1. USE YOUR HEAD
There’s so much to like about Martina Hingis’ style of play, but my favorite thing about her game is the way her brain is always churning. She’s constantly looking for holes in her opponent’s game and trying to figure out what she can do to pull out a win. For instance, against some players Hingis will repeatedly hit into the open court, while other times she’ll simply keep her shots deep and consistent. Unless you’ve got overpowering stuff, you’ve got to put thought into whom you’re playing and how your shots are working that day. So many players have a particular style and, even if they’re losing, will never adapt. (Hint: You can’t stand in the same spot to receive serve if you keep missing your returns.) With Hingis, she’ll never stick to a game plan if it’s not a winner. The best players figure out what’s working and what’s not and adjust accordingly.
2. EMBRACE DOUBLES
Much like John McEnroe, when Hingis was young she didn’t like to practice and to compensate for that she played a lot of doubles. Not only did it serve as a workout, but it helped her immeasurably with her transition game, return of serve, touch, and volleys. In fact, I’d like to see Hingis come forward more in singles because I think that she’s money at the net. If you’re a developing player, young or old, you would be wise to include doubles in your practice regimen. Besides all the benefits to your basic strokes, you also learn how to use specialty shots like lobs and short angles to create openings in the court. For those players who use tennis as a fitness outlet, it’s true that doubles doesn’t give you the same cardio push you get in a singles match. But if your goal is to become a well-rounded player, you can’t overlook doubles.
3. CHANGE SPEEDS ON YOUR SHOTS
The biggest knock on Hingis’ game is that she can’t compete in the power department with many of her competitors. While that’s true, Hingis does a remarkable job of making her shots seem bigger by varying the pace and spin on her strokes. She’ll stay in the point with loops and angles and then all of a sudden move inside the baseline to take the ball early and hit a solid drive into the open court. By disguising when she’s going to amp up the power, Hingis surprises her opponents and usually catches them on their heels. It’s a great tactic for players who don’t pack a lot of heat on their strokes. Mix in junkballs and other changes of speed, because when you do try for a more aggressive shot it will feel that much more imposing to your opponents.