1. Where both players stand on the court when the match begins and where they move throughout the points
2. 1st and 2nd serves – Do they vary against players with one and two-handed backhands?
3. Do they take advantage of defensive returns and come in?
4. Do the returners go for big returns, attack a defensive 2nd serve or change their position?
5. How do the players play the points including their style of play which can include moving several feet behind the baseline, standing close to the baseline, varying their position or favoring a particular shot?
6. Can they play with a ton of variety and change the pace, slice, hit drop shots, lobs, etc.?

All of these are very important and must be considered every time you play. With that said, let’s talk a bit about the latest Djokovic vs. Nadal battle.

Tennis fans throughout the world are glued to their TV’s to see if Djokovic can continue his amazing streak which now includes titles at the Australian Open, Indian Wells, Sony Ericsson Open, Madrid and now Rome. It is simply amazing to witness what he has done thus far in 2011, he is playing at such a high level and his confidence is through the roof.

As this match began, I thought about the grueling match Djokovic had in the semis against Murray and if that would take a toll on his body, especially when he has to run all over the court against Nadal. Rafa knew his heavy lefty spin would not be as effective against the very best two-handed backhand in the world, so he would move the ball around to keep Djokovic off-balance. The problem for Nadal is that standing 8-12 feet behind the baseline gives Djokovic much more time to reach every ball.

Not only was Djokovic able to reach the ball, he turned the tables and moved Nadal at all times, making early contact well inside the baseline enabling him to also come in and hit a few easy drop volleys. At times, so many people, and even the experts, thought Novak was starting to get tired and even a little frustrated, but he looked up to his support team and got the motivation he needed. Novak won the match 6-4, 6-4 and once again showed the world why he is the best right now.

What propelled Djokovic to victory in this match were the following:

1. Average serves for Nadal
2. Nadal standing to far behind the baseline
3. Nadal’s lethal-lefty-heavy-cross-court-forehand had no effect on the backhand of Djokovic
4. The improved fitness of Djokovic
5. Signs of frustration and doubt from Nadal

The question remains: Can Novak beat Nadal in a five-setter on clay at Roland Garros? So far, all signs are pointing to yes, but their is something very special about that clay and I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see Rafa back in the winner’s circle. I can’t wait!

Rafael Nadal

The match everyone had been looking forward to all season (Djokovic vs. Nadal on clay) finally happened last week in Madrid and it lived up to its billing. Everyone wondered could Djokovic keep his undefeated streak alive on clay against the king of the dirt, Rafael Nadal. The answer was yes! Now, let’s take a look forward to the French and break down each player’s game.

The talk of the street is whether or not Nadal can not only defend his French Open title, but what about Wimbledon and the US Open? Very few will disagree that Nadal is the best of the best on clay in the history of the game, but last year he stepped it up on all surfaces. Can he do that again in 2011?

What makes Nadal so special? Rafa has a trait only few have.  He refuses to lose.  This is very difficult to teach, but he has other factors that include:

• A strong support team that includes his uncle and his family.
• It’s impossible to define how hard he works on and off the court.
• He is a lefty, and I believe he would not be who he is today if he were right-handed (I know he is right-handed in everything else he does, and this helps him with his outstanding backhand).
• In his mind there is no doubt that he can reach any ball.
• He is very respectful of his sport and opponents.
• He is very open to signing autographs.
• He is very humble in his press conferences and never makes excuses.

Let’s break down his game:

• Forehand:  He is a lefty with an extreme Western grip that generates heavy spin and his cross-courts are to the opponent’s backhand.  Note:  If you have a one-handed backhand with huge spin, a forehand forces you to hit your return shot when it is often above your shoulder and this is not easy.  Rafael used to hit all spins, but he has now added a flat drive to his forehand which he uses when defensive balls are hit to him, or when he is inside the baseline.
• Movement:  He not only anticipates well, but before he hits his shot he knows exactly where it is going and where he wants to be to hit your return shot.
• Serve:  For a while, his serve was winning him so many easy points, but that hasn’t been the case in his recent matches.
• Backhand:  Everyone talks about his forehand, but if you study his game, the stats will show many points come from this side, especially when he is on the run or pushed out wide.  Rafael’s slice is darn good and quite often will break down the opponent’s rhythm.  Very effective on grass, especially the 1^st week.  He keeps the ball so low which takes away your options to his offensively against it.
• Be careful though, Rafael is not known to be a volleyer, but he is not hesitant to either come in or sneak in several times during the match.
• He can drive you crazy with a few of his drop shots, especially when you stand well behind the baseline hitting groundstrokes.
• Court position:  No matter what you say, Rafael prefers to stand several feet behind the baseline and just grind and grind.  He loves to play the game of tennis and during practice or in a match, I do not think any other player trains as hard as he does, or plays with all he has all the time.  Right now he is flirting with how much he can do with my body and not get injured or decrease his fierce competitive spirit.
• Style of Play:
  • Hit deep penetrating forehands cross court.
  • He can spin, drive, and slice his backhand.  His slice stays very low.
  • He has a very consistent serve with a wide slice to the backhand side.
  • He has a very good drop shot.
  • Nadal will fool you when in trouble or will when you come in with off-the-wall passing shots.
  • Never think you have a winner, not only will he run down the ball, but he will either pass you if you attack or hit a clear cut winner.
  • Against nearly every player in the world, he is favored to win the longer the match.

