Being able to send your opponent running wide and short because of an extreme angle play is an important skill in modern tennis. On the WTA Tour, it is mostly used as a variation from the baseline, it is part of many game plans on the ATP Tour. Roger Federer uses the short chipped slice returns from the ad-side but also from the deuce side to make his opponents deal with a low contact point. Also in the rally, the short angle ball with backspin or topspin is often used to bring variety to the game. One-handed backhand players have good soft hands playing the slice and can use these skills to bring their opponent out of rhythm. Stan Wawrinka, for example, can open up the court with a tremendous short angle one-handed backhand. But also the weapon of most of the players, the forehand, is used to put the opponent under the immense pressure of space. The forehand inside out short angle is played often to let the player run wide into the backhand corner.
The shots into that area are more used as a setup shot. Its purpose is to wound the opponent and kill him with the following shots. Sometimes it is also just a way to bring the opponent out of rhythm or to force him to play shorter.
The “dead angle” is used for different purposes:
To open up the court and to attack the open court
To open up the court and to let the opponent think that the next shot goes into open court, but playing the shot against the running direction.
To play a winner when having a great angle from a wide position between single and doubles line at the baseline.
Often in WTA with two-handed backhand playing a winner shot or penetrating shot from the middle of the court into the short angle cross-court (On ATP players go directly around and search the forehand).
For a variation of contact point height with a backspin shot as a return
For a variation of contact point height and running ways during the rally.
Played as a volley low and short with angle
As a drop shot when standing inside the court in the backhand corner and following to close the angle
The winner from the transition area
Very short and wide placed kick serve from the ad side
Here are four examples from a premier WTA Event (Dubai) from the first round (M. Sakkari vs A. Sabalenka).
In the first video, Maria Sakkari is playing a fantastic short angle from the middle court with the forehand inside-out forcing Aryna Sabalenka to get short. Sakkari finishes the point with a backhand down the line winner into open court.
In the second video A., Sabalenka is using the short angle into backhand from the middle of the court. She realizes the surprise effect, takes advantage of the momentum and follows directly up the court for the angle bisector.
The third video is an example of how to answer with a better angle when being pushed wide into the backhand corner. Here Sakkari is forced to run wide into her backhand but answers with a great counter shot angle into Sabalenka‘s backhand side. Sabalenka unable to get into a well-balanced position is getting too short and gives Sakkari the opportunity to finish the point with a forehand placed down the line against the running direction.
The last example shows now Sabalenka taking advantage of a wide ball played into her backhand. She gets in time to the ball and answers with a short angle backhand forcing Sakkari to hit a defensive backhand slice. Here also because not moving diagonally to the ball. Sabalenka approaches and forces Sakkari to miss with the forehand.
It is good to see that angle play on the WTA tour is being used more and more. Train your players to use the dead angle with patterns of play in your daily practice.
All the best COACH DIMI