Gabe Jaramillo has an intrinsic insight into the world of a professional tennis player having trained and developed eleven World No. 1, and twenty-seven “top 10” players, and coached players in all four Grand Slams. 

Gabe’s written this article exclusively for Tennishead to offer an expert opinion on the evolving row over the tennis balls being used on the professional tennis circuit and their impact on player’s bodies. …

“In the fiercely competitive realm of tennis, where every serve, volley, and rally can tip the scales of victory, an unsettling discord resonates among players—a discontent that echoes from the amateur courts to the grand stages of professional tournaments. At the heart of this disquiet lies a complex web of issues surrounding the regulation of tennis balls, where the game’s very essence is entangled in the inconsistencies of ball specifications and the divergent paths charted by different manufacturers.

“In the quest for excellence and fairness, official bodies such as the International Tennis Federation (ITF) have meticulously crafted stringent standards for tennis balls. Yet, the harmony sought on the court is disrupted by a chorus of valid concerns raised by players. Within the confines of the same tournament or between matches, players bear witness to unsettling variations in weight, size, and bounce, challenging the very foundation of uniformity championed by the sport’s governing bodies.

“This discord reaches its peak when considering the intricate dance of tournaments, each negotiating the procurement of tennis balls amidst the allure of sponsorships, advertising deals, and financial considerations. In this high-stakes game, the pursuit of lucrative agreements occasionally exacts a toll on the quality of tennis balls, casting shadows that extend beyond the pristine white lines and influence the outcomes of matches.

“Amidst this unpredictable terrain, tournaments source balls from diverse manufacturers, leading to a diverse array of characteristics that define each brand. This lack of standardization disrupts players’ endeavors to consistently adapt their game, for they have honed specific playing styles based on individual strengths and preferences. The challenge intensifies as distinct ball types converge with varied playing surfaces, compelling players to grapple with ever-changing behaviors that cast shadows on the trajectory of their game.

“Yet, the discord extends beyond strategic and performance implications, pulsating through the very fibers of players’ physical well-being. The rapid adjustments demanded by differing ball characteristics—be it hold, speed, or bounce—elevate the specter of injuries, particularly targeting wrists and shoulders. The thundering pace of fast balls on unforgiving hard courts demands lightning-quick movements and abrupt halts, amplifying stress on players’ joints. Meanwhile, the languid trajectory of slower balls on clay courts extends rallies, induces fatigue, and magnifies the risk of overuse injuries.

“In the corridors of tennis, where precision and finesse reign supreme, the call for greater standardization of ball specifications emerges as a rallying cry. This narrative, woven with the threads of discontent, strategic intricacies, and genuine physical concerns, forms the tapestry of a sport in search of equilibrium—a call to ensure that every serve, every match, is a fair and unencumbered test of skill.”

More about the author, Gabe Jaramillo

Gabe’s the Founder of his own tennis academy in Florida called Rush Premier Sports and is a prolific writer about all aspects of tennis coaching including a book titled ‘How to Make Champions’.

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The much trodden path for aspiring tennis players is well documented. Head to a sun soaked tennis factory, play tennis under the watchful eye of a famous coach for 6 hours a day and hey presto! But for coaches themselves there was never the support program in place to help them learn their trade and achieve their career goals. That was until the ASICS Tennis Academy came along.

Launched in 2020, the ASICS Tennis Academy (ATA) aims to ’empower tennis coaches of all levels’. Existing virtually with regular online meet-ups and live events, the academy currently supports coaches from 6 European tennis playing nations with more being added. Coaches can apply to join or ASICS will use their team in each country to identify and invite prospective members.

Tennis coaching can be lonely with a lot of those working as coaches being self employed and having to stand on their own feet as they learn their trade and grow their businesses. Other tennis brands will offer coaches deals to help provide kit but no brand has ever put in place a support network that is focussed on helping coaches grow their knowledge and experience in this way.

We spoke to ASICS Tennis Academy manager Louis Rouach and also to ATA member Harrison Lombe about the history of the academy and their experience.

Why did you launch the ASICS Tennis Academy (ATA)?

Thomas Johansson is a member of the ATA

Louis Roach (LR): “The plan behind the ATA was to support tennis coaches both on and off court.

“Firstly, we researched tennis coaches from around Europe about their specific needs and to understand the support they received from other brands in terms of equipment, but also off court support. From the research we realised that existing coach-brand relationships are very contractual and based just around equipment.

“The ATA has done well in creating a European community of tennis coaches that is connected and shares knowledge. Tennis is very individualistic but we want to create links between coaches from many different countries and levels of coaching. The ATA is not just about elite coaching as we want to help coaches who teach from beginner right up to the likes of Thomas Johannson, Danilo Pizzorno, Ruben Hidalgo, Jordi Vilaro and Richard Ruckelhausen (formerly coach of Gael Monfils).

“We believe that if we can support the ‘everyday’ club tennis coach then we can help to grow the game and help coaches and players to improve.”

What are the benefits of being a coach with the ATA?

LR: “ATA is about being part of an international community with access to other tennis coaches who you can talk with a share thoughts, ideas but also players. We have coaches that we have helped to exchange players.

“We also have Facebook and WhatsApp groups within each country for the coaches to share knowledge and we’ve arranged events for the same reason, such as webinars. These training sessions involve sharing programs, tips and expertise on all areas of tennis coaching from mental, to physical, to social media and online understanding that can help the coach improve not only their on court work but also their off court lives and business.

“It’s a unique program that we haven’t seen anywhere else or even in other sports.”

What’s been the most interesting learnings since starting the ATA?

LR: “We’ve found it fascinating to see coaches within the ATA exchanging players. We know that and individual sport like tennis will always create rivalries but by having the ATA as an international group then you lose the concern over sharing secrets with your competitor coach or player.”

How have you recruited the ATA coaches?

