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Playing The Score, Part 4

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by Robert C. Murio, Competitive Sports Counselor

Part 4: The Seventh Game (singles)


In this part, I will examine the strategy for the seventh game of the set in singles. The seventh game of the set has been discussed and theorized about for years as the most important game of the set. Whether this is the most important game will always be a point of controversy, but there is no doubt that it's an important and pivotal game. The seventh game signals that the set is more than half way over, and if you're down at this point, you have much less time to recover and win the set. For example, if your opponent is serving at 4-2 and holds, you are now down 2-5. Your opponent now has two successive games in which to win the set without worrying about losing. He's free to hit out knowing he can afford to lose two games and still remain alive. On the other hand, you confront all kinds of pressure, as you must win two games in a row to prevent the loss of the set. In this scenario, the pressure and psychological momentum takes a big swing in your favor if your opponent fails to hold serve at 4-2. Now all the good things I described above are denied him and he will be kicking himself as you serve at 3-4, back on serve.


Strategies for the Seventh Game
  1. When serving at 3-3 or 4-2, you should take a few miles per hour off your first serve and concentrate on getting the first serve in to your opponent's weaker side. Remember, the pressure will cause your opponent to tighten up and that is when a weakness is accentuated. If you're coming in behind your serve, your volley should be deep and then you should close the net. "Closing" really adds to the pressure your opponent is already feeling and will often force an error or a weak shot.

  2. If you're staying back on your serve be sure to keep your groundstrokes deep and give the opponent a chance to miss.

  3. Once the rally is underway, you should be looking for a chance to put the pressure on with a deep approach shot to your opponent's weakness. A missed opportunity could cost you the advantage as your opponent may take your next shot and come in, putting the pressure on you.

  4. Keep the pressure on and limit the number of trick or risky shots to a minimum. By this I mean unless the situation is desperate (no other shot selection is available), don't drop shot from the baseline or drop volley or lob volley. These type of shots are not necessary when other, higher percentage shots are available.

  5. When receiving at 2-4, the most important shot is the return of serve. You put tremendous pressure on your opponent by simply getting the ball back in play. So against a hard server move back from the baseline and give yourself a better chance at the first serve. You may even try simply lobbing the return. On the second serve, strive for depth and placement over speed. Depth will create shorter, weaker returns that can then be attacked with more pace.
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