Vintage Tennis

to be the best it is more than whole of game … it is whole of life

Backhand is emerging as the next ‘go to’ surge in global tennis!

As we continue to be impacted by lockdowns and tournament reduction players, especially our youth, have been able to spend a little more development time on adjusting technique and global coaching has had more time to refine the hitting.

2021 has showcased this result through the weight of numbers of young professionals going deep into major championships and elite events, as evidenced during the recent US Open. Backhands have had a common denominator with this movement where single handed shots are more noticeable from all this youth and speed velocity being increased on the two-hander.

Why/how … evolution always plays a role along with the coaching fraternity looking at how it links. Players adding to their variety ie more slice (maybe Ash Barty has had a ‘backhanded’ influence here) continental grips are being used correctly … thus as players switch to their two-hander the wrist position makes for a stronger impact and at the same time, due to the full grip change, are lifting the racquet face (using other hand more) thus creating a circular backswing as opposed to the drawback … this in turn creates a faster swing speed and a bonus of (depending on footwork) not being able to read the direction.

Backhand long regarded as technically secure and reliable has just added a new dimension to baseline attack and we look forward to where this leads as a spectacle for those of us that teach, play and watch this great game.

On a personal note congratulations to our Tournament Performance member Nishant – singles winner ITF G2 Cairo and Kooyong Tennis members Grace, Ellie, Amy, Olivia, Enzo, Cooper, Alex, Ben securing scholarships in US Colleges last month. See you all on your return in 2022.

Vintage Tennis Performance Foundation member Nishant Dabas, like all of our players, have kept the faith during 2020 and continued to be ready to play when the time came.

This week Nishant attended a camp in New Delhi, supervised by India’s Davis Cup/National Coach Zeeshan Ali, for all of India’s top ITF juniors. This was followed by an Invitational 18yrs National Championship, with Nishant winning the tournament only one month after his 17th birthday … congratulations from all of us !

Nishant has two ITF tournaments in Delhi during January to consolidate his success from this week. His training partners here at Kooyong Tennis Academy, Melbourne look forward to his return later this year as they missed him last year due to the virus. Nishant has been a member of our elite group since he was 11 years old.

Finally back to writing … so much to say … so much going on in our world environment.

During these events of history and the emotional roller coaster we experience, Vintage Tennis, staying in touch with our players, has via social media started #tennistag. A means of staying connected instantaneously even during times of physical distancing.

Come and join our tag and say your it (turn) and join the journey that we are all on together.

Since the Australian Open and now leading into the French Open many changes have happened in the structure of World Tennis. The changes are necessary (multiple global reasons) and in time the feedback and research/results will develop these to truly reflect our professional game and like all other sports if you are worthy to play at an elite level … it will happen.

Tennis has a number of tiers or tours as the pathway (ladder) to play at the highest level you can and as during a match if you take those chances/opportunities to display your skills with a preparedness to be bold and the courage to back yourself the reward will result in your desired outcome.

That preparedness comes from seeking the chance to receive great training, to acquire an understanding of fitness/diet/mental strength, develop the chance to ‘put your best foot forward’ when that chance comes and to take it … as nothing in this world is given.

Your chance to succeed will require boldness and courage to trust all the hard work and countless thoughts on your game and style that you have put in to be ready to grab that dream and give it a damn good shake.

After over 40 years in professional tennis, both on and off the court, you witness triumph and disaster (ref. Rudyard Kipling poem ‘If’), and as much as you want something if you are not willing or able to do everything you can to take that chance … you may not get another.