Court Position

We all can't be as gifted in court coverage as Roger Federer. Having said that, Roger understands the importance of court positioning as well as anyone. Hanging around in areas of the court that leave huge alleys for your opponent to hit into is likely a losing formula.

A tennis court is 39 feet long from baseline to net. A player should ideally try to achieve a position in one of two places. One is near the baseline in the middle of the court when hitting ground stroke rallies. The other is around six feet back from the net when striving for net position.

The area from the baseline to about ten feet from the net may be considered as "no-man's-land" or "the blank." Lingering in this area can cause deep trouble since a deep driving shot may catch you at your feet. If you do return a shot from no-man's-land you can return to the baseline or go forward to the net position.

Standing around watching your shot simply means you will be out of position for your next stroke. Strive to attain a position so that you always arrive at the spot the ball is going to before it actually arrives. Do your hard running while the ball is in the air, so you will not be rushed in your stroke after it bounces.

Natural anticipation can play a big role. Some players have an innate ability to know where the next return is going and take position accordingly, while others may never sense it. For people who may lack natural anticipation, it is more crucial to achieve recommended court position.

If your opponent has a short shot, and you are at the net, do not stand still and let him pass you point blank. Choose a side where you think he will hit. If you guess right, you may win the point.

Remember, your location should always strive to be such that you can cover the largest possible area of court without sacrificing safety. Tennis basics demand that proper court positioning be integral part of a players game. Roger Federer knows his opponent will be eager to catch him out of position. That is why one of the best movers of the game still strives for optimal court position.