The Official Tennis Thread

[BlackAchilles]

Big Lenka making her return to doubles for a Sabadosa run Wholesome stuff

 

[Nero Christ]

Tennis season byke

 

[UpAndComing]

Stan the Man still at it. His final season

 

[UpAndComing]

Her serve has gotten much better

 

[Kunty McPhuck]

Her serve has gotten much better

Early season. Got to see if it holds up under real pressure as the season goes on. Thats when you know if the serve has really improved or not.

 

[UpAndComing]

Early season. Got to see if it holds up under real pressure as the season goes on. Thats when you know if the serve has really improved or not.

I don't know why she doesn't just simplify her serve. She should just practice getting the ball over the net in play with decent speed

 

[Kunty McPhuck]

I don't know why she doesn't just simplify her serve. She should just practice getting the ball over the net in play with decent speed

Its not that simple. Its how you deal with the stress in certain game states and how your mind and technique holds up under that stress. And thats before you factor in opponent conditions and the live crowd

You can practice as much as you want and execute it perfect everytime but it's hard to replicate match environment.

Its really all about trusting your technique. I.e making it repeatable so it has a default setting so then its more about the mental part. But with technique it can have quirks to it and they are usually down to the players being comfortable than correct. They can fall back to the old bad habits under stress.

 

[UpAndComing]

Its not that simple. Its how you deal with the stress in certain game states and how your mind and technique holds up under that stress. And thats before you factor in opponent conditions and the live crowd

You can practice as much as you want and execute it perfect everytime but it's hard to replicate match environment.

Its really all about trusting your technique. I.e making it repeatable so it has a default setting so then its more about the mental part. But with technique it can have quirks to it and they are usually down to the players being comfortable than correct. They can fall back to the old bad habits under stress.

So you're saying Coco Gauff's serving problems is more a mental problem than a technical problem?

And do you think her switching to so many different coaches is a sign that it is? I still stand by and say that she should have never left Brad Gilbert

 

[Kunty McPhuck]

So you're saying Coco Gauff's serving problems is more a mental problem than a technical problem?

And do you think her switching to so many different coaches is a sign that it is? I still stand by and say that she should have never left Brad Gilbert

It's both. Technical and Mental are interlinked. One effects the other and vice versa. Thats just in general not exclusively to Coco. Also remember power servers are generally more erratic anyway as its the trade off of power vs precision.

And she openly said after the US Open in 24 when she lost to Narravo that she suffers from the yips and needed to get with a specialist serving coach for her mechanics.

Too many coaches over a short period of time can confuse if they've all been trying to correct the same thing. You end up taking bits and pieces from all of them but nothing sticks.

If you trust the technique and understand and accept that yes I'm going to make double faults and sometimes its going to be an embarrassing amount at times thats half of the battle.

 

[UpAndComing]

It's both. Technical and Mental are interlinked. One effects the other and vice versa. Thats just in general not exclusively to Coco. Also remember power servers are generally more erratic anyway as its the trade off of power vs precision.

And she openly said after the US Open in 24 when she lost to Narravo that she suffers from the yips and needed to get with a specialist serving coach for her mechanics.

Too many coaches over a short period of time can confuse if they've all been trying to correct the same thing. You end up taking bits and pieces from all of them but nothing sticks.

If you trust the technique and understand and accept that yes I'm going to make double faults and sometimes its going to be an embarrassing amount at times thats half of the battle.

Still didn't really answer the question. Then why does the more erratic nature of a serve happen more for Coco, than it does for Iga, Rybakina, Alcaraz, Zverev, or Sinner?

 

[Kunty McPhuck]

Still didn't really answer the question. Then why does the more erratic nature of a serve happen more for Coco, than it does for Iga, Rybakina, Alcaraz, Zverev, or Sinner?

It isnt a ABC answer.

If you're known for double faulting like she is thats already mental baggage she brings into any and every match. Now she could have a great serving day today and a horrible one tomorrow its day to day problem. It would be a different issue if she only double faulted at keys points in matches when the stress is high and the pressure is on or vs certain opposition but she does it on command.

Now technique wise when a repetitive issues keeps happening within match. The grip will get tighter and firmer . The play begins to speed up just to get the service game over and done with. Or if it slow down the play which ends up slowing and losing rhythm and over thinking the serve. Now serving quicker can result with coming up too soon on the serve follow through.

Now if its a techincal problem I.e over hitting on the double faults by a margin that isnt close. Mentally that can lead to taking power off the serve as you're trying to get it in play doesnt matter about the direction or precision it just has to get into play. The ball toss can be too low or too high end up snatching at it.

Now if you're worrying about just trying to get your serve in you aren't really going to have a clear mind about the adjustments the opponent is making to your serve I.e. playing deeper or shallow etc etc. Is there is a crosswind or headwind? Is the surface fast or slow how high is the bounce? Is there shade etc etc.

All of this is just things before the opponent has even returned the ball. Let alone talking about game situations and the stress of moments in play and the wear and tear of a match all which can affect the serve and thats just every day play.

Coco is over thinking it at this point its trauma to her.

 

[malbaker86]

I get nostalgic looking at the poll in this thread from 2012 because only Novak still around

 

[Jean toomer]

2026 prédictions:

Men: big 2 will continue to dominate barring injury or cocaine and ho’s. I’m watching for Mpetshi-perricard and draper to make bigger strides in the slams.. I thought fils had next but back injuries are tricky in tennis, boy could be done-hope I’m wrong.

Women: Sabalenka is still the big dog but coco could dominate if the second serve holds up. I think Iga will continue to decline.