Playing a lefty will always feel foreign to right-handed players, simply because there are more right-handed opponents. It’s one of the many advantages Rafael Nadal—one of three left-handed players in the ATP’s Top 40—has going for him. But there are three important tactics righties should employ in practice, so they’re better prepared for any curveball a southpaw can throw.
1
The down-the-line backhand will be key to getting into an ideal playing pattern: your crosscourt forehand to their backhand. If you can create an opening after a few forehands, look to hit your backhand, but you don’t need to rip it flat. Instead, go high, with heavy topspin, or even hit a safe slice. As long as it’s going down the line, it will disrupt your opponent and force them to hit a forehand on run. Players practice their crosscourt patterns a lot more than down-the-line, but if you’re preparing for a lefty, you’ll want to change that habit.