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Rankings Mini-Quiz: Week of 02-20-12

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:31:17 +0000

Who is the highest-ranked ATP player this week whose ranking has changed since last week?

Which two Grand Slam champions traded spots in the WTA rankings between last week and this week?

Backhand Drop Volley: Photo and Animation Lesson

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 23:34:50 +0000

Photos and animation illustrate this step-by-step lesson on how to hit the backhand drop volley. A drop volley is an elegant reply to a difficult, low ball at the net.

Rankings Mini-Quiz: Week of 02-13-12

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:00:02 +0000

Who jumped up to #2 in the WTA rankings between last week and this week?

Who is the highest-ranked ATP player this week whose point total, but not ranking, has changed since last week?

The Topspin Serve: Photo Lesson

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:33:49 +0000

Photos illustrate this step-by-step lesson on how to hit the topspin serve, the easier to learn of the two kick serves used most often as second serves in tennis.

Soft Tennis

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:03:02 +0000

Soft Tennis is gaining popularity all over the world, and for good reason; it's better exercise, gentler on the arm, and easier to learn than regular tennis.

Rankings Mini-Quiz: Week of 02-06-12

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:42:51 +0000

Who is the highest-ranked ATP player this week whose ranking has changed since last week?

Both last week and this week, how many players in the WTA top thirty are not from Europe?

Advanced Doubles Tactics Illustrated

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:08:43 +0000

This illustrated guide to advanced doubles tactics includes the positioning and roles of the server, the receiver, and the partner of each. Intermediates too will have fun trying these tactics.

Rankings Mini-Quiz: Week of 01-30-12

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:33:07 +0000

The Australian Open really shook up the rankings at the top for the women, but not so much for the men. For roughly the first half of the 2012 ATP Tour calendar at least, the top five especially should remain as they are. Point differences are small enough at the top of the women's rankings though, that even the smaller events on the WTA Tour calendar could cause significant turbulence.

Who is the only WTA player in the top five whose ranking did not change between the last rankings (two weeks ago) and this week?

Which ATP player stepped into the top ten between the last rankings (two weeks ago) and this week?

Djokovic Wins Epic Final

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:28:16 +0000

Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5 on Sunday to win the 2012 Australian Open in the longest final, 5 hours 53 minutes, in Grand Slam history. Novak had played 4 hours 50 minutes on Friday night to defeat Andy Murray, and the accumulated exhaustion showed in the fifth set against Nadal, as his legs were clearly weakened. Rafa's legs never gave out; he stayed in the last two sets by continuing to run down one angle after another that took him well wide of the doubles sidelines. Novak had to hit unbelievable shots to get the ball out of Rafa's reach.

Tiredness doesn't always show where you'd expect it, though. Although Rafa's running continued undiminished throughout, his accuracy fell off. Up a break, at 4-2 and 30-15 in the fifth set, Rafa had a backhand sitter that would normally be an easy winner, and he missed it wide. Novak broke to get back on serve, and in the remaining games, Rafa sprinkled in just enough uncharacteristic misses, added to plenty of winners from Novak, to cost him the match. Novak missed a couple more shots than usual in the fifth set too, but for the most part, his accuracy held up. As his legs weren't faring as well, he went for bigger shots to end points sooner. Novak's inability to run at full throttle forced him into the only strategy that was likely to succeed; had his legs felt fresher, he might have been a bit less aggressive and lost.

Victoria Azarenka Takes Australian Open and #1 Ranking

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:40:19 +0000

Victoria Azarenka defeated Maria Sharapova 6-3, 6-0 on Saturday to win the women's singles final at the 2012 Australian Open, her first major title. Her victory will take her to #1 in the world when the new rankings are released on Monday. After a bit of a shaky start, Victoria played a clean, confident match, with 14 winners and 12 unforced errors. The depth and angles on Victoria's shots kept Maria scrambling, which she doesn't do well, and often made her meet the ball a bit late, but even when Maria had a chance to set up for a shot, she missed more than usual. Maria matched Victoria in winners, with 14, but she had 30 unforced errors in the 15-game match. An average of two unforced errors per game is half the number of points the opponent needs to win each game. All tennis players have better and worse days, some dramatically so. Maria had a rough Saturday; Victoria had possibly the best day of her life so far.