Page 78 - Tennis Magazine April 2019

Tennis D O U B L E S
Life

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Opening Lack power on your

Statements serve? Pace isn’t the

only way to get a point

b y off to a fast start
G I G I F E R N A N D E Z

When you’re serving, adopt the attitude of a baseball pitcher. An effective
pitcher has usually mastered one or two pitches, and is able to constantly
change the location and speed of each pitch. Most importantly, the
1
pitcher can do so with the same throwing motion so that the batter can’t
tell which direction the ball is headed. It’s easy to draw a connection to
how this can be valuable in tennis—especially in doubles.

Which areas of the court should I on their serves, everyone has a fast
look to hit my serves? Everywhere. and a slow serve. Using a second serve minute clinic
Wide, deep, short and right at the as your first serve can throw off an
returner’s body—all of these serves opponent expecting something faster.
should be in your toolbox. Changing Formations can disrupt
the location of your serves creates Are there any formations that are your opponents’ rhythm,
uncertainty for the returner. If you more conducive to holding serve? but your team needs
to be comfortable with
always hit the serve in the same area, The I-formation (when the net player is
them fi rst. It’s important
the returner will settle into a groove crouched down low) and the Australian
to communicate with
and connect with clean swings. formation (when the net player stands your partner before every
upright, on the same side as the formation so you both
What can I do to improve the server) are useful if the returner has a know where you’re going
effectiveness of my serve if my strong crosscourt return. These forma- to move. Work on setting
accuracy isn’t great? Vary service tions will force the returner to hit down up formations in practice
and getting out of them
spins and speeds—both are great the line. It also places the server on the
quickly, over and over
ways to add an element of surprise. side with the groundstroke that they
again, until it becomes
Though not everyone can change spin are most comfortable hitting. second nature, so you’re
ready to do it in a match.
Fernandez, a Hall of Famer and former world No. 1 in doubles, won
17 Grand Slam titles and two Olympic gold medals.

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