You would like to have an overall vision of when you play your best and what kind of way you like to play the most. Federer is not going to play the way Nadal plays, which is completely different.

You then have a core strategy

Take Nadal, what is his core strategy — Well, Nadal’s going to serve, accurately, high percentage. He’s going to look to dominate with his forehand. He’s going to run around. He’s going to hit heavy topspin. He’s going to work you round and the moment you get into trouble he’s going to look to maybe come forward and finish. He’s going to try to defend great. He’s going to do that at Wimbledon. He’s going to do it at the French. He’s going to do it at the U.S. Open. He’s going to tweak it and adjusted depending upon the surface and the player. So, his core strategy is there.

Then I believe when somebody has a match strategy.

I say match strategy and not game plan, because I like the match strategy to be consistent with the core strategy.

You then have your fundamental tactics

Generic tactics, which are really high percentage principles. This is when you’re e.g. six feet behind the baseline, you’re not going for a low line down the line. It’s super low percentage. It’s applicable to top world class professionals. It’s applicable to 10 and under players. So, there’s basics about the higher percentage shot is crosscourt as a general rule. If you’re further behind the baseline, generally, you’re going to play the ball higher. If you’re returning serve on a first serve. You go more towards larger target areas. These are high percentage tactic principles.

Then you have personalized tactics

A great example of that would be Djokovic’s down the line backhand. He has one of the greatest backhands down the line of all time. For most people, that’s a fairly low percentage shot. Not really for him.

When Pete Sampras was playing or if you watch in today’s game, one of the great servers Raonic or you watch Opelka, who’s got this huge serve. Most people if it’s a break point, maybe say go with a high percentage, first serve. With those guys you’re not going to tell them don’t go for an ace because that’s who they are and that’s their weapon.

So, for them, those are personalized tactics. All three of them are better of going for the ace. For the average guy playing it might be a better choice to put a three quarters first serve in and then go from there.

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