“Start Where You Are. Use What You Have. Do What You Can"

By Steve Annacone
This quote from Arthur Ashe is a great tip for anyone who plays competitive tennis: "Start where you are" means to realize exactly what the situation is, but to play the point as if this is the first point of the match without interference from what has already happened. A player cannot do anything...Read more

Tip of the Week: Find Your Optimum Number of Hits

By Steve Annacone
Every player is different. Many players would love the point to last one or two hits (if they win the point) and many would love to keep you on the court all day and try to get the point to last 10+ hits each time. A good way to get things happening the way you would like is to pick a number of...Read more

Tip of the Week: Basic Volley Technique

By Steve Annacone
Once you have moved forward and begin to hit balls out of the air, your idea needs to become simpler. There is less time to react and get ready and also less time to get your racquet on the ball. Make sure your racquet is directly in front of you, that you have a continental grip (v formed by your...Read more

Tip of the Week: Adjust Your Game for Today's Match

By Steve Annacone
Every time you walk on the court things will be different. Even the best players have to be aware of how things are going and how they feel on that day. Of course, the ideal adjustment would be to hit the shots that you are having trouble with a little better. However, sometimes it makes more sense...Read more

Tip of the Week: Move Forward As The Point Gets Longer

By Steve Annacone
If you play some good shots at the beginning of the point, you should look for opportunities to move forward as the point gets longer. The best way to make this happen is to keep shots deep and diagonal (usually crosscourt in singles). Try to keep your opponent back or get the player moving, which...Read more

Tip of the Week: Using the Drop Shot and the Lob

By Steve Annacone
With the innovations in racquet and string technology, tennis has become much more power oriented. Most players try to use the speed of the shot as their primary weapon to win the point. Players try to hit the ball "through" their opponents or get it back to them with enough speed to force an error...Read more

Tip of the Week: Always Have a Game Plan at the Beginning of the Match

By Steve Annacone
It is extremely important to walk on the court for a match with a plan. A game plan can be as simple as hitting two or three crosscourt groundstrokes and being patient at the baseline. Another simple idea is to serve and volley on all first serves, and work your way in to the net gradually on other...Read more

Tip of the Week: Use the Depth of Your Shot to Draw a Short or Weak Ball From your Opponent

By Steve Annacone
Keeping your shots deep is a strategy that most pros and coaches continuously encourage their students to follow. The reason this is such a good idea is because it reduces the options that your opponent has on their next shot. A deep ball often results in a short or weak shot from your opponent. If...Read more

Tip of the Week: Use Down the Line Approach Shots to Set Up Crosscourt Volleys

By Steve Annacone
When a player decides to move forward during the point, most approach shots should be hit down the line and volleys should be hit crosscourt. If the approach shot is hit deep and down the line to one side of the court, the player can move more towards the direction of the approach shot and cover...Read more

The Laver Cup

The inaugural Laver Cup, pitting Team Europe against Team World, was a huge success and the best idea to reinvigorate tennis in a long time
By Steven Kaplan
The inaugural Laver Cup, pitting Team Europe against Team World, was a huge success and the best idea to reinvigorate tennis in a long time. This was the tennis version of Golf's Ryder Cup, and it was fast-paced, exciting and highly-competitive. I'm no fan of tennis exhibitions, because it is not...Read more

Tip of the Week: Use Your Footwork to Take Time Away From Your Opponent

By Steve Annacone
It is natural to run to where you believe the ball will end up on the tennis court. If a player can move in that direction and also go slightly towards where the ball is (forward), this will take time away from their opponent. Try to make the last few steps a little more on a diagonal to cut off...Read more

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria(s)?

By Steven Kaplan
Maria Sharapova is back and better than ever. She is practically unstoppable. With this year's U.S. Open behind us, it's now time for the "Maria Sharapova Image Rehabilitation Tour." Maria has a tell-all, say-nothing book about the profound difficulties of being a beautiful, wealthy, incredibly...Read more