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October 16, 2006
Pointers from the Federer vs. Roddick Showdown
Five tips from the Roger Federer–Andy Roddick showdown.
By Leif Shiras, TENNIS Magazine
1. EXPLODE OUT OF THE BLOCKS
Roger Federer walked onto the court with the relaxed confidence of a
man sure of his intentions and eager to prove himself. In the opening
game of the match, he ripped a forehand, knifed a backhand volley
winner, and served an ace. He sent a clear signal from the start—he won
the first five games in 17 minutes—that this was his moment, his match,
and Andy Roddick would have to respond. The opening games can go a long
way toward setting the tone for an entire match, and a good start can
often lead to a strong finish. Roddick was a half-step slow and out of
sync, and it cost him. Make sure you’re ready from the very fi rst
ball. If possible, get in a light practice before your match. Don’t
count on the warm-up to prepare.
2. WEATHER THE STORM
Going into the final, Roddick was mowing down opponents with his serve
and averaging nearly 16 aces a match, but in the fi rst fi ve games he
couldn’t put one past Federer. His advances to the net were dismissed
with winners and his ground strokes lacked sting. Federer, on the other
hand, was moving beautifully, anticipating every play, executing every
shot, and denying Roddick at every turn—he was blowing him away. The
score was 0-5, but Roddick did what every experienced player should do
in this situation: He hung tough. Instead of showing discouragement, he
remained composed and held serve for the fi rst time. An opponent
raining down winners needs to see that you’re not impressed and not
giving in. If you’re getting thumped, take extra time between points
and change things up. Remember, the level of tennis your opponent is
producing can have an equally dramatic drop-off. Be ready for that
moment.
3. COMMIT TO A STRATEGY
Any strategy can fail if the application is slightly off, but don’t
jettison a winning strategy too soon. First try to execute it better.
Roddick showed from the start that he wasn’t willing to simply trade
shots from the back of the court. He attempted to take the ball early
and move forward, forcing Federer to hit diffi cult backhand passing
shots. The early moments of the match were not so much about Roddick’s
strategy failing as they were about Federer outplaying him. But Roddick
stuck with his game plan and at 0-5 in the fi rst set it began to fall
into place. His serve became more effective, his attacks better timed,
and his relentless pressure on Federer’s backhand started paying off as
the Swiss began missing passing shots. Suddenly the momentum was on
Roddick’s side.
4. TRANSITION QUICKLY
When you attack the net, a good serve or a strong approach shot sets
the table, but you need to be in position to take the next bite. Those
quick steps you take following your serve and after the approach shot
are critical in getting yourself in good position so you can deny your
opponent the chance to beat you with an easy pass. As Roddick has
learned to do, use small steps to move forward quickly and
aggressively. Aim to get inside the service line. Once there, guard
against the down-the-line pass while looking to intercept the
crosscourt reply.
5. DON’T HIT THE PANIC BUTTON
Federer’s early domination in the match disappeared as Roddick battled
back to win the second set 6-4. At two games all in the third, Federer
dumped a volley, missed a backhand, and was passed crosscourt to fall
behind 0-40. Roddick was pumped, the crowd was behind him, and everyone
knew it was an important moment that could decide the outcome of the
match. Somehow in the midst of all this excitement, Federer pulled it
together and held serve. Though his vast repertoire of shots separates
him from the rest of fi eld, what truly sets him apart is his skill at
managing his emotions. He kept his cool even after hitting a few sloppy
shots, and he was able to stay positive, too. If you start to feel
negative on the court, try to change your attitude. Practice by
responding to mistakes in a more positive and calm manner. Think
logically rather than with emotions that can cloud your ability to
improve.
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