LR: “We started small through our existing ASICS community managers in each country who had existing relationship with coaches. We needed coaches who were willing to give their time and expertise rather than just wanting to receive equipment from ASICS.

“The ATA has now grown and this increased visibility has meant coaches knocking on our door wanting to join our program. Now from January-March each year we are open to applications from any coach from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium or The Netherlands then we’ll launch in the UK in early 2024.”

What’s the profile of an ATA coach?

LR: “We have a diverse profile of coaches in our academy. A lot of coaches are from clubs who want to improve themselves so that they can be more effective in coaching club players. We are also trying to promote the interests of female tennis coaches around Europe as we see that as something which isn’t catered for particularly well at the moment.

“We also look to recruit coaches who are strong influencers on social media as this helps to get the message out about ATA to a wider cohort.

“We have high visibility coaches who are working with tour level players on the ATP and WTA Tours such as Thomas Johansson. We really like when we see these tour level coaches on the ATA chatting with club coaches about their work because it creates an unexpected level of community sharing.”

Have ASICS been using the ATA to learn about tennis shoes and other products which can help your main business requirements?

LR: “100% we have. ATA coaches are asked to help with feedback on our products by testing our new shoes and apparel. We need feedback not only from top level players but also from everyday club players as they are the ones that will be wearing our products, and the ATA coaches have been really helpful with this.

“We have a clearly defined feedback loop where the ATA coaches can talk to the community manager in their country who can then direct that feedback to ASICS own product development team. This might be for a one-off product issue or we might have a recurring occurrence that needs to be fixed by our designers in Japan, which all helps to give us an edge over our competition.”

Why are you now looking to launch the ATA in the UK and what about the USA?

LR: “We’ve been looking at the UK for quite a while. We now have the resources in the UK which means we are set up with the necessary manpower to get the ATA UK live in 2024.

“ATA has been launched as a European initiative but we are having discussions with all other regions such as Japan and the USA but we have to learn the best ways of working in those countries before we can extend the ATA outside of Europe.”

Harrison Lombe is an ATA coach member. He was a professional player himself then turned to coaching and is based at the Barcelona Total Tennis academy. He started by coaching the juniors at the club and then worked his way up to become a travelling coach working with the professional players linked to his Barcelona academy. He is now working exclusively as the coach for Rebeka Masarova who is currently ranked No.64 in the World.

What’s the main differences between coaching a top professional like Rebeka Masarova versus coaching at a tennis club with amateurs?

Harrison Lombe (HL): “With a top player it’s very different. They already know what they need to do and so there is much less screaming at them to motivate them, like I have to with the juniors I’ve worked with in the past!

“Pros have a lot of input in their own training so we can have a conversation about what they need to practise and learn. The relationship you have with a player is also a big part of the coaching so you can help them to be in the best mindset when they are competing. The mental side of the game at the top levels of tennis is so huge so as a coach it’s important that you give them the belief that they can win. A quote I love is that it’s ‘the one who believes more is the one who’s going to win’, so if your player has the right plan then they can come out the other side with a win whereas at the junior level of coaching it’s quite different.”

What’s the difference in your coaching style between being at a tournament with your player and being on the practise court

HL: “I like to take what I’ve learned from watching them play their tournament matches and apply that to the practise court. A pro player like Rebeka knows how to hit the ball. She’s No.64 in the world! So we work on finding her best mental space and working on the best tactics to push for that 1% improvement which, at her level, makes the difference between winning and losing.”

Why did you want to get involved with the ASICS Tennis Academy?

HL: “When we were approached by ASICS I was excited because I always wore ASICS shoes when I was a player. Now with the program that the ATA provides I’ve been able to get to know other coaches from around the World and I still talk to them and have made friends with them. I can use their insights to help my own work and push myself forward. And the ASICS brand mantra of ‘Sound Mind, Sound Body’ really resonates in my tennis work and also in my life, so it’s a perfect brand to represent.”

What does it involve when you engage with other ATA coaches?

HL: “I’ve attended a live event for the ATA in Paris which was interesting as I met coaches from different backgrounds. From the sessions we attended I noticed coaches using different techniques and in tennis you can always be learning. I’ve then connected on social media with the other coaches from the ATA.”

Coaching can be lonely so does the ATA help you feel part of a community?

HL: “The way ASICS has helped form this group of coaches means I have colleagues now that I can talk to about anything, right away. I like to learn something new so having other coaches that I can talk to online or at events is great.”

How much impact do you believe equipment has on a tennis player’s game?

HL: “As a coach you definitely get involved in the equipment that your player uses. Players want everything to be perfect and with ASICS we’re lucky that they produce three different models of shoe to suit different playing styles. I think choosing the right equipment is hugely important and it definitely effects performance. You see many pro players are wearing ASICS shoes even if they aren’t sponsored to wear them because they feel they are the best tennis shoe available.”

What would you say are the benefits to club coaches of being part of the ASICS Tennis Academy?

HL: “Joining a community that you can call upon to help you become a better coach. I’m one a few coaches in the ATA that are coaching high level players, so for the other coaches to be able to draw upon our knowledge is a huge benefit. As a tennis coach you have to take any help you can to improve your own work. I love stealing ideas from other coaches so having the ATA really helps in providing ideas and tips and advice from all levels of coach.

“Making connections around the world is also great. If you ever need something as a coach in another country then you can find a coach through the ATA in that country who you can ask for help.”

If you are a coach or club that wants to get involved with the ASICS Tennis Academy then applications are open from January to March each year and you can be kept up to date by following @ASICStennis or by emailing Louis.

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Rafa Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz and Andy Murray all thrived on their experience but behind the glamorous stories of success, what’s life really like for the thousands of aspiring professionals who find themselves living and learning at a tennis academy?

