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Tennis Stretches

Stretching is an essential part of any tennis player's routine to improve flexibility, prevent injuries, and enhance performance. Here are some key stretches that target muscles commonly used in tennis: Shoulder Stretch:Stand tall and bring your right arm across your body.Use your left hand to pull your right arm gently towards your chest until you...

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Down the Line Forehand

Hitting a down-the-line forehand in tennis requires proper technique, footwork, and timing. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you execute a down-the-line forehand effectively: **1. Ready Position: Start in a balanced and ready position with your feet shoulder-width apart. Bend your knees slightly and keep your weight on the balls of your feet. **...

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Two Handed Backhand

Hitting a two-handed backhand in tennis involves using both hands on the grip of the racket. This stroke provides stability and power, and it's a popular choice for many players, both recreational and professional. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to execute a two-handed backhand: 1. Proper Grip: Use an Eastern backhand grip for your dominant han...

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Blocking Back a Serve

In tennis, blocking a serve refers to a defensive technique used to handle a powerful serve from the opponent. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to block a serve effectively: **1. Ready Position: Start in a ready position, with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. Hold your racket with both hands in a continental grip, whic...

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Pickleball Serve

The serve in pickleball is a crucial part of the game, and it must be executed within the rules to ensure fair play. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to perform a legal and effective pickleball serve: Basic Pickleball Serve Technique:Positioning:Stand behind the baseline, with both feet behind the back boundary line.Service Box:The serve must be ...

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Common Tennis Strokes

In tennis, players use a variety of strokes to control the ball and strategically outmaneuver their opponents. Here are some common tennis strokes: Forehand:The forehand is a fundamental stroke where the player hits the ball with the palm of the hand facing the direction of the stroke. It is typically the more dominant and powerful groundstroke for...

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Pickleball Origin Story

Pickleball has a unique and interesting origin story that dates back to the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington. The sport was created by three friends—Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum. Here's the origin story of pickleball: A Game for the Family:In the summer of 1965, Joel Pritchard and his family returned home to Bainbri...

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Chip and Charge

The "chip and charge" is a strategy in tennis where a player hits a short, low shot (chip) and quickly moves forward towards the net (charges) to put pressure on their opponent. This tactic is often used when returning a serve or hitting a short ball. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to execute a chip and charge in tennis: Anticipation: As you pr...

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Tennis Legends- Ivan Lendl

Ivan Lendl is a former professional tennis player and coach who was born on March 7, 1960, in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic). Lendl is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of his era and one of the most successful players in the Open Era. Here are some key points about Ivan Lendl: Playing Career:Ivan Lendl turned ...

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Table Tennis Rules

Ping pong, also known as table tennis, follows a set of rules established by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). Here are some fundamental rules of ping pong: Scoring: Game Points:A game is typically played to 11 points, but it can also be played to 21 points in some formats.Winning a Game:The player or pair scoring 11 points (or as d...

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Doubles Strategies

Doubles tennis is a dynamic and strategic game that requires effective communication, teamwork, and coordinated efforts between partners. Here are some key doubles tennis strategies to enhance your performance on the court: Communication:Constant communication is crucial in doubles tennis. Keep your partner informed about your intentions, the oppon...

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Steffi Graf

Steffi Graf, whose full name is Stefanie Maria Graf, is a former professional tennis player from Germany. Born on June 14, 1969, in Mannheim, West Germany, Graf is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Here are some key highlights of Steffi Graf's tennis career: Grand Slam Success:Graf achieved the calendar-year Grand Slam in 1...

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Hitting a Topspin Forehand

Hitting a topspin forehand in tennis involves a specific technique to generate the desired spin and control. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hit a topspin forehand: Grip:Eastern or Semi-Western Grip:Use either an Eastern or Semi-Western grip. The Semi-Western grip is commonly preferred for topspin forehands as it allows for easier access to t...

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Second Serve Strategies

In tennis, the second serve is crucial, and having effective strategies can help you maintain control of the point. Here are some second serve strategies to consider: 1. Variety in Spin: Kick Serve: Use a kick serve to add topspin and make the ball bounce high, making it challenging for your opponent to attack.Slice Serve: Employ a slice serve to k...

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Tennis Legends - Pete Sampras

Pete Sampras is a former professional tennis player from the United States, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. Here are some key highlights about Pete Sampras: Birth: Peter Sampras was born on August 12, 1971, in Washington, D.C., USA.Career Start: Sampras started playing tennis at a young age and turned pro...

