The Nadal Variation

/in /by
You often talk about the Nadal Variation. What do you mean?
The Nadal Variation is a strategy where Nadal ran around his backhand to hit a powerful forehand cross-court shot.
This strategy allowed Nadal to:
1. Dictate Play with His Forehand: Nadal’s forehand was one of his most lethal weapons, particularly with the heavy topspin he generated. Running around his backhand let him use his dominant stroke to control the rally.
2. Exploit the Opponent’s Weaker Side: By hitting a wide cross-court forehand, Nadal pulled his opponent off the court, often targeting their backhand side, which is typically weaker for most players.
3. Create Space for the Next Shot: By pushing his opponent wide with the cross-court forehand, Nadal opened up the court, allowing him to either attack down the line on the next shot or hit an inside-out forehand to maintain control.
4. Psychological Pressure: This move was a classic Nadal tactic, imposing psychological pressure. Opponents knew that even when they target his backhand side, he could turn it into an offensive play with his forehand, making it difficult to find a safe target.

“You have to be ready to deal with it”: Combating Anxiety on the Court

/in , /by
It can feel like the whole world is caving in when the nerves kick in and the knot in your stomach tightens, when you feel the piercing gaze of the crowd, when you start to shake, sweat and stumble, when your knees start to buckle and your heart begins to beat faster and faster.

But this experience is not unique.

An estimated 31 percent of US adults struggle with anxiety disorder at some point in their lives, so why do athletes feel so alone? According to J.D. DeFreese, an exercise and sport science professor at UNC, this is because the experience of anxiety is individualized.

Ryan Seggerman, a graduate student on the UNC men’s tennis team, said the first step in grappling with anxiety in sports is acknowledging that it can’t be avoided.

“I think (anxiety) is just part of sport in general,” Seggerman said. “You get nervous before matches, you get nervous before big moments. It’s almost a fact. You have to be ready to deal with it.”

Anxiety is a battle that is being fought inside the minds of many athletes. Thanks to a growing dialogue about mental health in athletics, athletes are becoming more comfortable sharing their stories and building up one another.

Brian Cernoch, Seggerman’s teammate and a three-time All-American, said that the way in which he deals with anxiety on the court can make or break a match.

“If you come into a match and you just let the anxiety and fear of losing get to you, it’s going to take over,” Cernoch said. “If you can turn your mind to focusing on something else, focusing on your game point by point, eventually it will go away and you’re going to have a much clearer mind when you’re playing.”

For many, anxiety in athletics comes from within, but for others it comes from somewhere else — or perhaps, someone else. DeFreese said external factors like academics, family or other personal issues can affect athletes’ performances.

Anxiety can also stem from a coach.

“Coaches have a lot of actual power and a lot of perceived power over athletes,” DeFreese said. “They get to decide who gets to play. They decide who plays what positions. How they make those decisions, how they communicate those decisions, the degree to which they make the athlete feel meaningful and valued beyond just playing — coaches can do that in the most positive ways, and coaches can make an athlete not feel very valued outside what they do as a performer.”

Sam Paul has been the head coach of UNC’s men’s tennis team for 30 years. He said he must always be mindful of how his words and actions affect the athletes he coaches.

“You, as a coach, can certainly increase anxiety if you’re not aware of what’s happening around you,” Paul said. “But it’s all about communication.”

Communication. That is what it all boils down to. The stigma around anxiety in athletics has made it difficult for athletes at all levels to come forward and communicate the fact that they are struggling.

Since 2020, NCAA student-athlete well-being studies continue to report that mental health concerns are prevalent among collegiate athletes.

Ben McCormick
April 11, 2023
Credit

Championship Excellence Manly Lawn Club Finals 2024: A Showcase of Strategy and Tenacity

/in , /by

The intensity and drama of finals tennis was on full display during the Manly Lawn Club Championships 2024! By Sunday afternoon, we had crowned some new champions: Andre in Singles, Ollie in Men’s Doubles, and Xander in Mixed Doubles. Luckily, the weather held up beautifully.

Finals Results:
– Singles: Andre defeated Rimmo, 6-4, 6-4.
– Women’s Singles: Ruby edged out Carolina in a thrilling 6-4, 2-6, 6-0.
– Men’s Doubles: Sean and Ollie triumphed over Sven and Andre, 6-3, 7-6.
– Mixed Doubles: Bryanne and Xander bested Lisa and Todd, 6-2, 6-1.

Congratulations to all players on a fantastic finals weekend!

The Women’s Singles final showcased a captivating contrast of styles: Ruby’s powerful windscreen wiper forehands against Carolina’s controlled slice backhands. For two sets, it was youth versus experience in a match of tactics and endurance. Carolina’s remarkable grit and strategic attempts to outplay Ruby’s Western grip style kept us on the edge of their seats, but ultimately, Ruby prevailed as Carolina began to feel the effects of the heat in the third set.

In the Men’s Singles, Andre faced a few hiccups in his opening serve game and in closing out the first set, but he quickly took command. Rimmo put up a valiant fight, holding off numerous break points, but Andre’s relentless pressure eventually took its toll. Andre, the “Big Dog” of the tournament, brought power and a dominant presence that kept opponents on the defensive. While Rimmo tried to turn it into a running game, aiming for a backhand-to-backhand battle, Andre’s compact, well-timed backhand, along with his incredible footwork for a big man, held firm. Andre ultimately had all the answers — on the day. His powerful serve was the deciding factor, as many struggled to play him aggressively. Here’s a helpful link on strategies to tackle a huge server, which could come in handy next time!

The Men’s Doubles final saw the experienced duo of Sean and Ollie come out on top against a scratch pair, Sven and Andre. Sean and Ollie’s classic doubles play, complete with strategic signaling, proved too solid for the scratch pair, although Andre made some impressive crossing volleys. Sean, our Badge 1/1 captain, was exceptional with his reliable returns and is a terrific role model for our younger players, consistently demonstrating great sportsmanship and on-court presence. Despite a brief stumble in the second-set tiebreaker, Ollie closed the match with style, a masterclass in serving under pressure.

And finally, in the Mixed Doubles, Bryanne and Xander overpowered Todd and Lisa. It was unfortunate that Lisa had a wrist injury and couldn’t bring her best game to the court that day. Even so, what really stood out was Bryanne’s undeniable fire in the belly. She’s still got that competitive spark! Maybe it’s the joy of being out there guiding her son, Xander. I like to call her “Momma Bear” because she’s a fierce competitor and such a fantastic role model for our younger players. And ladies, take note—she’s got some serious volley skills!

As they say, tennis was the winner!