When asked to think about a tennis academy, if your imagination conjures up a scene of endless rows of tennis courts with children being shouted at by a muscular taskmaster in 100% Floridian humidity, then you aren’t alone. And maybe a few decades ago you might have found places similar to that as the whole industry behind producing tennis players was in its infancy, but fast forward to the present day and, as we’ve discovered, tennis academies aren’t just about manufacturing the next World No.1. They offer a holistic focus on an alternative path to a fulfilling life for young adults wanting to blend their passion for the sport with an education and life experiences they wouldn’t find at home.

The Ljubicic Tennis Academy in Croatia and the Rush Premier Sports academy in Florida, USA, are examples of modern day, highly professional tennis academies who’s objective is to offer young players the structure and resources they need on a full time basis to achieve their goals in the sport.

Tennis academy’s come with a full support team

Helping the player to achieve what they want, rather than what someone else thinks they should be able to achieve, is a theme that stands out from our discussions with everyone involved at both these academies.

In fact every academy we’ve researched seems at pains to stress that it’s about guiding, mentoring and channeling the player’s passion towards a carefully defined goal that is their focus. Obviously these organisations have to be run as profitable businesses hence why they won’t say, “we’ll make you the next Wimbledon champion”, as that would severely reduce their pool of potential customers, but it’s encouraging to see that the focus seems to be on helping the player achieve what’s best for them rather than a pre-conceived measure of success.

Colton trains under the watchful eye of Gabe Jaramillo at the RPS academy. He told us he “wanted to improve as fast as possible and the number of high-level players I could train with every day at an academy made it a no-brainer if I wanted to get better”. Jaramillo has a CV boasting the likes of Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova and Pete Sampras but, whilst the Rush Premier Sports philosophy is focussed on competition, they are also very proud that 100% of their students have received an athletic or academic scholarship to an American University.

This focus on helping students develop themselves not just as a tennis player but with skills and experiences they can call on throughout their lives is something the Ljubicic Academy are also at pains to stress. “The spirit of our academy is founded on instilling strong values, building character, and fostering a passion for the sport.”

Luna Vujović is a 13 year old Serbian who’s been training and living at the Ljubicic Academy, on the secluded, picturesque Adriatic island of Veli Losinj, for the past 2 years.

Luna, the current 14U European champion, says she didn’t have any expectations before joining the academy but very quickly started seeing the benefits in her game and results. She says for anyone considering joining a tennis academy, “expect a lot of hard work, discipline, sacrifice but also to meet a lot of new friends and to grow as a player and as a person.”

These sentiments are backed by the ccademy themselves. “As Luna’s journey unfolds, we stand by her side, supporting her every step of the way. Her success shines a bright light on Ljubicic Tennis Academy’s commitment to nurturing talent and creating a supportive environment where young players can thrive and reach their full potential.”

Day to day at a tennis academy

Life at an academy revolves around tennis and the multiple facets of training that are all necessary to help create a modern day professional tennis player. Everything from technique, psychology, diet, cardiovascular fitness, strength and agility are covered in minute detail using programmes that are specifically designed for each individual. Then education has to be fitted into a very busy and structured daily routine.

“Living full time at an academy is not an easy task. You miss your family and friends, you miss your country, and you even miss your food. However, when you made a commitment to come to the academy to train and get an education that will open the doors in the future to what your goals are, the task become part of the day to day achievement” says Giorgio, another student at the RPS set up in Florida.

No-one is on their own at an academy

Originally from Canada, Giorgio says that the decision to attend was taken jointly by him and his parents but it was the reputation of academy founder Jaramillo that made up their minds. “Gabe is a very well known tennis coach and both my parents and I wanted to be trained with the best coach and methodology that has proven to make Champions.”

Krish, another of Jaramillo’s students points out that managing the different elements of academy life has been his biggest challenge. “At first it was to keep up with my grades (that was hardest) but also staying on track with my tennis progress as well. At first it was hard to balance everything that was going on all at once, with grades, tennis and my personal life but after a while I got the hang of it and everything started to get easier.”

Educational requirements are either delivered through a traditional ‘bricks and mortar’ on-site school, as in the case of the RPS Academy who have 18 teaches working full time, or via online learning which is the model preferred by the Ljubicic Academy.

Seelenbinder is a parent of a child attending the Ljubicic Academy, founded by World No.3 and former coach to Roger Federer, Ivan Ljubicic.

Asked for a parents point of view on the changes they’ve seen in their child since joining the academy, she said,

“The most positive experiences revolve around the supportive and nurturing environment. Seeing our child’s growth and development as a player has been incredibly rewarding. The academy has not only honed his skills but also instilled a sense of discipline and resilience in him. Additionally, the camaraderie and friendships that our child has formed with fellow aspiring tennis players have been heartwarming. The academy fosters a sense of community and belonging, which has been beneficial for his social development.

“Furthermore, the opportunities to participate in various international tournaments have been an invaluable experience. These have allowed our child to test his skills against a diverse range of players and have also provided us with cherished memories as we travel and support him together as a family.

“Overall, the academy has been a place where our child’s passion for tennis has been nurtured and celebrated, and the experiences we’ve had there have been overwhelmingly positive.”

Tennis academy commitment

A full year as a residential student at the Croatian Ljubicic Academy costs around €50,000 which includes everything from tennis coaching & training, fitness work, accommodation, meals and physiotherapy with a similar package at the Rush Premier Sports academy in the USA costing around $65,000.

Hard work is the order of the day

Not all players pay the full amount as academies normally have scholarship programs which offer discounted rates depending on the circumstances of each student.

The decision to attend an academy, especially in a different country, is obviously one that imposes immense lifestyle changes on the child and the family.

“We took this decision as a family including our child which meant a significant change for our family dynamics. I live with my son full-time at the academy (in Croatia) to support his training, while my husband remains at home (in Africa) to manage his business activities. He visits us whenever possible and travels with us to various tournaments throughout Europe. This arrangement ensures that our son has the support he needs while also maintaining continuity in his training and familial connections.” says one parent.

Making the decision to join a tennis academy

As you’d expect, when we asked the question as to how the family made the decision to make the step into full time academy life and how they chose the specific academy the answers were wide ranging covering every factor that such a decision involves.

Family life can be dramatically changed

One parent of a child at the Ivan Ljubicic owned academy said, “Our advice would be to thoroughly research and evaluate the academy’s offerings, ethos, and track record. Ensure that the academy aligns with your child’s goals and has a supportive environment conducive to growth.

“Consider the logistical and emotional aspects of such a commitment. Be prepared for changes in family dynamics, especially if it involves relocating or spending extended periods away from home. Ensure that there is a balance between tennis, academics, and personal development.

“Pay attention to the mental and physical well-being of your child. Intensive training can be demanding, so ensure that the academy provides adequate support in terms of coaching, physiotherapy, and mental health.”

Colton’s father, who’s been at the Gabe Jaramillo academy in Florida for the last two years, was more specific as to how to choose an academy. “I would send your child to the academy that can offer the most personalized development plan for your child. Smaller, boutique academies can offer better student-teacher ratios with more highly qualified coaches on every court (not just the top courts). I would find an academy that is big enough to have all the resources and a proven track record but is small enough so your child isn’t practicing on court 57. Then let the coaches do the work. Encourage your child through the tough days, there will be plenty of those, but over time, if you’re consistent with the coaching, your athlete will develop faster than at a larger academy that’s more focused on branding that truly developing players – look at Carlos Alcaraz.”

For more information about the Rush Premier Sports academy, Florida, USA, featured in this article visit their website

For more information about the Ljubicic Tennis Academy, Croatia, featured in this article visit their website

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Ask Rohan Bopanna if he intends to be back at Wimbledon next year and the 43-year-old Indian insists: “I don’t see why not.” The oldest player competing in singles or doubles at the All England Club this summer, Bopanna is still a formidable competitor, as he showed in reaching the men’s doubles semi-finals with Matthew Ebden.

Yet four years ago Bopanna was wondering how much further he could push his creaking body. With the cartilages in his knees worn out, the former world No 3 was taking pain-killers every day. It was the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic early in 2020 – or more specifically the ensuing hiatus that was forced upon international tennis – that gave him the opportunity to do something about his physical condition.

“In our calendar year there is hardly any time to do anything different, but that break gave me four months to really try something,” Bopanna said. “My cousin was a yoga teacher and she said to me: ‘In your condition what you need is Iyengar yoga.’ So I went and tried it out and it made a huge difference. I was doing 90-minute sessions three times a week.”

Iyengar yoga, which uses props such as blocks and ropes, focuses on the structural alignment of the body. In Bopanna’s case it helped to strengthen the muscles around his knees and take the load off his joints.

“I’ve strengthened my quads, my hamstrings, my glutes, everything,” he said. “There’s no pressure on the knees, which is good for me, because right now the knees are bone to bone. Every time I lose muscle I feel the pain.

“Yoga in general is so much better for my body. It’s aligning my body and I feel my mental strength has also increased, because I really feel that I have time now on the court. I don’t get rushed into situations. I play more calmly. That has changed in a big way for me.

“The yoga teachers I have in Bangalore travelled with me for a couple of weeks to try to understand things more. I was doing yoga when I came back home, but I wanted to know what I should be doing before and after my matches while I was on tour.”

He added: “I’ve also changed my routine completely to work out exactly what works for me. Some days I may not even practise. The biggest thing for me is to keep representing my country. That’s my passion. I hope somebody back home in India might be inspired by what I do. That’s how I picked up tennis, watching a few Indian players. We need to have representation in these big events.”

READ NEXT: 7 Wimbledon statistics will help you win more matches

Bopanna, who made his senior All England Club debut 15 years ago, has missed only one Wimbledon since 2010, having chosen to skip the tournament last summer. “I didn’t come because there were no ranking points and the [men’s doubles] matches were over the best of five sets – not the best thing for my body,” he said.

“At this stage of my  career I’m very happy it’s now just three sets. It’s not just about playing. It’s about recovering, because in doubles there’s no guarantee that you’ll have a day off between matches.”

Bopanna won the mixed doubles at Roland Garros (alongside Gabriela Dabrowski) in 2017, but has never won a Grand Slam title in men’s doubles, though he was runner-up at the US Open in 2010 with Aisam Ul-Haq Qureshi.

The loss at Wimbledon this year to Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski, the eventual champions, was the third time Bopanna has lost in the All England Club semi-finals. Partnering Edouard Roger-Vasselin, he lost to the Bryan brothers in five sets at the penultimate hurdle in 2013. Two years later Bopanna and Florin Mergea went down at the same stage to Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau, who took the fifth set 13-11.

This year, nevertheless, Bopanna has shown that he can still be a contender for the biggest honours. He and Ebden arrived at the All England Club as the third most successful men’s pair in the world in 2023, having already won titles in Indian Wells and Doha. “As long as I’m in with a chance of winning tournaments I’m happy to keep on playing,” Bopanna said.

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Gabe Jaramillo has an intrinsic insight into the world of a professional tennis player havng trained and developed eleven World No. 1, and twenty-seven “top 10” players, and coached players in all four Grand Slams. 

Gabe’s written this article exclusively for Tennishead to offer a behind the scenes look at what professional players do during tournaments when they aren’t playing matches…

While many viewers of the recent U.S. Open would primarily focus on the players’ performance and the outcome of the event, there is a group of individuals exploring the routines and rituals of accomplished players before and after matches which could enhance our enjoyment of the sport and provide valuable lessons applicable to athletics and life.

Before the start of a tournament, players take various factors into account, such as the optimal time to arrive and acclimate themselves. Some prefer early arrival to adjust to the court’s speed, food, and surroundings. However, this preference varies among players. For instance, Agassi preferred arriving the day before to avoid unnecessary time away from home.

