| p>Tennis in many ways has the powerful mental | | | | So when you see a lackadaisical type like Federer on |
| drainage a chess game can have and a blow/defeat | | | | the other side of the net, beware! "Do Not Trust that |
| to your ego and psych, can hurt you for years to | | | | Demeanor" he is plotting to take your Queen! |
| come. But the similarities do not end up there, generally | | | | - Stay in control as much as possible. Play agressively |
| speaking the player who controls the center of the | | | | to the opponent backhand deep and close to the |
| chess board has to most chances to win. In tennis the | | | | sidelines if necessary to get an opening. Yet mix the |
| situation is very similar, the player who has the | | | | speed (changes of pace), spins, ball heigth and when |
| courage and skills to get inside the court and not | | | | possible pound the opponents forehand side with a |
| relinquish that position on a consistent basis is most | | | | few winners to keep him honest. |
| likely to win the match. | | | | - Hug the baseline and get inside the court at every |
| The Wimbledon final 2007 Federer vs Nadal was a | | | | opportunity. Combine winners with angles, drops shots |
| stunning example; Nadal taking control of points at a | | | | and approach shot attacks. |
| time inside the court and than retreating back behind | | | | In the diagram below ( you will see what I consider the |
| the baseline to lose the point, because his net skills are | | | | "Control Zone", if you are disciplined enough to hold |
| poor and he does not trust himself volleying. This | | | | onto your guns, to fight for that position and as much |
| culminated with a graphic from the BBC showing | | | | as possible fire from inside of that area, your match |
| Nadal's position running 4 and 5 meters behind the | | | | winning percentage will increase dramatically. |
| baseline in comparison to Federer's position 1 to 2 | | | | - Stay in control of the center of the court. |
| meters from the baseline or inside the court, attacking. | | | | - Stay 1 or 2 meters behind the baseline and get inside |
| A final parallelism between Chess and tennis are the | | | | the court as the chances arise. |
| pawns. In Chess all pieces are important but, you will | | | | - Either attack the short balls and go to the net or put |
| never trade a Queen for a pawn (unless you | | | | them away according to individual situations. |
| check-mate in the next move!), in tennis all points are | | | | Remember going for the lines in certain situations is |
| important but, there are some you can lose (like the | | | | percentage play as well! What is important is, that you |
| pawns in chess) and others that you must win at all | | | | sense the right moment and you have previously |
| costs, those are the key points in a match....and | | | | developed confidence in the shot by using it during |
| Federer is a master at playing those and that is why | | | | practice match play. Great wins always involve great |
| he is so successful. | | | | acts of courage, sacrifice and boldness. |