Reacting to the Opponent’s Shot

Now let’s say your opponent is using variations of spin, speed, or height to disrupt your timing — how do you neutralize this attack? Again, your tennis tactics here are not to win more points, but to lose fewer points. Read the ball. Those who are masters at tennis strategies and tennis tactics do this well, observing shots carefully, quickly reading the height, spin, and trajectory.

It’s also important to know what is your best return on various shots. Again, those with advanced tennis strategies and tennis tactics know their style of game — that is, what their strengths are and how to best utilize them. Often, if you receive a low slice, you want to return a low slice, and if your receive a high ball, you want to return a high ball.

And if your opponent serves and volleys on first serves — another tactic to support his or her tennis strategy; how do you neutralize this attack? You need to force a complicated volley. Either move back, achieving enough time for a forceful swing that returns a fastball; or move inside the court, blocking the ball and landing it at the feet of your opponent; or determine your opponent’s weaker volley and land the ball on that side.

All of the above neutralize your opponent; they are not offensive tennis tactics, but rather that of losing fewer points. Yes, you have to know how to win more points and how to lose fewer points; keep both in mind as you analyze your and your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses.