Tip of the Week: If I Were to Simplify…

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By Steve Annacone
Tennis is a complex sport. If I were to simplify how to teach a beginner how to hit the ball from the baseline, this is where I would start: First, practice watching the ball from the opponent's point of contact all the way past your own point of contact. Determine whether it is a forehand or...Read more

Tip of the Week: Adjust Your Strategy During the Match

Photo courtesy of USTA/Darren Carroll
By Steve Annacone
Most high level players go into a match with a strategy. Sometimes it’s based on their own game and what they know has worked in the past. Other times it is designed based on the type of player they will be facing. There are also strategies used that apply to both of these. Even with all of the...Read more

Tip of the Week: Hit Drop Shots and Overheads at an Angle

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By Steve Annacone
Players tend to focus on hitting drop shots just over the net and overheads fast and deep, especially when trying to win the point with these shots. It is very helpful to use some angle on both the drop shot and overhead since this will make the shot effective even if you don't have the perfect...Read more

Tip of the Week: Give Yourself Plenty of Margin With Your Targets

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By Steve Annacone
All of us remember the great shot we hit that landed right on the line. The pros seem to be able to do this more often than we can. However, I have always believed that many, if not all, of the shots the pros hit that land on the line, are actually by mistake. The exception to this might be on the...Read more

Tip of the Week: Use a Shorter Backswing and Regular Follow Through on Shorter Balls

By Steve Annacone
With the speed and power game prominent in a modern tennis match, players are often caught off guard when the ball is hit short. A couple of basic ideas will help you handle this type of situation: Turn your shoulders prior to running in and remind yourself to use a short backswing on this ball...Read more

Tip of the Week: When to Change the Direction of Your Shot

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By Steve Annacone
Most professional matches have points that follow certain patterns. After the serve and return of serve, many players use a few cross court groundstrokes to get the opponent moving and open up the court. Very often the point ends before any other strategy is implemented. If the point lasts past the...Read more

2019 Citi Open Men's Recap

By Robbie Werdiger
The ATP tour took a trip to Washington D.C. this past week for the first major event of the US Open Series. Under the new ownership of Mark Ein, the Citi Open hosted the most successful week in tournament history, shattering every attendance record in the fifty years of tournament play. Ein...Read more

Tip of the Week: How to Practice Your Serve

Photo Credit: Lee Seidner
By Steve Annacone
Many players go out on their own and practice serving. The tendency is to work on your first serve and try to make it a weapon. However, a few basic changes to your focus can make both your first and second serve better. First, try to hit an equal amount of first serves and second serves in your...Read more

Tip of the Week: Find the Right Grip for You

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By Steve Annacone
There is always a lot of discussion on grips in tennis. There isn’t one grip that is perfect for everyone. Most players change their grip slightly from forehand to backhand. Most have a grip that is different for serving and when volleying. My suggestion is to go with what feels best to you. Your...Read more

Tip of the Week: Survival Instinct is Greater Than the Winning Instinct

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By Steve Annacone
The recent Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic made me question how someone who is widely-recognized as the greatest of all time can have two championship points and not win the match. I have played plenty of matches where I was in this situation and did not win. However, most...Read more

Tip of the Week: Play the Return of Serve and First Few Balls Deep and Down the Middle

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By Steve Annacone
Against high level players and great movers on the tennis court, it is often better to play the ball down the middle at the beginning of the point . These players tend to cover the open court and use their speed to get the opponent to hit an extra shot and go for more. Many times this down the...Read more

Tip of the Week: Emphasize the Basics at Crunch Time

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By Steve Annacone
In the heat of the match it often seems like you need to come up with a great shot or a great point in order to win. We often remember that spectacular shot that the top players hit in their victories and forget all of the simple things they execute over and over again throughout the match. I am a...Read more
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