Accommodation also plays a crucial role, with some players opting to stay in the official hotel where most competitors lodge, while others prefer hotels away from their rivals. Factors like proximity to the event and access to a gym influence their choices. For example, top players at Wimbledon rent houses close to the venue and bring their own chefs.

The day before a match, players visit the venue to familiarize themselves with the court and visualize the seating arrangement of spectators, coaching staff, and family. Hydration is also crucial, as players carry a gallon of water to dinner to ensure they drink enough to be ready for the next day. Equipment revision is meticulous, considering factors like weather, court speed, and rivals. Racquets are strung with varying tensions and given to technicians the previous evening.

On the night before a match, players discuss strategy while consuming food rich in complex carbohydrates and protein. Nerves may affect their appetite, leading them to opt for fast food instead of high-nutrition meals. It is recommended that players sleep for 8 to 9 hours. To calm their nerves and sleep better, players have unique routines, such as Agassi’s preference for scary movie cassettes. However, such routines may also have the opposite effect on the coaches.

On the day of the match, the players’ routine starts with checking the weather report, having breakfast, and arranging transportation to Flushing Meadows, which is quite a distance from Manhattan. To avoid traffic and get in some warm-up time, the players have to leave early. However, the matches don’t start until 11 am, and some matches won’t start before 4:00 pm, which means a long wait for the players and their coaches. During this waiting time, the coaches make sure that the players remain isolated and protected from any comments or distractions. This is because even a seemingly harmless comment like, “You have improved your serve a lot” can affect the player’s mindset and performance. Therefore, the coaches ensure that no positive or negative comments reach the players, allowing them to remain focused on the game.

The warm-up phase is crucial, and athletes, in particular, have their routines to create a sense of stability. Tennis players in particular have the capacity to make the courts a real mess. Beyond their rackets, players bring all kinds of things to practice: four or five cans of new tennis balls, several towels, untold amounts of plastic water bottles, energy bars, turn grips, bandaids, etc. They usually leave everything lying around at the end of their practices or warm-ups. While some might not be as bothered by this so long as they can still play effectively, Agassi would never stand for his court to be less than spotless. He’d spend the first few minutes of every practice making everything immaculate before he even thought about hitting a ball. It became part of his routine. The clean court gave him a feeling of organization and calmness.

During the match, another kind of routine that can give them a sense of calmness are rituals. Little motions or actions that can help create a feeling of stability. They are anchors that force them to slow down and do not allow them to speed up, especially in times of more pressure. Maria Sharapova developed a celebratory ritual early on that she used until she retired. After winning a point, she puts the racquet in her non-dominant hand, smiling or nodding, performing some kind of positive response, closes her right fist, and yells “Come on!”, before turning and walking to the baseline. Her breathing control is next, to help with her relaxation. She takes time to make a tactical plan for the next point at the baseline. Her back is to her opponent. After she’s regrouped, Maria moves back to serve or return, moving her feet to get her heart rate up. She plays at a fast pace, and the entire process between points lasts only fifteen seconds. This type of ritual can be observed in a soccer player before executing a penalty kick or a basketball player before taking a free throw.

When a ritual becomes excessive, it can turn into a superstition, relying on habits unrelated to actual skill for success. Many famous athletes exhibit such behaviors. For instance, Bjorn Borg always wore the same Fila shirt and didn’t shave until after the tournament was over whilst Serena Williams brings her shower sandals to the court as a good luck charm.

Superstition can become negative when it starts to overshadow rational thinking and skill development. When athletes rely too heavily on superstitions instead of relying on their skills and strategic thinking, and when they attribute their success or failure solely to these superstitions. This can create a false sense of control and hinder their ability to adapt to changing circumstances or overcome challenges. Ultimately, superstition becomes negative when it interferes with an athlete’s performance and limits their potential for growth and success.

We are what we do repeatedly, routines have to become habits, these daily preparations have to be executed with intention and purpose, without alternatives. By enforcing these routines, our chances of wining will increase or decrease.” That degree of discipline and respect for the routines, always striving for perfection, stuck with me and are values that I instill in our athletes today.

More about the author, Gabe Jaramillo

Gabe’s the Founder of his own tennis academy in Florida called Rush Premier Sports and is a prolific writer about all aspects of tennis coaching including a book titled ‘How to Make Champions’.

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Tennis at Wimbledon looks like a game of pinball with the ball randomly changing direction and speed in a point but looking in-depth at these 7 percentages could help improve your own game considerably

With the help of Craig O’Shannessy of Brain Game Tennis, Tennishead looks through a treasure chest of data from the first few days of this year’s Championships and highlights what you can learn to add some meat to the bone of your own on court strategy.

Every move has a counter move and every move has a corresponding win percentage associated with it. Once you know the percentages, you can naturally gravitate your game to higher percentage patterns and do your best to avoid lower percentage options.

Here are seven percentages from Wimbledon through the first four days of The Championships that will make you a better player because you have facts – not guesswork – to base your game on.

I know what you are thinking…

The win percentages from Wimbledon don’t really apply to you because your game has not reached that rarified level. While that is probably true, you also don’t have Novak Djokovic standing on the other side of the court at your community tennis club.

There is no problem using these match metrics as a guide for your own game.

1: Baseline Points Won

Men = 46%

Women = 47%

Any win percentage that does not make it to 50% raises a red flag. The baseline feels like a safe haven for you on the practice court but the win percentages say it’s a tough place to win the point in competition. For example, Victoria Azarenka is through to the third round and has only won 48% of her baseline points. Andy Murray will resume his second round match later today against Stefanos Tsitsipas and has only won 46% of his baseline points so far.

2: Unreturned 1st Serves

Men = 40%

Women = 30%

Your first serve is a weapon. Don’t just roll it in the court to get the point started. Use your first serve to draw return errors from your opponents. Four out of 10 don’t come back in play in the men’s draw so far and three out of 10 for the women.

