this shot – high to buy extra time to recover. It also forces the opponent to decide to play a difficult shot out of the air or let it bounce.

2. 5 Tips on how to Set up the Lob –

1. Offensive - Get your opponents looking for the passing shot by hitting crosscourt and down the line with shots aimed about waist to chest high above the net with lots of topspin.
2. This strategy should draw your opponents closer to the net so as to be able to cut off the angles you have been using to pass them.
3. Use your first offensive lob on a shot when they least expect it a little later in the game, set or critical situation.
4. This “surprise” will make them a little hesitant to close in so tight and open up your passing shots once again.
5. Defensive – anytime you are in an awkward position, forced wider than the alley, force to retreat well behind the baseline or facing players that charges quickly to the net – Lob high and deep. This height and depth will give you recovery time while forcing your opponents back deeper into their court. This deeper court position will make it less likely they can put the ball away quickly – buying you time to get into a sound defensive position.

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Reasons for the serving team to use this formation:

1. The serving team is both good volleyers.
2. The serving team has good overheads and likes to intimidate the other team.
3. The serving team likes pace or speed and wants the games to be fast with lots of quick action.
4. The serving team has poor ground strokes and does not want to get into long baseline exchanges.

Reasons for the receiving team to use this formation:

1. The receiving team has good chip returns and wants to get into the net before the other team.
2. The receiving team’s returns very strong and puts the serving team on defense – this neutralized the serving team’s advantage.
3. The receiving team does not have consistent ground strokes and has a low level of tolerance for long rallies.
4. The receiving team thinks that is how all good teams play.

How to play teams that play one up one back:

1. Get to your first serve in, it is more difficult to approach off of.
2. Direct your shots between them. Make them decide who will play the ball down the middle. Trying to hit angles is difficult because they close in and leave you little room to angle your shots.
3. If you get pinned back in a one up one back position – Lob the player closest to the net. If the lob is deep and bounces, come in and control the net against them.
4. Take the pace off your shots when they capture the net. Use softer shots with more spins so they cannot use your pace to kill your partner or hit aggressive shots between you.
5. Lob the serving team right away and force them to switch and run down the lob. You move in and now control the net.

What not to do:

1. Avoid getting sucked into their style of play if is not your style.
2. Take the pace off the ball to slow it down and give you more time to spin the next ball or lob them.
3. Never play one up one back formation against this team – they will pick off your partner in most cases.
4. Don’t try to hit hard passing shots, the balls will stay too high and give them speed to volley against.
5. Don’t miss first serves – you can’t get to the net on weak second serves and they love to attack weak 2nd serves.

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Don’t be afraid – pick a target and go for it.

Reasons for the serving team to use this formation:

1. The serving team can limit the receiving teams cross court return options.
2. The serving team has a good volleyer and wants to give them more opportunities to be able to volley on every serving point.
3. The serving team to compensate for a weak server by making the receiving team focus more on the server’s partner and not allow them to “T” off on the return so easily or dink the return back to the server’s side of the court.
4. The serving team has poor ground strokes and does not want to get into long baseline exchanges.
5. The serving team wants to intimidate the receiving team and get inside their head to make decisions instead of focusing on the ball.

Reasons for the receiving team to use this formation:

1. The receiving team has enough confidence in the receivers return that they chose not to guard the center of the court against poaches by the server’s partner.
2. The receiving team has good chip returns and wants to get into the net before the other team and put pressure on the server.
3. The receiving team’s returns very strong and puts the serving team on defense – this neutralized the serving team’s advantage.

How to play teams that play “I” or Modified “I” on serves:

1. Make a decision as to where you want to return and don’t change your mind.
2. Lob the returns a lot if you have a good lob and on second serves.
3. Move both players back to take the pressure off the return of server and take away the net player target.

How to play teams that play “I” or Modified “I” on returns:

1. Get to your first serve in up the middle to “C’ or at the “B” as it creates less angles on the return.
2. Serves up the middle forces the receiver’s partner to over to allow the returner room to make a cross court return.
3. If the return comes back high to the server, volley down the line.
4. Have your team play a Modified “I” or Australian against their formation.
5. Take the pace off your shots when they capture the net. Use softer shots with more spins so they cannot use your pace to kill your partner or hit aggressive shots between you.
6. Lob the serving team right away and force them to switch and run down the lob. You move in and now control the net.

What not to do:

1. Avoid getting sucked into their style of play if is not your style.
2. Avoid trying to hit too hard at the net player – it will only give them pace with which to pass your partner.
3. Avoid consistently serving wide serves as it allows more angles for the returner.
4. Do not look at the “modified” player.

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