Lessons You Can Learn From Team Roddick
He's Improved His Game. So Can You.
By Jay Borazio
Tennis Life Magazine, April 2004
Andy Roddick’s success since teaming up with Brad Gilbert in June 2003 has
been punctuated with a number of career highlights: a grass court title at
Queen’s Club, being a semifinalist at Wimbledon, two Masters Series titles,
qualifying for the Masters Cup, Grand Slam Champion at the U.S. Open, and the
year-end world No. 1 ranking.
The major reasons for Roddick’s im-provement are his new businesslike mental
approach and his refined strategy. Here are some lessons that you can learn
from Roddick’s fabulous second half of 2003 and how you can apply them to your
game.
First, don’t allow anything to affect your concentration. Roddick
mental approach has improved markedly. Now he is amazingly calm, and he
concentrates with razor-sharp focus, whereas before he was getting too pumped
up, wasting energy, being distracted by line calls and arguing with chair
umpires. Everybody can learn to improve his or her concentration by using this
focus technique. Try to:
‧ see which way the ball is spinning
‧ pick out the seam of the ball
‧ spot the label printed on the ball
‧ isolate the ball from the background
As long as you are making your best effort it doesn’t matter if you cannot see
these things, because that will raise your personal level of focus and in time
you will learn to see them. If anything interferes with your concentration,
redirect your attention to this focus technique.
You need to focus on the ball for 100 percent of each cycle. A cycle consists
of the following actions: once the ball leaves the server’s hand; as the
racket and ball come together for the serve; from contact, over the net, to the
bounce; and as the racket and ball come together.
Repeat the same process as the ball is returned until the server hits it. To
evaluate whether you are sharpening your focus, ask yourself, “Does the ball
appear bigger, do I have more time, and how much of each cycle am I focused for
?” Remember, if anything interferes with your concentration, redirect your
attention by using this technique.
Roddick has become a much smarter player by using his head more
tricks to his repertoire. He plays within himself by remaining calm and
working the point before going for a winner. In the past he would press by
going for progressively bigger shots and would end up with too many unforced
errors. Everybody can learn to become a smartsser player. Realize that you
don’t need to play perfectly to win. When I coached with Brad Gilbert in
Hong Kong, I can remember Brad telling everyone, “I haven’t missed a ball
yet,” and reminding us every five minutes, “I still haven’t missed a ball!”
Brad’s lesson was that at many different standards of play (and this is surely
true for most club players), aiming to keep the ball in play is the most
important element needed to win.
Roddick improved his backhand and added more options to his game by mixing up
his serve, utilizing the slice backhand, approaching the net more often and
serve and volleying to close out points he sets up with his big serve.
Brad also said, “The net is your No. 1 enemy. Aim much higher.” His message:
Improve your weakness by recognizing it and adjusting. To record some personal
best performances of your own: Focus, always try to improve, and work on adding
more to your game.
Jay Borazio is an Advanced International coach and the official coach and match
analyst for the Salem Open ATP Tour event.
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看來Andy的進步是有目共睹的喔！^^
在加油吧！
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