Tennis & Chess Are Not Alike

Tennis tactics are often compared to chess. The best tennis players are supposedly executing complex predetermined moves before the point starts. But I'm here to tell you that none of that is true. Tennis is nothing like chess.

It's a game based on feel, muscle memory, and, most importantly, instincts. Even if you wanted to execute complex tactics, you wouldn't be able to because it's a game that's highly unpredictable.

For this reason, tennis tactics have to be simple. How do I know this to be true? Well, I know that when I give myself complicated, complex tactical instructions, they're practically inexecutable.

The simple reason for that is that the tennis game is highly unpredictable. Thus, in today’s article we will explain why simple tactics provide the best results and how to implement them into your game.

Tennis Tactics

Sometimes players don’t understand that tactics don’t have to be a crazy list of things. It is as easy as choosing a few things from this.

What you're going to do now is run after every ball. You won't let the ball go by you. You won't let drop shots bounce two or three times before reaching them.

You're going to fight as if it's the last match you'll ever play. Treat the set as a battle. Play aggressive, high-percentage tennis.

You're not going to push; you're going to come out and hit the ball aggressively, playing like a madman. Fight like you've never fought before. Let's see what happens.

As I mentioned earlier, the tennis game is extremely unpredictable. For this reason, tactics need to be simple.

Overcomplicating Things

However, don't misunderstand me—this doesn't mean you don't need tactics. Tactics are important. There are many strategies you can implement on the court to increase your chances of winning a match.

But many people have the wrong idea about tennis tactics; they make it far too complicated. Overcomplicating tactics can make your life difficult on the match court.

Another reason I know my approach is valid is because I've read interviews with legends of the game. I either listen to the interviews or read the transcripts. There's a wealth of knowledge to be gained from these interviews.

Learning From The Best

There's another way that you can get an insight of what the greatest players of all time think when they play matches. This is one of the reasons why I love the Laver Cup so much.

We get to hear the legends coach the other players and in the last Laver Cup we had the great pairing of Nadal and Federer playing doubles.

In other words, I got so much out of those conversations in the changeover especially when Novak Djokovic was coaching them.

I wrote five things down that Federer Nadal and Djokovic have said during Federer's last doubles match at the Laver Cup that will perfectly explain what I'm talking about in this article.

Once I read you the statements that these three goats have made you will understand that tactics have to be simple.

Slow Reflexes

The first thing that Rafa mentioned was at the beginning of a doubles match. He observed, "It's unbelievable how slow you are at the net when you don't play doubles." This observation came after Rafa missed a few easy volleys.

He recognized that his reaction time at the net was slow, mainly because he hadn't played a lot of doubles. It's a simple realization—his lack of experience in doubles affected his net play.

The solution to this problem is apparent: play more doubles. The more Rafa engages in doubles matches, the quicker his hands will become in net situations.

Perhaps he can also work on improving his reflexes and addressing those doubles-specific scenarios during practice sessions.

Rafa's case illustrates how identifying a problem leads to finding a simple solution to rectify the issue.

Inefficient Serving?

In the middle of the first set, Federer noted, "We have time on the return; the ball is not jumping like crazy." This observation arose during a match against Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe on an indoor hardcourt.

Specifically, Federer was referring to Jack Sock's serve. He perceived that the serve's bounce wasn't as unpredictable as it usually is. Rather, it had a lower and more controlled bounce.

Federer's perception was that the bounce of the serve wasn't as troublesome as it often can be. Given this insight into the court's behavior, he and Nadal adjusted their positioning on the return.

This example highlights the simplicity of problem-solving in a tennis match. Tactics stemmed from a basic observation of court conditions, specifically the court speed.

Federer's solution, derived from his observation, was to take more chances on the return since the ball's liveliness wasn't as pronounced as on other courts.

Trusting Your Gut

Somewhere in the middle of the first set, Federer made the following statement: "We cannot be scared to miss the ball; we don't want to miss pushing."

From my observations, I've noticed that when players are overly cautious and focus on pushing the ball, their primary intent becomes simply getting the ball over the net.

However, the paradoxical outcome often arises—instead of successfully placing the ball in, they end up missing more frequently.

This occurs because they lack the muscle memory necessary for effective pushing, which is a distinct technique from their usual shots. Consequently, they miss more than if they had opted to go for their shots.

The significance of Federer articulating this concept during the Laver Cup cannot be overstated. It's reassuring to hear this straightforward principle being spoken by a legend of the game, applied even to the greatest players of all time.

STAY PATIENT

Among all the insights I gleaned from the Laver Cup doubles match, my absolute favorite was what Djokovic shared with Federer and Nadal. This occurred when they found themselves in a bit of trouble during the second set, as they had been struggling and were broken early.

Djokovic's advice was succinct: "Make Tiafoe play an extra shot." He directed this counsel towards both Nadal and Federer, emphasizing the importance of not rushing to end points too quickly.

The key was to extend the rallies with Tiafoe, as Djokovic understood better than anyone in the history of the game that patience is pivotal in tennis.

Djokovic recognized that the points count equally whether your opponent commits an error or you hit a winning shot.

He also understood the temperament of Tiafoe, acknowledging that while Tiafoe is a remarkable player with immense talent, he can be prone to moments of frustration and inconsistency.

This simple but brilliant advice — "make Tiafoe play an extra shot" — resonates deeply. It illustrates the essence of effective tennis tactics: simplicity. Tennis tactics must avoid complexity due to the inherent unpredictability of the sport.

Times Have Changed

In the final segment that caught my attention, the context was a match point scenario. Federer found himself serving at nine-eight in the super tiebreaker, on his own serve. A moment of immense pressure.

However, Federer executed a tactical move that demonstrated his strategic thinking. With his first serve missing the mark, he ingeniously opted for a slice down the T for his second serve.

He was serving to Jack Sock, a player known for favoring his forehand and often running around his backhand, especially in doubles.

Federer's slice down the T was a calculated attempt to exploit Sock's tendencies. While the tactic was well-considered, the execution didn't fully match the intention.

The slice landed somewhat central, and Sock responded with a powerful forehand that penetrated deep into the court.

Following this, Sock's partner, better known as Tiafoe, hit a backhand cross-court, while Sock advanced with a poach and sent a weak volley down the middle. Federer made a valiant sprint toward the middle to retrieve the shot.

Typically, Federer would have confidently dispatched a forehand like this, but on this occasion, his timing was slightly off, and he had to resort to improvisation. The result? The forehand went awry, and the match point slipped away.

What ensued was Federer's lighthearted acknowledgment of the moment. He exclaimed, "the slowest movement ever" and playfully questioned whether the sequence played out in slow motion. This statement carried a remarkable depth, as it highlighted Federer's keen awareness of his own body's limitations.

Final Thoughts

The misconception that tennis is a complicated and complex game needs to be addressed head-on. The truth is that tennis cannot afford to be overly complex due to its inherent unpredictability.

In the world of tennis, especially at the recreational level, you simply cannot anticipate with certainty what your opponent will do next. This unpredictability is amplified by factors such as technical flaws and footwork issues that commonly appear at the recreational level.

While tactics do play a role in tennis, they must be approached with simplicity and logic. The heart of tennis lies in its intuitive nature, a realm where rigid plans often fall apart due to the myriad factors at play. The key is to adapt, react, and trust your instincts, just as the greatest players in the world have consistently done.