3: Unreturned 2nd Serves

Men = 20%

Women = 19%

These totals are about half of first serves. You are going to get some return errors, but not as much. Look at this from the returner’s standpoint. Your job is to be aggressive against second serves and look to immediately draw errors from the server. Yes, you will make a couple of errors along the way. It’s a much better mentality than just getting it back in the court.

4: Total Returns In

Men = 67%

Women = 74%

I want you to consider both ends of the spectrum here. The reality is you are probably putting two out of every three returns back in play. Accept that you are going to miss some and don’t beat yourself up mentally when you do. Also, don’t lose matches because this number climbs too high. You have got to get into the point to win it.

5: Return Winners

Men = 325

Women = 287

These are returns that most likely came right into the strike zone and the returner gave it a ride. Return winners send a message to the server that you wear the pants at the start of the point. If the server gives you a shot to hit, go ahead and look to end the point immediately.

6: Break Points Saved

Men = 63%

Women = 59%

Break points are the “king” or “queen” makers in our sport. Saving them goes a long way to securing victory. Your job is to win more than you lose when serving. The men and women are right around 6 out of 10. Four times out of 10 you will get broken. The numbers are still in your favor.

7: Forehand & Backhand Winners

Men = 69% FH Winners / 31% Backhand Winners

Women = 63% FH Winners / 37% Backhand Winners

The forehand is the big hammer from the back of the court for both men and women. The match metrics dictate you hunt more forehands than backhands, particularly as a run-around shot at the baseline. The forehand is your sword. The backhand is your shield. Act accordingly.

For free access to Craig O’Shannessy’s complete courses on ‘25 Golden Rules of Singles‘ and ‘25 Golden Rules of Doubles‘, join thousands of other keen amateur tennis players and become a member of the Tennishead Club. Once you join we’ll immediately send you ground breaking coaching advice, a welcome pack including a full ASICS head to toe outfit including shoes, plus loads more. And it costs as little as £65/$97 to join with membership benefits worth over £600/$700 per year!

Craig O’Shannessy is the creator of Brain Game Tennis. For 20 years he’s been involved in tennis as a coach to players like Kevin Anderson and even Dustin Brown when he famously beat Rafa Nadal at Wimbledon. More recently Craig’s been working as a match analyst at Wimbledon and for the ATP Tour. He has also used the unique insights from his match analysis software dartfish to guide players such as Novak Djokovic with analysis of opponents and performances.

Visit BrainGameTennis.com to read the latest and best selling course ‘Getting Tight’ where Craig teams up with Jeff Greenwald to combine their specific skill sets to help you with the universal problem all players struggle with in matches.

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The post These 7 Wimbledon statistics will help you win more matches appeared first on Tennishead.

What are you thinking about when you play a match? Do you have a plan for every point? We delved into the mind of Harriet Dart to find out how the professionals treat each tennis matchplay situation, enabling you to learn, play better and win more!

She’s one of the world’s top tennis players and recently made it to the quarter-finals of Indian Wells, the ‘5th Major’, and now Harriet Dart has kindly agreed to reveal the tips and tricks she uses when faced with a variety of matchplay situations.

In this exclusive Tennishead training session, she gives us a series of easy to follow instructions on what you can do when faced with different situations on the court during your matches.

So get your notebooks at the ready for a ‘Matchplay Masterclass’…

Starting with the warm up then into the first point of the match and onto the first set, we asked Harriet what tactics she’s employing during all the stages of a match and her insight was truly fascinating including technical and tactical advice that will really help you during your next battle.

Like Harriet, you too can enjoy the benefits of ASICS highly advanced tennis shoes and clothing by joining the Tennishead CLUB, the world’s best online tennis community, and receive over $700 of incredible gifts including a head-to-toe ASICS tennis outfit, exclusive coaching videos from Boris Becker, Dominic Thiem’s father & Novak Djokovic’s fitness trainer PLUS way more.

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The post Matchplay Masterclass: Top 100 star reveals the secrets behind increasing your win percentage appeared first on Tennishead.

In his latest expert analysis for Tennishead, Brain Game Tennis creator and top coach Craig O’Shannessy picks the bones out of another disappointing Miami defeat for Andy Murray.

Andy Murray has a green light to play as much offense as he wants in the twilight of his illustrious career.

See the ball, hit the ball. Smash it around the court and make the other guy do the chasing. Enjoy the freedom of competing and dictating to younger foes.

Unfortunately, it’s not playing out that way for the 35-year-old Brit.

I was courtside for Murray’s 6-4, 6-2 loss to Daniil Medvedev in round one of the Miami Open last year. I was also courtside for Murray’s 6-4, 7-5 loss to ATP No. 76, Dusan Lajovic in round one this year.

They may as well have been the exact defensive-driven match. Not enough giddy up, not enough net play, not enough spark from the back of the court to make the opponent genuinely uncomfortable.

Below is a link to what I wrote after last year’s loss to Medvedev. I suggest you read it first, as it will give context to Tuesday’s loss to Lajovic.

READ: Andy Murray is ‘risking a successful end to his illustrious career’ reveals analyst after Medvedev loss

Key reasons for Murray Miami loss

Here are five things that stood out to me from the Lajovic loss.

Baseline Under-Performance

Murray has made the baseline his domain throughout his career. He loves to grind and inflict pain from the back of the court. The pain, unfortunately, is gone.

Baseline Points Won

• Lajovic = 48.7% (38/78)
• Murray = 42.5% (34/80)

Murray hit 201 groundstrokes in this match. He only produced three winners. That’s a game plan gone wrong. Murray hit 121 forehands, including 49 as a run-around forehand in the Ad court.

Three of those run-around forehands were winners. That means Murray hit 152 regular forehands (standing in the Deuce court) and backhands for no outright winner.

