Embrace the Truth

The cold meritocracy of a tennis match can be deflating if you aren't open to embracing the truths that our great sport exposes. A skilled opponent will identify and exploit technical flaws in your game (the truths) and grind at them until you begin to have self-doubt and eroded confidence.

Having coached in New England for nearly 30 years, I was able to attend the US Open in New York City numerous times. I've seen it played on grass at Forest Hills in the early 70s then later that decade on Clay, and most currently, on the hard courts at Flushing Meadow.

Unlike most tennis fans, I didn't sit in the main stadiums. I enjoyed going to the outside courts and watching up-and-comers fighting tooth and nail for their livelihoods. If I saw a player whose game caught my eye, I'd make it a point to seek them out on the practice courts and watch them work with their coaches.

I recall watching the teenage baseline grinder Harold Solomon, who eventually reached a number five world ranking, hitting approach shots and overheads for 45 minutes straight, knowing that his opponents would intentionally draw him forward to net, and then lob over him to exploit his 5"6' stature.

I spent an afternoon watching a very young Steffi Graff practicing her topspin backhand. The next day I watched her play a tough three-set match in which she sliced (she had the nastiest slice BH in history in my opinion) all but two backhands. The two topspins she hit were in the third set and she won the match on a dipping topspin backhand passing shot!

These players were developing the tools they would need to expand their games to compete at the highest level on the planet, even though their already formidable games were built on other base skills.

If you are at all serious about your tennis, learn from them.

Find a coach who will truthfully evaluate your toolbox, honestly tell you what's missing, and then methodically go about adding the tool or tools that you'll need to compete at your highest level.

Truth is a very powerful tool if you are willing to embrace the cold facts!