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You are as Good as Your Second Serve is! |
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Written by Sergio Cruz
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This goes back to the seventy's and beyond but, I still remember when John Newcombe was the Nr. 1 player in the world and everyone marvelled at how good his second serve was and why that made him so difficult to beat!
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal played each other at the Cincinnati semi-finals and the maxim, “You are as Good as Your Second Serve is!” once again turned to be true. This is why I always insist that no one should ever overlook the tried and true lessons of the past in tennis because they are true today as well!
“In the 1 hour and 25 minute match the difference came on second serve points won. Novak won 76 percent while Rafael only won 47 percent. Djokovic converted three of four break points while Nadal never broke the Serb's serve.”
Of course this is a weakness I have noted a long, long time ago in Rafael Nadal’s game along with the propensity he has to play short immediately after a return or on any issued rally. I am sorry for all the “professional” coaches and players out there, but, if you can not devise a tactic to beat the future Nr.1, all you have to do is read what I wrote for Roger Federer about 4 years ago The BOOK ON NADAL for FEDERER that he finally followed in Hamburg 2007, which still holds true against Rafael Nadal today.
There is one exception and a change in Nadal's game from the time I wrote "The BOOK ON NADAL for FEDERER" and that is, Nadal used to play up to 4 meters behind the baseline and recently (Feb 2008) Nadal and his staff have come to my site and read my advice on getting inside the court and trying to finish points earlier (ATTACK - "The Lion Effect" - For Coaches, Players and Parents!), which is ok. And now even Nadal talks in his interviews on how important it is that he is committed to playing closer to or inside the baseline and to finish points earlier! You are welcome Carlos Costa, Uncle Toni and Rafa. I do not mind if my good advice is followed even if you take it for free!! (It took them 4 years to listen to me!)
Again in the final Andy Murray against Novak Djokovic history repeated itself and "Murray never trailed in the tie-break, gaining a 4-2 lead when Djokovic double-faulted. Murray went up 6-4 on another Djokovic double-fault and then secured the title on his sixth match point, hitting a backhand winner down the line."
Back to the second serve issue, you can have a banger of a first serve but if your 2nd serve does not hold-up to the necessary level you are as good as gone from the tournament! So heed my advice, develop a great second serve first!
Keep enjoying your game!
Sergio Cruz
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Comment by Anonymous on 2008-08-10 11:06:18
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