To be fair to Murray, he did extract 17 errors from Lajovic from those 152 shots. But winners can never be zero from 152.

Murray registered 16 winners overall, with six being aces, one from a forehand return, and the rest at the net. We will get to that in a minute…

The bottom line is that there is a gear in Murray’s baseline game that he is not reaching for. Too many backhands were hit neutral cross court. Too many forehands lacked authority and disrespect.

There is zero downside to playing up in the court, hitting the ball hard, and leaving those cards on the table for the remainder of his career. No regrets.

Net Points Won

Murray is extremely competent at net. His volleys and overheads are rock solid. But he is too reluctant to leave the security blanket of the baseline to chase a much higher winning percentage at the front of the court.

Net Points Won

• Lajovic = 83% (10/12)
• Murray = 80% (8/10)

It’s mind-boggling that Murray would only average coming to the net five times per set. If you don’t like the net at all, you will still be dragged in there five times a set to finish a point.

What also defies logic is that Murray won such a high percentage (80%) and didn’t try to do it more. Murray should have come to the net 15 times a set, or 30 for the match. He came in a third of that, significantly contributing to the loss.

Drop Shots

Carlos Alcaraz broke through in Miami in 2022 and won the title. He hit 50 drop shots in six matches, averaging 8.3 per match. He won an impressive 70% (35/50) of them.

Drop shots are also in the wheelhouse of Murray’s game. He loves to be crafty and use guile, touch, and angles to win points. He likes to have his opponent on a string. The puzzling part of Murray’s loss to Lajovic is that he only hit three drop shots, winning one.

Andy Murray is a better player when he is pushing players back with penetrating groundstrokes and pulling them forward with deft drop shots. He can’t take that strength off the table.

Backhand Down The Line

Murray made the first 23 backhands of the match. You can look at that as both good and bad.

On one hand, his “shield’ is behaving perfectly by not missing. On the other hand, it is not doing enough to make the opponent miss.

Murray played too safe and too predictable with his backhand versus Lajovic. He didn’t step in and look to go big down the line like he sometimes could have done. There has to be fear or repercussions if the ball lands short to Murray’s backhand.

Ditch The Lob

Murray has one of the best lobs in the game. In fact, I just used him as an example in my recent webinar about drop shots and lobs. He  goes to it too often, though, mainly because his court position is too deep in the court.

Murray hit 14 lobs in this match, which is probably 10 too many. Of those 14, he won the point just three times. He should try playing practice sets where the lob is not allowed. It will spill over to a more aggressive mindset and better court position around the baseline.

What went wrong for Andy Murray in Miami?

This is what I wrote after the Medvedev loss last year.

“The problem for Murray is that he played the match the way he wanted to play it. Not how Medvedev didn’t want it. He needs to come out of his comfort zone and play bigger. Play more aggressively. Take on some more risk returning serve. He likes to move the battle to the end of the rally. It’s way better for him to move it to the start and be the first player to throw the proverbial punch.”

Twelve months on, it’s simply a copy and paste of the same losing result on the same court. Murray still has the possibility of glory days in the future. If that is going to happen, though, he can’t organize his side of the court like he did in Miami in the last two years.

Read Craig’s first analysis article for tennishead where he reveals the surprisingly small percentage of points won you should target in each match.

Read Craig’s second article for tennishead which focusses on how to detach your emotions to play better tennis.

Read Craig’s third article for tennishead which teaches us about our sword and our shield.

Craig O’Shannessy is the creator of Brain Game Tennis. For 20 years he’s been involved in tennis as a coach to players like Kevin Anderson and also with Dustin Brown when he famously beat Rafa Nadal at Wimbledon.

More recently Craig’s been working as a match analyst at Wimbledon and for the ATP Tour. He has also used the unique insights from his match analysis software dartfish to guide players such as Novak Djokovic with analysis of opponents and performances.

Craig has been writing for tennishead magazine for a number of years and is now working with us on this series of features aimed at using his statistical skills to help you improve your tennis game.

Visit BrainGameTennis.com for your free guide on the ‘8 ways to force an error’ and to find out more about Craig, the world’s best tennis strategy coach.

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The post ANALYSIS: What went wrong for Andy Murray in Miami? appeared first on Tennishead.

In his latest expert analysis for Tennishead, Brain Game Tennis creator and top coach Craig O’Shannessy explains just what makes Carlos Alcaraz so special. 

Carlos Alcaraz comes at you eight ways to Sunday – on a Sunday.

He can pulverize forehands and rope backhands. He will serve and volley when the moment calls for it and finish with deft touch around the net. He will push you back with raw power and expose you with clinical drop shots. He will mix in a return approach just to keep your head spinning.

Alcaraz defeated Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-2 in the Indian Wells final on Sunday with the 19-year-old Spaniard’s entire repertoire of scintillating shot-making on display. Medvedev never really stood a chance. Alcaraz won 12 of the first 15 points to race to a 3-0 lead. The match was nine minutes old, and the engraver was already on deck.

Serve And Volley

Medvedev has mastered the art of standing halfway to the moon to return serve. To the final, he averaged standing more than six metres behind the baseline to make contact with the serve. It’s an ultra-deep location that most opponents don’t know how to counter.

Alcaraz does, in spades.

The Spaniard served and volleyed 10 times in the final and won nine. With Medvedev standing so far back, serve and volley proved the perfect antidote to the deep returner. Medvedev’s position allowed Alcaraz to close hard on the net and hit short volleys that could not be run down. It was a brilliant strategy employed just enough to keep Medvedev behind in the guessing game of serve location and “will he or won’t he” serve and volley on the next point.

Drop Shots

Alcaraz is single-handedly bringing this “old school” strategy back into fashion. He loves to torch a forehand to push the opponent onto the back foot in a baseline exchange. He then shows the exact same preparation for the next shot but changes his grip at the last second and feathers an unreachable, delicate drop shot just over the net. Alcaraz won seven of 11 drops shots, including five off the forehand wing that all went for a clean winner. Nine of Alcaraz’s eleven drop shots were forehands. The threat of another hammer blow from his powerful forehand beautifully opens up the front of the court.

