Three ways the athletic Russian’s game can help you.
1. Go for a balance of power and spin.
Some players, such as Lindsay Davenport, hit through the ball exceptionally well but don’t use much spin. Others, like Patty Schnyder, hit shots with tons of spin but little penetration. Kuznetsova is a hybrid. She generates great racquet-head speed and uses a moderately low-to-high swing, which allows her to hit a heavy, biting ball. This is the perfect model for club players. Make sure you hit through the ball but also brush up on it without using an extreme flick that sacrifices power and depth. Hitting this way is especially easy with the lightweight equipment used today.
2. Play close to the baseline.
Because of Kuznetsova’s strength, hitting ability, and mobility, she can play near the baseline. This gives her opponent a smaller target, making it harder to hit an offensive reply. And when Kuznetsova crowds the baseline, her opponent has less time to react to either a deep penetrating shot or an angled shot—essentially giving Kuznetsova more court to aim for. Sure, you might not be as talented as Kuznetsova is, but chances are your opponent isn’t, either. And if you can learn to stay near the baseline and back your opponent up with penetrating shots whenever possible, you can rob your opponent of time while placing yourself in better position to continue being offensive.
3. Learn to come in.
Early in her career Kuznetsova played a lot of doubles, at one point pairing up with Martina Navratilova. I think this helped her understand the dynamics of the court and learn when to move forward. You may be more comfortable at the baseline, but if you’re also able to come in and volley, you’ll add another dimension to your game. I’m not saying you have to attack the net all the time. But try to capitalize on the openings you create with your serve and ground strokes by moving in and knocking off shoulder-high volleys—especially if you’ve already pulled your opponent out of position. Don’t become complacent and hit more shots than you need to. Try this to start: The next time you play someone with a two-handed backhand, if you get him stretched out wide and force him to slice the ball back, look to get inside the baseline and take the ball out of the air, or, if the ball lands short, attack it after the bounce and send it into the open court.