I don’t think I have ever seen anyone play like Nadal does, and I doubt we will ever see someone like him again. He is so special and we should thank our lucky stars that he played in our lifetime!

Now, let’s take a look at Novak…

Novak Djokovic

Djokovic’s Game:

• Novak is one of the only players on tour that has no weakness and can hurt you with just one or two weapons or he can play with a ton of variety, it just depends on who he is playing.   Against Nadal in the finals of Madrid, he altered his court position and moved closer to the baseline and actually inside the court, often catching Nadal out of position.
• In addition to that, Novak served to every inch of the service box, but never lost control of play. It’s not very often you witness Nadal getting a little frustrated, but I’m sure the next time he plays Novak you will not see him play from that far back as he did in the finals at Madrid.
• The advantage of playing very aggressively including standing closer, or inside the baseline gives you more of a chance because you can attack, hit a drop shot, or hit some clear cut winners.  To position yourself close to the baseline will demand you add hitting from semi- and open stances.
• Be careful: Only a few players can do this and Novak is part of that special group.  He has spent endless hours in the gym developing strength and flexibility to his lower body which then gives him a strong, athletic position to hit any and all balls coming his way.

Djokovic is playing with such incredible confidence that it is going to be difficult to stop him. The one question I have is how would he fare against Nadal in the finals of the French Open when it is best three out of five sets.

Stay tuned for more analysis before, during and after the French Open!

Brad Gilbert speaks to a group of tennis students at IMG Academies

From player to prognosticator, Brad Gilbert has done it all for the game of tennis.  Since retiring in 1995, the former No. 4 player in the world has become a coach to some of the sport’s greatest players and brightest stars (see Agassi, Roddick, Murray).

Currently, Gilbert works part-time  as a tennis analyst for ESPN while helping coach rising tennis star, and IMG Bollettieri Tennis-alumni, Kei Nishikori.  Gilbert has been coming back to IMG Academies for over five years to assist in the development of the Academy’s aspiring students, and this week he has been serving as a guest coach for all of the students training at the Tennis Academy.  We recently sat down to chat with Gilbert about all things tennis.

Brad Gilbert on…

Coming back to IMG Academies…I started with IMG way back as a student and now I believe that this is the sixth time I have come down here for a week of guest coaching.  I have been down on separate occasions when I was working with Andy Murray and I have also spent a week at IMG with Kei Nishikori.  This week, though,  I am dedicated to the entire Academy.

What benefits Gilbert thinks the Academy offers young tennis players…My son came here for a year-and-a-half and said the greatest thing about the Academy was its simplicity.  Where we come from, a lot of tennis players have to go practice after school, and you have to drive or get a ride, and it is always a chaotic process.  Everything at IMG is within a close proximity; from the gym, to the courts, to the groups, to the coaching, your life is simplified for you so you can focus on tennis.  It is already fairly stressful being a kid anyways.

The potential of Kei Nishikori…Kei is 21 years old, and the most important thing for him is to keep working hard and getting better.  For me, it is easy to say you want him to get to this or that, but that adds pressure for him.  The most important thing for him is to continue getting better and continue improving in the gym.  Get stronger, get fit as a fiddle, and keep working on all aspects of his game.  Then, who knows how far he can go?  I never like to say player could be top-20 or something, because then you are selling him/her short.