Forehand & Backhand Groundstrokes

Alcaraz hit slightly more backhands than forehands in the match, regularly switching between cross court and down the line to attack Medvedev’s legs and lungs in the cool, blustery desert conditions.

Alcaraz Total Groundstrokes

• Forehands = 79
• Backhands = 85

Alcaraz struck 30 of his 79 (38%) of his forehands as a run-around forehand standing in the Ad court. In general, he was happy to go backhand-to-backhand in bruising baseline exchanges against Medvedev, mainly due to his superior court position up around the baseline. Medvedev complained all tournament that the Indian Wells courts were extremely slow. That meant that when Medvedev stood deep, his ball slowed down a lot before it reached the other baseline, and then slowed down even more because of the gritty surface. Medvedev simply could not hurt Alcaraz with that powerful combo working against him.

Alcaraz Forehand & Backhand Groundstroke Performance

Forehand

• Winners = 9
• Errors = 17
• Forcing Opponent Errors = 9

Backhand

• Winners = 1
• Errors = 8
• Forcing Opponent Errors = 13

Alcaraz’s backhand was a rock as he clinched the first set and ran away with a 4-0 lead to start the second set. During that period, he made 43 straight backhands without an error. He also extracted eight errors from Medvedev from his backhand groundstrokes.

Medvedev will do well to put that match in his rear-view mirror as quickly as possible. On the other hand, Alcaraz will look to it as a blueprint to defeat Medvedev and other opponents that stand deep in the court attempting to blunt his raw power. Good luck to anyone on the other side of the net at the moment versus the in-form teenage world No. 1.

Read Craig’s first analysis article for tennishead where he reveals the surprisingly small percentage of points won you should target in each match.

Read Craig’s second article for tennishead which focusses on how to detach your emotions to play better tennis.

Read Craig’s third article for tennishead which teaches us about our sword and our shield.

Craig O’Shannessy is the creator of Brain Game Tennis. For 20 years he’s been involved in tennis as a coach to players like Kevin Anderson and also with Dustin Brown when he famously beat Rafa Nadal at Wimbledon.

More recently Craig’s been working as a match analyst at Wimbledon and for the ATP Tour. He has also used the unique insights from his match analysis software dartfish to guide players such as Novak Djokovic with analysis of opponents and performances.

Craig has been writing for tennishead magazine for a number of years and is now working with us on this series of features aimed at using his statistical skills to help you improve your tennis game.

Visit BrainGameTennis.com for your free guide on the ‘8 ways to force an error’ and to find out more about Craig, the world’s best tennis strategy coach.

 Join >> Receive $700/£600 of tennis gear from the Tennishead CLUB

 Social >> Facebook, Twitter & YouTube

 Read >> World’s best tennis magazine

 Shop >> Lowest price tennis gear from our trusted partner 

The post ANALYSIS: Carlos Alcaraz Indian Wells win proves value of variation appeared first on Tennishead.

Nestled in the small but perfectly formed Adriatic island of Lošinj, Ivan Ljubicic has created a stunning tennis holiday location that offers a blend of high quality coaching mixed with the best of that legendary Croatian hospitality.

Ivan Ljubicic reached No.3 in the world at a time when Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer were the top two, so he knows what it means to commit yourself to your passion and to squeeze the best out of everything you do. And it’s this commitment which seems to have translated into his Ljubicic Tennis Academy in Croatia.

Tennis holidays are becoming more and more popular, no doubt linked to the huge rise in tennis participation since the COVID pandemic that encouraged us all to play outdoor sports. Family tennis holidays work so well because players of different standards from the same family can learn to play in groups of their own level for a few hours each day before rejoining their loved ones to enjoy any delights offered off the tennis court.

According to Ljubicic, “the island of Losinj is a true hidden gem of the Mediterranean sea. It’s a place with a rich history, fascinating scenery and a turqoise sea. With more than 260 sunny days per year, it is perfect for an active lifestyle and devotion to sports. Due to specific climate conditions and supreme air quality, Lošinj was recognized as health tourism destination 130 years ago.”

The tennis academy itself is situated just a stones throw away from a range of high quality accommodation to suit all budgets thanks to a partnership with Lošinj Hotels & Villas who operate hotels, luxury villas and apartments located at the most attractive locations of the island.

Ljubicic has said of this project, “For me, this is the last piece of puzzle that was missing on my tennis path. I was thinking about this step for some time and when me and my team started talking I soon realized that this place is perfect for what we want to create. With all the experience I have in tennis, I knew the place is going to be as strong as the team is. I wanted to get the best possible people to work in the academy and to share knowledge and experience with players.”

But not all tennis holidaymakers want to be grinding it on the courts for 8 hours a day which is why the Ljubicic experience very clearly states that they can offer plenty for those that want a more relaxed trip and a chance to sample the delights of this island,

“Whether you like to treat yourself with a luxury Spa experience followed by a dinner in a Michelin star restaurant and a good night sleep in a luxury 5 star hotel or you just want to soak the sun in a hidden bay, Lošinj is the place for you. You can spend your nights in a camp or in a super-luxury villa, and everywhere in-between. You can enjoy time in outdoor or indoor pools, workout in a gym with a breathtaking sea view or hike the Osorcica mountain.”

Tennishead is delighted to announce a partnership with the Ljubicic Tennis Academy which means we can offer our readers a 12.5% discount on any package you book. You can view the full range of tennis packages before making your choice then make sure you mention Tennishead when you are booking to secure your discount.

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The post Ljubicic Tennis Academy looking to sprinkle Croatian magic (clay) dust over your tennis holiday appeared first on Tennishead.