June 2010 Articles (83)

The ability to play tennis at a high performance level is an acquired skill that takes years of experience to master. Acquiring the ability to teach the game with a high degree of skill can be just as difficult. In fact, helping other players to develop their skills can be more difficult than developing your own. Just because you were a better than average player doesn't mean that you have…

More and more parents and coaches are introducing their kids to the game of tennis. As a certified tennis instructor, I’ve never been responsible for teaching so many children at such a young age.…

When Nadal strode onto Court Philippe Chatrier for his initial pre-Roland Garros practice session, his first sight of the 2010 tournament was the same as his last sight of the 2009 tournament: the gangly, grimacing scorpion from Sweden. For better or for worse, Soderling also will provide the final image of the Spaniard’s tournament this year on Sunday, having advanced to the final along a trajectory eerily similar to his route in 2009. The Greatest Upset Ever remains permanently branded on…

Instruction, coaching, and lesson taking are factors that should not be taken on a whim. I can’t stress enough the need to plan out each step of your instructional method. Lessons are the cornerstone to improvement in tennis.…

If the serve is the most important shot in tennis, getting it back should be your next priority. The service return is not just another ground stroke. Matches are won and lost with service returns. If your opponent has a booming serve, this is when you’re most vulnerable. So, developing a consistent service return is…

At the endpoint of a sensational fortnight that recalls Soderling’s 2009 tournament, Stosur has defeated three of the four main contenders for the French Open title in consecutive matches (Henin, Serena, Jankovic). The accelerating Australian now faces a highly unexpected adversary, whom she met in her opening match at Roland Garros last year; admittedly aided by injuries to Wozniacki and Dementieva, Schiavone has used her ingenuity and experience to outlast several younger opponents. While…

"Times New Roman";color:#444444;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:<br /> DE">Soderling v Berdych is the ultimate clone war.…

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The Women's final at the 2010 French Open has brought together two of the most unexpected names in women's tennis. Both Samantha Stosur and Francesca Schiavone had a reputation of pulling upsets at majors, but now we're talking 'silverware'. Who's likelier to clinch her first Grand Slam title in Paris? Read on to find out...!

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It seems that every young kid wants to hit a two-handed backhand with topspin like Raphael Nadal or Andy Roddick. That’s not so unusual, I suppose, since many kids tried to serve and volley like Pete Sampras when he was the world’s leading player. But let’s face it, most youngsters don’t possess the extraordinary skills of a Nadal or Roddick. Nadal’s…

Everywhere people are playing tennis, from the public parks to professional stadiums and arenas, you’ll see people of all ages using two hands on the backhand side. The two-handed backhand boom is here to stay. Back in the 1940’s, players like Pancho Segura came onto the scene using two hands in a professional atmosphere…

Most players that use a one-handed backhand usually have some variety in their shots off that side. Usually, the variety would include a slice backhand. The slice backhand is probably one of the most natural strokes in tennis. Bringing your racquet back to about shoulder height position on the backswing is as natural as…

Day 11 at the 2010 French Open promises to bring some really good match ups featuring names like Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams. After the unexpected exit of Roger Federer last night, the big names in the tennis world have understood the 'Power of the Underdogs'. What's in store for the fans today, let's take a look at the four quarterfinal matches to find out.

Rafael Nadal vs. Nicolas Almagro -…