Is Roger Federer really struggling?…The most amazing thing about Roger is, I think for 10 straight years the guy hasn’t missed a major. He has been incredibly healthy, and has had an incredibly amazing run.  Maybe the only thing the guy is guilty of is raising the bar so high that all these young kids now are playing so much better because of him.  He is still solidly playing at No. 3 in the world, even though when you hear people talk about him you think that he is 15-20 in the world.  He is still three in the world!  Something tells me that he believes he can still take it to the next level.  It is like a novel, he has to try discovering another chapter.  Andre played great at 29 into his early 30s.  Andre is probably is a good person for Roger to look at and think that if he could do it, than I could still do it.

Is Novak Djokovic really that good?…Novak was almost his own prophet in that, he said, upon winning the Davis Cup that everything made sense and everything kicked into gear for him.  Since then, he obviously has put it together.   At the Open he beat Federer, saved match point, got to the final and won.  You could tell by his play in Australia that he was playing with so much more confidence.  And you know, I think he knew it, he felt it and he is showing it.

Which current player embodys the philosophy of your book, Winning Ugly, best?…The person that I like to watch the most because so many people talk about how she doesn’t have any weapons and that there is no dominant woman’s player is Caroline Wozniacki.  She is a great counterpuncher, she works hard every match, and she is just doing as good as she can do.  I love watching because she doesn’t have the biggest shots.  She works hard, gives 100%, and she is No.1 in the world because she is out there winning the most matches.  She is one of my favorites.

How you would describe your style as a TV analyst…It is hard to be your own critic.  I like to think when I am calling a match, or sitting courtside, that I have to pinch myself because I am having a good time.  I really love what I am doing and I’m having fun.   I’m not one that tends to rip people.  I guess, only in the bluest of blue moons, if something happens then I might have a comment, but you see, my style is that I like to have a little more fun and make up nicknames and predictions.  I try not to be so critical, and the thing I do like most is discussing strategy.  I like talking to people about what I am seeing strategy wise, and what one player is trying to do against another.

French Open prediction…I always say that I don’t like to make any predictions until I see the draw, but obviously based upon what we have seen this year; Nadal has to be one of the favorites.  Over the last six years, Nadal has won 97% of the time on clay matches.  Only six losses on clay in six years!  Based on that, you have to like Nadal.  I just like to see what lies ahead once the draw is made, but obviously Nadal’s success on clay speaks volumes.  Obviously, with the way Novak has been playing, you can’t rule him out either.  He is still yet to lose a match this year.  Those guys, on paper, are the ones to beat this year.

L to R: IMG Bollettieri elite coach Dante Bottini, Nick Bollettieri, Kei Nishikori, Brad Gilbert, IMG Bollettieri Director Chip Brooks

Top-100 Japanese tennis player Kei Nishikori has added Brad Gilbert, one of the game’s most sought-after coaches, as his new traveling coach and mentor, for the 2011 season.

Kei Nishikori will be expanding his IMG Academies coaching team with a consulting role for Brad Gilbert. Gilbert is currently a guest coach at the Bradenton, Fla.-based IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy, where Nishikori trains year-round under the tutelage of legendary coach Nick Bollettieri and his world class staff.

A fierce competitor, Nishikori ended his 2010 season with one goal in mind – to make 2011 his best season of record. To help him achieve this, he has sought assistance from Gilbert, the man Andre Agassi relied on for nearly a decade, coaching him to six Grand Slam titles between 1994 and 2002. Gilbert has also coached Andy Roddick and Andy Murray. Said Gilbert, “Kei is a fierce young competitor. He knows what he wants from the game of tennis. I’m excited to expand my relationship with the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy and help consult Kei during the 2011 season.” Both Brad Gilbert and his sister Dana Gilbert were students at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy in the 80s.

“I am excited about the addition of Brad to my team. Brad’s knowledge as a former top player, as well as his coaching success, is something that can help me become a better player,” added Nishikori.

In the 2011 season, Nishikori will travel full-time with IMG Bollettieri elite coach Dante Bottini. Bottini is a long-time member of Nick’s elite coaching staff.

Added Bollettieri, “As a coach, Brad adds the little things to a player that make a big difference in the higher echelon of the game. Brad’s long-term relationship with the Academy and me as a student, a player, and a guest coach, make Brad a great addition to consult Kei’s coaching team, as well as to assist the program at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy.”

Nishikori returned to play in February 2010 after a year-long lay-off following elbow surgery. He won consecutive ATP Tour Challenger series titles at Savannah and Sarasota in May, before playing in his first French Open shortly thereafter. By summer’s end, the 20-year old advanced through to the third round of the U.S. Open, posting his best Grand Slam finish since 2008.