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Perfect Lob

A lob in tennis is a shot where the ball is hit high and deep, typically over the opponent at the net, with the intention of landing it close to the baseline. It's a strategic shot used to change the direction of play, create distance, and put pressure on the opponent. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hit a perfect lob in tennis: Certainly! He...

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Serve and Volley

Serving and volleying is a classic and effective strategy in tennis that involves following up a serve by rushing the net to hit a volley. It requires a combination of a powerful serve, quick movement, and precise net play. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to execute the serve and volley strategy: Serving: Develop a Strong Serve:Work on developin...

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Moya On Nadal's Comeback: 'It’s Been A Winding And Torturous Road'

After a year off the courts, Rafael Nadal will be back in competition in late December at the Brisbane International presented by Evie. After an operation on his psoas muscle and a lingering hip issue, the 22-time Grand Slam champion set out on the long road to recovery with his sights set on a 2024 return, and the opportunity to bring an end to his legendary career while battling it out on a tennis court.

Having recently returned from Kuwait, where they practised for a few days with Arthur Fils, and before heading for Australia, Carlos Moyà, the Spaniard’s coach, sat down with ATPTour.com for an exclusive discussion about the most difficult time in the Mallorcan’s career.

Could you break down what has happened in the past few months, from Nadal’s decision to have an operation to the latest training sessions, with a mind to return to competition in Brisbane?
It’s what comes with an operation that requires complete rest. He had a more complicated operation than was first expected. Once they opened him up and saw what was there, it was more delicate than they had first thought. It’s not that he didn’t have tests and scans... but it seems that they didn’t have a good idea of the problem and the recovery period was longer than expected.

It's also true that if he hadn’t had the operation, it would’ve been even more difficult for him to recover. He always knew he wanted to come back and that he wanted to say his goodbye on court.

After the operation... it was a month and a half of practically not seeing him, because he went on holiday. He was doing rehab as much as he could, given that he was on the boat in Greece. Then, at the end of August, we started to train, but very lightly. We would do two days a week, twenty minutes. It was a very slow progression. Sometimes we would take a step back, then go again... We were always very careful.

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Best Of 2023 Retirements: Americans Isner, Sock Hang Up Their Racquets

As we continue our review of the 2023 ATP Tour season, we look back at some of the biggest names who called time on their playing careers this year. Americans John Isner and Jack Sock lead Part 2 of this story, with Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Pablo Andujar among those featured in Part 1 yesterday.

John Isner
Isner was the standard-bearer of American men's tennis for much of his career. The No. 1 American in the year-end Pepperstone ATP Rankings for eight of nine years from 2012-20, Isner finished inside the year-end Top 20 for the entirety of the 2010s. 

The ATP Tour's all-time aces leader hit 48 aces in his final singles match at the US Open. The former World No. 8 closed his career with 16 tour-level singles titles and 489 match wins.

“I think I've overachieved. I never imagined myself having this much success for this long," said Isner, who turned pro in 2007 after winning the NCAA team title with the University of Georgia. “Of course, there's so many matches I wish I could have back, but I prepared in my mind as best as I possibly could for 17 years. I don't have many regrets, that's for sure.” Read Isner Tribute

Jack Sock
A former Top 10 star in both singles and doubles, Sock reached a career-high Pepperstone ATP Ranking of No. 8 in 2017, a year in which he finished as the No. 1 American. The following season, he ascended to World No. 2 in doubles.

Retiring players at the Nitto ATP Finals 2023
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Spaniards Lopez, Andujar Among 2023 Retirees

As we continue our review of the 2023 ATP Tour season, we look back at some of the biggest names who called time on their playing careers this year. Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Pablo Andujar lead Part 1 of this story, with Americans John Isner and Jack Sock to feature in Part 2 tomorrow.

Feliciano Lopez
One of the longest careers in the history of the ATP Tour reached its conclusion when Lopez said goodbye to the circuit at age 41, after 26 seasons as a professional. The former World No. 12 played his final tournament on home soil at the Mallorca Championships.

“I feel very proud of having been able to make it through [more than] 20 years as a professional without missing one, but also of having left a good impression on my fellow players and on the people I have spent time with,” he said.

It was a fitting finale on the grass courts of Mallorca, with Lopez's 87 tour-level wins on the surface the most of any Spaniard. He also enjoyed what he called his "best week" on the ATP Tour on grass, when he was crowned champion in both singles and doubles at the Cinch Championships at The Queen's Club in 2019. The former World No. 12 ended 2002-20 in the Top 100 of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. Read Lopez Tribute

[ATP APP]

Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah won 19 ATP Tour titles together.
Guido Pella
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