Gearing Up - Preparing for a Summer of Training

     As the school year comes to an end, I find myself eager to begin a summer of intense training to prepare myself for my fall tennis season. Some of you may relate to the occasional lack of motivation when it comes to daily practice, so I have begun to brainstorm some methods to keep me motivated to practice throughout the summer. To start, I decided to watch some inspiring matches of the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games. As both a tennis and Olympics fanatic, this was the perfect mixture to help my attitude towards practice. Below, is Serena Williams talking about her London experience.

  

   For Women's singles, Serena Williams took the gold, leaving Maria Sharapova with the silver, and Victoria Azarenka with the bronze. As for Men's singles, Andy Murray won the gold, Roger Federer, the silver, and Juan Martín del Potro, the bronze. All of these matches proved to be brutal, but each athlete showed phenomenal effort in playing to the best of their ability. The fact that they were playing in the Olympics helped me to see that hard work definitely pays off, and what you give, is what you get. 

     Another method to improve my motivation for summer training, is creating multiple playlists of music that can help me 'get in the zone' to work hard. Since music has such a massive influence on my life, I find it a very beneficial tool when I am in need of inspiration. I am including artists such as The Killers, Marina and the Diamonds, Passion Pit, Vampire Weekend, and many more. 

     Last, but not least, I will be eating healthier, to make it easier on my body to endure lengthy training sessions every day. I will focus more on proteins, fruits, and vegetables, and keep my meals more balanced.

     From these three ideas, I hope to gain a heightened sense of motivation when it comes to tennis. I look forward to a summer of achievement and improvement, and a successful season ahead. 

Works Cited:

WTA. "Serena Williams - USA | Tennis Player | London 2012 Olympics." YouTube. YouTube, 24 July     
               2012. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.

Life on the Court - What Tennis Means to Me

     Tennis has been, is, and always will be my deepest passion. Every time I unzip my tennis bag and see my racket, I am reminded of the many years I spent playing the sport I have come to love. When I hold the racket on the court, waiting for my opponent to serve, feelings of nostalgia surface immediately, of the early start to my tennis journey. I recall the player I used to be, determined, and willing, to practice until I got better. 
     To me, tennis is not just a sport, but a lifestyle. It requires commitment and self-motivation, but most of all, passion. The feeling I experience when I am playing on the court, focusing intently on my strokes, is like no other. The world stops around me, and I am alone, in that moment, playing my heart out. 
     My racket reminds me of the sacrifices I have made--of all the strokes that led me to where I am today. The satisfaction I feel, is extremely rewarding. 
     Throughout my journey, I have cherished many moments and made many memories that I will forever hold in my heart. Tennis has led me to a new perspective of life, that I am capable of reaching any dream, and achieving any goal that I set my mind to. It has given me a confidence that I am able to use both on, and off the court. 
     Without tennis in my life, I would feel empty, in that I would not have something to work for, or something to look forward to every day. Tennis is my escape from the plethora of stresses in life, and for that, I am grateful. 
     After years of playing, I am finally able to realize that tennis truly is, my everything. 

Another Blog About Tennis!

     I recently found a blog that I took much interest to, called "Heavy Topspin: A Tennis Blog." Run by Jeff Sackmann, this blog provided insight into topics about tennis that I had never explored. 
     I found myself intrigued by the deep analysis that each post contained, especially the posts about individual players. Instead of sticking to the usual shallow descriptions of the tennis world, Sackmann was able to "dig deeper" into the details of the game itself. 
     Personally, my favorite post of his, was titled, "A Quarterfinal on Federer's Racquet." In this particular post, Sackmann provides data pertaining to the match ups between Andy Murray (Great Britain), and Roger Federer (Switzerland). He included examples of their DR, or Dominance Ratios, in particular matches, as well as an in-depth analysis of their strategies when playing both each other, and other players. While reading this post, I learned that Federer was even more skilled of a player than I had previously thought, in that his game is  strong for both his forehand and his backhand, no matter what challenges his opponent presents him. 
     Another of my favorite entries, was a post called, "Novak Djokovic and a First-Serve Key to the Match." The first piece of information that truly intrigued me, was the statistical data about first-serve percentages that presented the conclusion that a player that has a higher first-serve percentage rate, is more likely to win their match. On the contrary, I read that Djokovic had a higher winning rate when he missed his first serve. Sackmann did not stop there, but continued to analyze the reasons why this pattern occurred in Djokovic's game, saying that, " But it does seem that different players face different risks. The typical pro could stand to make more first serves. But a few guys find that their results improve when they make fewer–presumably because they’re take more risks in an attempt to hit better ones" (Sackmann).

     Overall, this blog was an intriguing read; I would highly recommend checking it out, and/or subscribing! (Link Below)

http://heavytopspin.com

Welcome 2014

As we welcome the new year, we reflect on the events and memories of 2013. The past year held many historical moments in Grand Slam history. In the US Open, Serena Williams defeated Victoria Azarenka in women's singles, (7-5, 6-7, 6-1), winning the title for the second year in a row. 

Rafael Nadal was able to outlast his rival, Novak Djokovic, winning the final, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. As for the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic took the win in his thrilling four-set match against the world-renowned Andy Murray, (6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-2).

In the women's singles final, Victoria Azarenka defeated Li Na of China, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. The French Open constituted of some intriguing match ups. Rafael Nadal defeated long-time champion, David Ferrer, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3, while Serena Williams was able to take another win in her match against Maria Sharapova, (6-4, 6-4).

At Wimbledon, Andy Murray defeated Novak Djokovic, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4, and Marion Bartoli beat Sabine Lisicki, 6-1, 6-4. From these thrilling matches, it is apparent that Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Victoria Azarenka, and Novak Djokovic were able to remain on the top of the leaderboards.

As for my personal resolutions for this new year, I have many pertaining to tennis. I am trying to strive for a better attitude during my countless practices, so that I will be able to learn and improve from my mistakes. Another resolution, is that I am aiming to practice at least three times a week. So far, I have been able to fulfill this goal, and I can only hope that it will prevail in the future. As the new year is before me, I greet it with an open mind and heart. I cannot wait to see what the future holds.



Photos:

Murray and Nadal. Photograph. NDTV Sports. NDTV Convergence Limited, 25 Aug. 2013. Web. 21    
               Jan. 2014.

Cummings, Daron. Serena's win. Photograph. Concord Monitor. Concord Monitor, 8 Sept. 2013. 
               Web. 21 Jan. 2014.

AFP Photography. Azarenka. Photograph. The Times of India. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd, 26 Jan. 
               2013. Web. 21 Jan. 2014.

Andy Murray Defeats Ferrer. Photograph. AceShowBiz. AceShowBiz, 08 Jul. 2013. Web. 21 Jan. 
               2014.

Mastering The Forehand Volley - 3 Easy Steps

The volley is an extremely crucial shot in tennis. It is hit at the net and is used to return the ball with more pace, as well as in more strategical places on the court. Unlike other the other shots, serves, ground shots, and overheads, the volley does not require a swing. Instead, one "steps into the shot" to gain momentum and power. In order to hit a volley successfully, one must have the correct form. 

1. The Grip: Similar to the serve, the volley requires "Continental Grip." This means that you are, in a sense, "shaking hands" with the racket, because your hand is angled the same as the racket. 

2. The Stance: Hold the racket out in front of your body with a tight, firm wrist. Keeping strength in your hand in wrist will ensure a clean shot. Make sure to keep the racket about face-height and avoid angling it too far back or too far forward.

                                             

                                              

3. The Step: For any volley, forehand or backhand, you step with the opposite foot. In this case (forehand), you step with your left foot if you are right-handed, and your right foot if you are left-handed. This will give you more momentum, and therefore, more power.

  

Extra Tips: When volleying, everything moves much faster because you are closer to the net, therefore closer to the ball after the opponent hits it. This means that you must be quick on your feet and be ready to move even before the opponent hits the ball. Preparation is key. Also, be sure to attempt to strategically aim the ball to the corners of the court, or anywhere where it seems the opponent will have a hard time reaching.

Works Cited:

Gotennis100. "Tennis Tip Volley - Super Slow Motion." YouTube. YouTube, 01 Sept. 2010. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

Lpth. "Is My Coach Teaching Forehand Volleys Incorrectly? - Page 3 - Talk Tennis."Talk Tennis RSS. Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

 Waite, Ron. "Tennis Server - Turbo Tennis - The Grip: Picture Perfect." Tennis Server - Turbo Tennis - The Grip: Picture Perfect. Tennis Server, n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

William. "One Minute Tennis Lesson." One Minute Tennis Lesson. WordPress, 5 Jan. 2013. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

NBL Girls' Tennis Doubles Tournament

Hi everyone! For me, this past week has been filled with much excitement and many memories. I was chosen to participate in the North Bay League Girls' Tennis Doubles Tournament with the number one singles player on my team. Since the two of us normally play singles, we knew it would be a bit of a challenge to transition into the "doubles" state of mind. We quickly learned the main doubles strategy of  "attacking the net," and were able to prepare well for the competition. On Wednesday, October 30th, we played two matches. The first was against Ukiah. Although it took us a few games to get the hang of playing together, we were able to defeat the other team by using the net to our advantage. The second match was against Casa Grande, and we used the same strategy of "coming to the net," as we did against Ukiah. From the net, we could hit volleys and overheads and win some quick points. As we played more and more with each other, we were able to communicate effortlessly and take another win. The next day, October 31, we fought for our place in the final. Our opponents were a singles player and a doubles player from Cardinal Newman. After losing the first set, 3-6, we realized that we would have to step-up our game in order to make it to the final. We encouraged each other and played smart, using more strategy than in our other two matches. Soon enough, we were able to win the second set, 6-4. During the break, we talked, and my partner told me that she knew we could win, and from then on, we played our hearts out. Two hours and 30 minutes later, we had won the match, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, and were moving on to the final championship. In that moment, I knew that no matter how the final went, I was proud of how far we'd come. We were to play Santa Rosa's one and two singles players. As the match began, we kept our spirits high and took an early lead, however, we were not able to carry it out to win the first set. In the second set, we played hard, but once again, the other team was able to beat us 2-6. Although we lost in the final championship, we were able to exceed our own expectations throughout the tournament and play some amazing tennis. I would not have traded the experience for anything, and I am grateful that I had the chance to create memories that will last a lifetime. 

Check out the article in the Press Democrat: 

http://www.pdpreps.com/news/article/47348/girls-tennis-santa-rosa-high-duo-takes-nbl-doubles-title/

The Topspin Serve: 4 Easy Steps

"Topspin" Serve

Before we begin: The serve is the most important shot in a game of tennis. It is the start of the point and has the potential to win many easy points. The topspin serve, in particular, is a very powerful serve. It gives the ball a spin that causes it to drop faster, and when power and speed are added, the ball has a larger chance of landing in. All serves are hit from the base line, which is the line at the very back of the court. They are hit to the opposite service box, on the other side of the court. Behind every amazing player, is an amazing serve. 

1. First, make sure you have the correct grip. The grip for any serve, is continental grip, which means that your fingers are positioned on the racket in a way that makes it seem like you are "shaking hands" with the racket itself. 

2. Look to your target. For the serve, the correct target is the diagonal service box. By looking to this area before you serve, you are preparing your body to aim for that exact spot, therefore increasing your chances of success.

3. Next, throw the ball vertically in the air, as high as possible, and bring the racket back behind your head.

4. Then, with your racket at an angle, hit up on and "brush" the ball, and a nice topspin will result. As stated before, this topspin will help to bring the ball down as it flies over the net. Since this step is the most confusing, this video will help to demonstrate this crucial part of the serve. Be sure to notice that as the player adds more power to his serve, it starts to become more accurate and fall right into the service box.

 

Waite, Ron. "Tennis Server - Turbo Tennis - Why Can’t I Volley?!" Tennis Server - Turbo Tennis - Why Can’t I Volley?! Tennis Server, n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2013.

"The Ultimate Topspin Tennis Serve Video Guide." The Ultimate Topspin Tennis Serve Video Guide. TennisMindGame, n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2013.

"Topspin Tennis Serve Part II - Develop Correct Technique." YouTube. YouTube, 1 Sept. 2007. Web. 09 Oct. 2013.

"Tennis Ebooks." Tennis Spin Serve in Modern Tennis. Optimum Tennis, n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2013.

 "Tennis Ebooks." Tennis Kick Serve. Optimum Tennis, n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2013.

"MOONGAMES." Various Tennis Shots. MOONGAME.ORG, n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2013.