And I'd play tennis all day βοΈ and night π just to get better. You too? Well, turns out there's no need to π€«π.
We can all speed up our progress by learning from others' experiences, even while off the court. That's why I share mine!
Want to start with a bang π₯? Learn to scout your future opponents the way I do!
Not sure where to place your approach shots? I finally got it, and now my percentage at the net is through the roof!
You lost a stroke too? Have a read to what happened to me and what worked and what didn't: it might help you find yours back!
Want to maximize your chance of victory? Get ready for your tennis match by doing the right things at the right time.
All I found out was wrong with my old serve, what I've changed about it and the progress I made so far.
Not really sure what tennis equipment do you need for a tennis match? Here's how I pack my tennis bag for a match and what tennis gear I consider essential and what not.
Not only the report of my progress on the latest short-term goals and the plan to achieve the next ones, but also a checkpoint on my long-term tennis goals. And guess what, I have some breaking news you don't wanna miss π€«.
Did you know you can do well even without winnersβ Oh yes, you bet! So whether your winners are already great or still a work in progress β³, don't forget there's another way to take matches after matches home: I'm talking about forcing your opponent into errors π!
Want to hit effortless yet powerful strokesβ The sweet spot might just be the missing puzzle piece π§© to turn your already technically-well-executed shot into a dangerous weapon π£. I know it was for me! In this post I'm gonna tell you everything about the sweet spot (and the dead spot), why it's so important and how to train hitting it.
Want to make sure you'll reach your tennis goals by setting intentions, but don't know howβ In this post we'll talk about the exact steps π£ to set your intentions and live by them, so you can maximize the chance of achieving your tennis goals no matter what.
What if I told you that setting goals alone might not work as well as you think? You know, during the lockdown π I've had time to think and experiment, and that's exactly what I found out. Goals without intentions are not gonna work out so well, if at all π³.
As we're pretty much all stuck at home due to the spread of Coronavirus COVID-19 ππ¦ , why not make the most of our quarantine and make sure we'll be in the best possible shape (physically and mentally) once it's GO-time again? Even though there's nothing like hitting yellow balls πΎ, let's focus on what we can do rather than what we cannot.
Lately I've been training like crazy, especially off the court ππΌββοΈ. Because I realized that if I wanted to step up my game, I needed to take my fitness to the next level. So if you want to do the same, here's my experience with the High Performance Tennis Fitness Program I've just completed. βοΈWarning: if you want something soft, that's not for you!
Don't get how some players can get to every single ball π€? They have great court positioning, that is they always recover to the right position π. If you want to get just as good, here's an entire blog about the importance of good court positioning in tennis and a few simple strategies to find the correct recovery position that guarantees you optimal court coverage.
Ever been sent to the tennis court for a match before you even had time to warm up? I was, not too long ago. And it wasn't pretty π€―. That's why lately I've been perfecting my pre-match warm up routine: to keep it short, effective and fun, so there's absolutely no reason to skip it.
If you're anything like me, you're training quite a lot to achieve your tennis goals and I'm sure you're familiar with those feelings of soreness and stiffness π© that come the day after a tough workout and accompany you for a few days. If so, you absolutely need to make trigger point therapy a habit. Because when it comes to relieve muscles pain and recover fast, trigger point therapy is unbeatable.
As you already know, about 3 months ago I decided to say goodbye ππ» to my WTA forehand and switch to the Federer forehand. So it's time β° for a quick progress update! I really feel like I NEED to share not only my forehand's progress with you, but also the lessons I learnt and the mistakes I made along the way. β For myself, so I stay motivated to keep working on it. β‘ And for you, so you can hopefully avoid some troubles, learn faster and know what to expect.
The new decade is here π! And with it, my thoughts on my recent tennis achievements and my new goals, expectations and plans for the quadrimester to come. Are you curious to know if I smashed all my past goals, or if I miserably missed someβAnd what's in store for me next? I hope you are!
How many times have you been told to play the right shot at the right time? I have sooo many π€! And yes, it's easier said than done. But don't worry, I've got you covered! In this post I'll tell you everything you need to know about shot selection: what it is, why you need to get good at it and how to make it automatic in no time.
Ever wondered what the heck your opponent is doing instead of getting ready to return π€¨? Or you're like my old me and sometimes find yourself rushing during the changeover π°, just because your opponent has already picked up the balls and is ready to serve? Either way, you can prevent that from happening! Did you knowβIn fact, it's pretty easy once you know about tennis tempo!
If I had to name one nerdy skill that's helped me to win more matches π since day 1 (even when I had all the odds against me on paper βοΈ), scouting would be that skill. It is that important. So why not share what I know about it, so you can skyrocket π your chances of victory tooβ
If I say zonal tennis, does it ring a bell π? I hope it does! If not, here's what you need to know: zonal tennis is one of the strategies that can help you learn and automate proper shot selection. So you better get good at it!
Christmas is just around the corner and, with the first snowflakes βοΈ, even the first wish list investigations have come. And even though I'm a surprise lover in the DNA π§¬, this year I've decided to write down my wishes. Who knows, maybe Santa Claus π π» will read my letter and bring me one of the things on my list! Plus, why not kill two (or three) birds with one stone? What I'm saying is, you may find something you want to add to your own list too! Or, why not, something to buy for that friend of yours who seems to be thinking about tennis most of the time ππΎ.
We all know that every ball is different πΎβ½οΈπ. And yet most of the time, we approach different balls in the same exact way. Why? Because choosing wisely (aka shot selection in tennis jargon), especially when under pressure π€―, is not an easy task. Not at all! But lucky for us π, the DNO theory comes to our aid and makes it much easier. Ever heard about it?
If you're wondering whether keeping a tennis journal is actually useful or just another trend, welcome to the club: I've been there a few years back!
I lost count of how many times I wondered whether playing tennis in running shoes π was a good idea or not, so I figured I'd share my humble opinion on the subject now that I finally have one! You know, I'd be really happy if my years of trial and error didn't go to waste π, but helped someone else instead π.
My forehand has been my weak groundstroke since foreverrr: it's never come natural to me, NEVER! And it's not even like I've been neglecting it compared to my backhand and serve, not at all! Instead, I've always practiced it a lot more, just because it never really felt right to me. Hence I think it's time to acknowledge the fact that the WTA bent-arm forehand is not really my thing and move on.
Fear is an ugly beast. You cannot hide from her, because she can smell you. And you cannot escape from her either, unless you wanna end up exhausted by her constant blowing on your neck. But if there's really no way to get rid of fear, then how so some players always seem to be fearless, no matter the circumstances?
What's in that crazy head of mine right now? What am I working hard for? Where am I heading to? Do I even know it myself? Or I'm just playing tennis for the pleasure of playing? I'm sure you can guess this one :P But for the others, just keep reading and you'll figure everything out!
Ever wondered how you'd feel playing your first tennis tournament? Or, in case you're a tennis player and have already played tens of tournaments, do you still remember how it felt that first time?
Think you cannot improve your technique without hours and hours of practice with a coach? Think again! If you are on a tight budget, like me right now, then don't even think you're done with tennis. Because you're not!
Curious to know how tennis and I made peace after 4 long years of absolute silence? I know you are. After all, even I had lost hope after such a long time and didn't think it was possible. But as 99% of the time, when you least expect it, things fall into place.
If you want to know when / why / how I started playing tennis, here's the right place. To be honest, not many people know the whole story. Which is kind of weird, since the tennis court has been my happy place for so many years.