Date: 5 Jan to 8 Jan 2022
Venue: Forrest Hill, Auckland, New Zealand
Website: Tennis New Zealand – Lavie Open
About my opponents
What kind of characteristics did Harrison LUND feel as a player? What kind of tennis should I play to win?
To be honest, he wasn’t really great, he was a little bigger, and he was the type of person who did tennis for fun. His serve was consistent, especially his 2nd serve. He had a weak backhand so I tried to target that spot. He had his arm relaxed and he was whipping the ball. He didn’t have so much topspin on his ball, but he was getting my ball back.
What kind of characteristics did Ridley HUANG feel as a player in the second game? What kind of tennis should I play to win?
The last time I hit with him, he did a flat heavy forehand, but today he had a forehand that had tons of topspin. He has a one-handed backhand, so I thought I would be able to target his backhand and win easily but unfortunately, his forehand had so much topspin and it bounced so much, and it didn’t go exactly as planned.
The proper point story is written below:
About my Tennis
How did I feel about my body during the match?
My body was perfect and I was running around and chasing balls around the court like I always do.
What was my skill during the match?
Serve
In the first match, it was good because my 1st serve was going 70% in, and I only did 2 double faults in 12 games. In the 2nd game for some reason, my first serve’s percentage went down to 10% and I made so many double faults.
Forehand
In the first match, I don’t know how to really say, because my feeling was calm and I was doing perfectly fine. In the second match, I was trying my hardest to brush up on Ridley’s high topspin ball and try to not let him attack me, and when there was an easy ball I tried to target his backhand.
Backhand
In the 1st match, I was doing so many return aces down the line, especially from his lollipop serve. In the 2nd game, he didn’t really hit my backhand, if he did it would be a normal ball with topspin that I have to return it with topspin back.
Volley
I used a lot in the match, but I wasn’t able to finish high loop balls, so it took me around 3 balls to finish, but when my weight was going forward I had a good volley.
How did I feel about my mental health during the match?
In the 1st match, my mentality was of course perfect because I was winning so much.
In my 2nd match, I was dropping my racket, and being so pissed off, the part I improved was: Last time I was angry and the match just took off, but this time I was able to change the game by thinking of how to defeat Ridley instead of getting angry at something I can’t control.
What was my confidence about during the match?
I was confident in my forehand because it is consistent and I am able to crush loopy balls.
What was I worried about during the match?
I was afraid of my double fault because I had done many many double faults, and even if the ball goes in. It was a lollipop serve, and Ridley might smash it.
Looking back on the match, if I could coach (advice) myself in the match, what would I like to convey?
Ridley hits his forehand cross-court so I have to think about that more, and his service, he likes hitting the T for both sides, so I need to watch out, and last I need to step more back, and I have to swing it fully.
What do I want to improve and practice before the next game?
- I need to step back more when I am rallying.
- I can use more S&V when I am winning points.
- I want to be able to hit my approach shot deeper, because right now, I am just pushing the ball, and putting it in.
- I want to get my serve in more by putting more topspin on my serve.
- I was crying when I started losing the match, but I want to stand tall and keep going.
- I don’t want to throw my racket.
- When there is a low I don’t want to just scrub it, I want to bend my leg.
- I want to keep the intensity high for the whole match, I don’t want to get tired so easily.
- I want to hit the ball at the front more, and when there is a fastball I want to prepare faster.
- I want to drink more water.
- I want to do a quick stretch while waiting for the opponent when we are switching ends.
- I want to brush and add more topspin to the backhand and hit it deep.
- When there is a looping ball I want to drive the volley, not wait.
- I want to hit the high part of the net by brushing the ball.
- I used drop shot at the wrong time. I use it when I am in the wrong position, but I need to do it when I am in the right position.
