Five tips from the Roger Federer–Andy Roddick showdown.
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.