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TennisOne Lessons
Pattern Play Tactics, Part 2:
Play like Philippoussis and Hit Behind Your Opponents
By Monty Basnyat
TennisONE Associate Editor
Players like Chang, Hingus and Moya are known on the tour for their ability to scramble
and get that extra ball back. If you don’t approach the match with the right frame of
mind and a sound game plan, these players can make your life miserable in a hurry. Imagine
how difficult it must be playing one of them. You crack the ball deep and hard into the
corner forcing your opponent out of position. You think you have the point in hand,
expecting a weak defensive shot in return – think again. Somehow they manage to
scramble and get the ball back deep. But you still have an open court on the opposite
side." So you blast it into the other corner and to your surprise, they come up with
an incredible shot or even an out right angled winner. How do they do it? Better yet, what
can you do to prevent it besides pull your hair out in frustration?
Besides having an uncanny ability to anticipate the ball, these hare-footed players
have an explosive recovery step that carries them towards the center of the court and back
in position. To neutralize these players you must learn to mix up your shots. Hit to the
open court for sure but also take advantage of their speed by
hitting behind them occasionally. It’s a simple strategy but, more often than not,
players of all abilities over look it.
The first frame shows Philippousis positioned well inside the baseline and set up to
rip a backhand. Meanwhile, his opponent, Michael Chang, is pulled out wide to the backhand
side.
The second frame shows Chang recovering towards the open court in anticipation of
Philippousis next ball. However, the third and fourth frames tell a different story -
Philippousis didn’t go to the open court. Instead, he hit behind Chang, wrong footing
him and causing him to loose his balance.
 
By wrong footing a player like Chang, Philippousis is able to use Chang's speed
against him forcing him to reach for the ball. Hitting outside his comfortable strike
zone, Chang can only offer a weak return and Philippousis easily wins the point.
Next time you play a quick player and get an open court, try wrong footing him, you
will be surprised at the results. Try it at the net too, either way, you'll gain the
advantage. |