50/50
Stefi Graf shows the Plate ladies to the crowd.
Colorsport / Stewart Fraser
Of course, Federer should have won since he had two innings and that he had a match point in the third set, but I felt a lack of confidence in his game. It's something we have not seen for a long time
It's still a sad moment when Federer comes out of a tournament, but at the same time time I do not think this result was a bad thing for the game as a whole. It's good to see more players challenge the bigger prizes.
Roger Federer bids farewell by leaving Court 1 after being eliminated from Wimbledon (Getty)
Novak Djokovic was much more like his former personality when he defeated Kei Nishikori in the first semifinal of Center Court. He has struggled lately but he is playing again with great confidence.
I think Nishikori should be proud of his race. He had his own physical problems and I think the problems he had with his arm could have contributed to his defeat. I think the arm problem should affect his service and his forehand and there were times when he seemed to be tired. Game of the day: I think Serena Williams will win her semi-final against Julia Goerges, but the match between Angelique Kerber and Jelena Ostapenko is almost too close to call. I give Kerber advantage, but just right
Kerber clearly has the advantage in the experience given that she is a former world No. 1, won two titles from Grand Slam and has already played in a Wimbledon final, but I do not think it will be a factor. Ostapenko is fearless and I do not think the opportunity will happen to him. Boy, she hits this ball as if she had a personal grudge.
Ostapenko has the advantage in terms of power, but I think that what could give Kerber a crucial advantage is his movement. She is a formidable athlete and her speed around the court and her ability to pursue so many strokes could give her the advantage.
The experience of Kerber could be enough to see her in the final (Getty Images)
What the best players have learned: Every day I remember what I learned from the great players I worked with over the years. years at the IMG Academy that I founded in Florida
We live in an era where dozens of men and women play their best tennis in their thirties, but I do not think that anyone gave a better example than Venus Williams, who came to the academy with Serena and their father Richard.
When Venus revealed seven years ago that she was suffering from Sjogren's syndrome, an incurable autoimmune disease, I think many people suspected that this could be the end of her career. Holy cow, how bad they were.
Venus Williams gives the example (Getty)
The way Venus fought back was an example for everyone. She has had a magnificent year in 2017, reaching her first Wimbledon Final since 2009. At age 38, she has proven that age is only a number. I always like to watch her graceful movements, her movement and her crisp flocks. The tennis court is like his second home
And what I can teach you: Serve-and-volley was the strategy that most players use on the grass, but you do not do not see it very often these days on any surface. Improvements in string and racket technology have allowed players to gain much more power from the back of the field.
However, serving-and-volleyball can always be a useful tactic and I know that many club players can fight when they face. If you are rarely faced with the service-and-stolen, this can take you by surprise.
If you fight against service-and-volley, here are the ways in which you can fight it. First, try to block your returns so that they land at the feet of the incoming volleyballer. If you succeed, it is unlikely that your opponent will trouble you with his next shot. Instead, you should have the chance to get a winning pass.
The lob can also be a useful tactic to slow down a service and volley attack, or you could try a more daring strategy by hitting your return with a beat directly to the incoming server. The easiest shots for an incoming service thief may be those on which you have a small room to stretch and play your shots. If you hit the ball directly to an incoming volleyball player, they could get stuck and unable to hit a damaging volley.
Read about it: I have been working on a new book that will be my personal account of what I learned in a tennis coaching life. The professional tennis register will be released later in the summer. You can find how to buy the book at www.ptrtennis.org
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