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Converting Break Points

Jim McLennan

Consider momentum swings.  First set, four games all, an extremely long back and forth game, multiple break points, some saved by outright winners from the server, others lost by return of serve errors, finally after six deuce points the server holds.  Now you must serve at 4-5, erase all memory of the previous game, and attempt to overcome the momentum that has just swung heavily against you.

Most of us have played matches where we saved match points against us and then won, as well as the dreadful matches where we held match points and lost (I experienced the latter in a tournament in Pensacola years ago in the semifinals and then in the 3rd 4th playoffs – and can still remember both opponents).  But in the end, break points far outnumber match points, and to ever get to match point you must first manage the break points along the way.  And we don’t have to look much further than the disappointment on Roger’s face in the Aussie awards ceremony, as he could not escape the memory of all the break opportunities missed/squandered/blown/not seized (you pick the adjective).

This article is about break point opportunities, and how those chances are shaped by the placement of the opponent’s serve, your court positioning, and finally whether you are receiving a first or second serve. 

When on the receiving end of these points, first and foremost, the following mantra will get you in the appropriate frame of mind, “Winners make it happen, and losers hope it happens.”  Let me clarify.  At this juncture, do not hope for a double fault.  Do not expect the opponent to give you the point.  Take the active rather than passive role, make something happen, earn the point.  Too often players initial mistake occurs when they simply hope something good will happen.  This is an opportunity, make no mistake about it, but opportunities must be seized.

Technique 

Over the years, the most consistent returners of serve have been the players with blocking rather than bashing skills.  Contrast Federer’s blocked returns with Blake’s free swinging power.  Yes the latter hammers many winners, but the former routinely gets that ball more in play. 

As Andy Murray ascends toward the top of the men’s game, the simplicity of his stroking and return of serve are truly striking.  Taking a page from Tom Stow’s considerable book, the secret lies in borrowing the pace of the incoming ball.  But not borrowing on the descent, but rather hugging the baseline if not inside the baseline, and redirecting the incoming momentum of the ball.  McEnroe may still be the best at this, at any age, taking the ball early, using the pace, not creating it.

Cornered vs. Centered 

In singles we have a lot of court to cover.  And when the opponent serves a wide and difficult ball into the deuce or ad court, often a weak return will be answered by a strong drive to the open court.  We see this in the men’s game, the women’s game, and on the courts where you and I play.  As regards tactics, the wide serve coupled with a weak return spells trouble for the receiver.   On the other hand, serves down the middle essentially center the receiver, and you and I can retrieve far more balls when centered than when cornered. 

So as regards converting those darn break points the following scenarios may help you in your next big match.

30-40 first serve wide to the backhand corner – get the ball in play, and if at all possible get the ball in play with a crosscourt return.  If the opponent wants to play to your open court, your crosscourt causes him to play up the line over the highest net, and to the shortest line.  Further, it takes guts on your opponent’s part to play this tricky shot, essentially changing the incoming line of play, and often as not, he will either lose his nerve and or self destruct.

30-40 first serve up the middle – get the ball in play with your forehand, but now you have truly crosscourt or down the line options, depending on the opponent’s tendencies and your confidence in one or the other forehand shot.

30 – 40 second serve wide to the backhand – you need to do more with this particular serve than simply dump it back in play.  If inside the baseline and moving forward consider either a down the line approach or a more decisive crosscourt than you would use against a first serve.

30-40 second serve up the middle – make something happen, the server has no business hitting this particular serve, if you trust your topspin forehand go for it.

30-40 second serve when double faults have occurred early in the game – position yourself with one foot in the alley; dare the server to take a risk, up the ante.  Pressure either causes things to harden or to crack – and in this case a suspect server will have a world of problems if you take this aggressive line.  Recall Serena Williams dispatching a poor serving Maria Sharapova in the 2008 Australian Open.  The worse Maria served, the better Serena served.  Game set and match.

Nadal, Federer Rivalry

In Rogers’s last five Grand Slam losses to Nadal (three at the French, one Wimbledon and one Australian) the recurring theme has been the number of break point opportunities and Nadal’s impenetrable and tenacious play on those points.  But consider, Nadal favors sidespin slightly more than topspin on his service delivery, and this spin swings the ball wide in the ad court. 

Federer handles the serve to this corner from Roddick with under spin backhands or the occasional run around forehand drive.  Roddick works his way into the point on this backhand returns, whereas Rafa hammers his backhand crosscourt in reply to the down the line return, or whips the topspin forehand in reply to the crosscourt return.  Somehow Roger does not have an equal advantage when serving wide to Rafa in the deuce court, for Roger favors topspin more than sidespin, and Rafa does much more damage with his two-fisted backhand than Rogers elegant one-hander.  Finally, most of the break points occur in the ad court (this is just mathematics when the common break point is either 30-40 or ad out) and Rafa holds all the cards in this direction.  Stay tuned, Rafa keeps getting better, but Roger is still only 27.

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