For more on Kei, you can find him on Facebook!

(All IMG Bollettieri players are listed first, unless noted)

Boys’ 12

Raahil Doshi 6-0, 6-1 over Igor Cantanhede

Lutwin Demacar 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 over Ivan Shtengelov

Basil Khuma 6-0, 6-0 over Diego Perez

Michael Mmoh 6-0, 6-3 over Titus Strom

Girls’ 12

Nandini Das 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 over Kim Soomin

Melissa Plambeck 6-1, 6-0 over Anastasia Abramyan

Ashley Kratzer 6-4, 6-4 over Krista Cerpina (1st round), 1-6, 0-6 to Katarina Jokic (2nd round)

Ojasvinee Singh 6-3, 6-4 over Paloma Martinez

Boys’ 14

Alexander Sendegeya 6-1, 6-1 over Miguel Rios

Hyeon Chung 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 over Bogdan Bobrov

Lamar Remy 6-0, 7-6 over Tadas Bebelis

Naoki Nakagawa 6-1, 6-1 over Jared Woodson

Girls’ 14

Rebecca Weissmann 6-1, 6-2 over Alexis Prokopuik

Ashley Dean 2-6, 2-6 to Jacqueline Cabaj Awad

Arina Kuznetsova 6-1, 6-0 over Isadora Rosso

Lia Sutherland 2-6, 2-6 to Maria Tsakanyan

Alexandra Baer 6-3, 2-6, 4-6 to Ekaterina Popova

Rheeya Doshi 6-2, 6-3 over Lisa Ponomar

Boys’ 16

Trey Strobel 6-0, 6-2 over Michal Rolski

A.J. Janahi 0-6, 2-6 to Thai Kwiatkowski

Yifan Dang 6-4, 6-4 over Spencer Papa

Gianluigi Quinzi 6-2, 6-1 over Javier Pujol

Abhishek Alla 6-2, 7-5 over Siyu Liu

Boys’ 18

Dennis Novikov 1-6, 7-6, 6-3 over Chuhan Wang

Christian Harrison 4-6, 2-6 to Lucas Pouille

Hugo Dellien 7-5, 6-2 over Mac Styslinger (both IMG)

Hong Chung 4-6, 4-6 to Shane Vinsant

Girls’ 18

Victoria Duval 7-5, 6-1 over Ilona Kremen

Stephanie Nauta 6-2 6-1 over Natalie Beazant

Viktoriya Lavrentyeva 3-6, 3-6 to Miyu Kato

Roger Federer

I love to play golf on the weekends, but not today, why? Roger Federer is playing Rafael Nadal in the 2010 World Championship in London, England. It doesn’t get any better than this for a tennis addict like me!

As I watched this match it was very clear that Federer was not going to be pushed off the baseline. He was determined to play very aggressively, including taking balls on the rise and forcing Nadal to move side to side. This style of play put a great deal of pressure on Nadal, and any short return Federer pounced on. Nadal never came to the net!

The indoor conditions were perfect for Federer because there was:

1. No wind
2. No sun
3. Medium pace surface
4. No inconsistent bounces which allowed Federer to hit just about any ball including the serve on the rise.

Nadal’s bread and butter shots are:

1. Lefty wide serve to the ad court
2. Heavy cross court forehand to Federer’s one handed backhand

In recent matches Nadal forced Federer back behind the baseline and quite often his returns were short or sliced back cross-court, which eventually would be put away by Nadal. Not this time. Also, Federer’s serves was on and was like a missile locked onto a target!  He placed the ball perfectly and was able to get a high (80-90) percentage of first serves in.

Federer needed this win not only to regain his confidence, but also to give his competitors a message that he is still the man to beat. I firmly believe that he is going to have a huge bounce-back year in 2011 and that some of his best days are still in front of him.

As for Nadal, he will not let this match get him down. He is probably already thinking of ways to combat what Federer did and because of his great determination I am sure he will look forward to playing Federer in 2011.

I want to say congratulations to my former student and close friend, Paul Annacone, who now coaches Federer. Paul does not say much, so when he speaks you know Federer will listen.

There is plenty of intrigue heading into 2011. Will Federer bounce back? Can Nadal repeat his success of 2010? Will Murray finally breakthrough and win a Grand Slam? How will Djokovic fair? Will Roddick get back in the mix? I can’t wait to see how things pan out!

We look forward to your questions and can’t wait to get the chat started!

Here is some video of him practicing at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy yesterday: