Gustavo or “Guga” as he is known, possesses one of the most effective single-handed topspin backhands the game has seen. His high backswing backhand is certainly not conventional - let’s take a look.

The Backhand

In general, “Guga’s” shot is a loose, relaxed and elegant looking backhand. He has a high backswing (view: High backswing film), his grip is a full western and his footwork is superb.

Stage 1

His initial movement is to turn his shoulders and almost lay his racquet head on his left shoulder. This position is aided by his full western grip. (The image shows “Guga” with his chin on his right shoulder as he looks at the ball with his racquet head laid over his left shoulder.) His take-back is high and exaggerated and I don’t know of any other top pro, male or female, who ends up in a position quite like “Guga” at the top of his backswing.

As a coach, you would not go out to teach a player to prepare quite like this, but if you see your young player with an individual quirk that works, you have to nurture it. Full marks to “Guga’s” coach for not trying to suppress his individuality and flare. Interestingly, Borg, McEnroe and Connors all had unconventional technique and were also allowed to flourish.

Knee Bend

For a big guy “Guga” bends really well for his shot and with his legs down low, he then extends the racquet back further and with a looping action, completes the drop of his racquet head from the top of his very high backswing position to beneath the ball. This high to low loop enables “Guga” to generate extra power and the topspin lift. He connects with the ball beautifully in-front of him and zaps the racquet head through and over his right shoulder.

The Finish

His finish position is incredibly elegant due to the graceful way his two arms separate at the end of the shot. This separating of the arms helps his balance and the generation of pace as the shoulder blades snap open. He also uses his legs to great effect during the follow-through.

Like so many other players over the years, “Guga’s” individual technique meant that he could do things that others found more challenging. His power, placement, passing shots, lobs and returns were all executed superbly.

“Guga” the Champion!

We’ll never forget seeing him lay inside the heart he’d drawn in the clay on Court Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros after winning the title. Tennis will miss this great player and great sportsman.

Enjoy the master in action below!

John Key

It was wonderful to see the tournament make such an effort to send ‘Guga’ away with all the fuss he deserved. After a presention by tournament officials to show their gratitude and respect for such a loyal and popular campaigner, the crowd were treated to film clips on the big screen of all the ‘Guga’ French Open victories. To top it all, the man himself struggled to keep his emotions under control as he made his goodbye speech.

No doubt we will still see Gustavo Kuerten from time to time as he endorses his clothing range and promotes his institute of tennis.

I look forward to taking an in-depth look at the great Kuerten backhand soon here at Backhandworld.com. (see: The gorgeous Gustavo Kuerten backhand analysed!)

John Key

The Bjorn Borg backhand

None of the above would mean anything without great tennis shots and his backhand was a great shot. His unique backhand technique evolved from his days as a young ice-hockey player in Sweden, to become one of the most effective backhands of all time.

The topspin

At the heart of Borg’s backhand was the immense topsin generated from his loose slap-shot style. This loose style enabled him to produce the most incredible angles and passing shots as he wrapped the racquet-head around the ball with amazing ease. Borg could improvise his follow-through in an instant due partly to the way he removed his non-racquet hand so quickly after striking the ball. This was particularly evident in his breath-taking passing shots which he continuously produced when all seemed lost. The flicks, rolls and whips were all there and were a nightmare for his opponents to deal with. His unique style also allowed him to naturally disguise his backhand making his shots tough to read.

The stance

Borg generally employed a closed-stance with his right foot forward and across. Having said that, an open-stance was used whenever it was more suitable and he also had fabulous knee bend on his low backhands.

The footwork

Borg’s footwork and speed around the court was second to none and was a major factor in his remarkable career. His speed was backed-up with incredible stamina and Borg was always safe in the knowledge that nobody would ever outlast him in a long match. This athleticism and fitness gave Borg an almost invincible aura, easpecially on clay.

Clay v Grass

Borg won six French opens and five Wimbledons - three times he won the French and Wimbledon in the same year. This was particularly impressive because in those days there was only one week separating the two events, making the job of adjusting to the grass even more challenging. Borg was virtually unbeatable on clay (apart from two important losses to Italy’s Adriano Panatta at the French Open) and always seemed to have the upper-hand against the next best clay-courter in the world, Guillermo Vilas. Ion Tiriac, the coach of Vilas once said, ‘Bjorn does everything that Guillermo does but just a bit better’.

A human ball-machine, a brick wall, call him what you will, Borg very rarely made an unforced error on a clay court.

Borg initially surprised everone with his grass-court success. His ability on clay was there for all to see but his ability on grass was not so obvious at first. Whilst Borg didn’t volley well, he served superbly, and crucially, loved the target at the net that grass gave him. Opponents were naturally charging the net against this baseline legend, only too often to be greeted by a flicked winning passing shot or a topspin lob winner.

Slice

Borg’s slice backhand was functional but not special. It did the job but at times was a touch flimsy. However, it became a useful contrast to his heavy topspin shot as the slice was often struck without much pace and authority.

Borg’s backhand in today’s game

In my opinion Borg’s backhand technique may have struggled in the modern game, especially on faster surfaces. His exagerated loose style does not lend itself to the early sharp hitting style of today’s game. If you look at how far up the court Agassi was striking his backhand with his uncomplicated swing, you can’t help but think that Borg’s style might have struggled with this. On the other hand, this isn’t such a factor on clay and maybe Borg’s technique would have evolved in the way that was required.

We’ll never know!

John Key

The Early Days

Tim was one of those players who in the early stages of his career rolled up his sleeves and got stuck in. He took on a punishing schedule of hard work on the practise court and a tough tournament schedule to make the jump from the lower level Challenger circuit, to the top flight ATP Tour. Tim was always one of the top British juniors, but not always the best. Interestingly, Tim became one of the few top ATP players who were not top world ranked juniors (see also Mens ATP and Junior ITF world ranking comparisons).

Tim Henman and Wimbledon

Tim’s game was built around one of the world’s best volleys. He also had a half-volley to match. As a result, the grass courts of Wimbledon were where Tim had his greatest success and his numerous visits to the semi-finals underpinned his world ranking for many years. Unfortunately Tim’s memories of Wimbledon will be tarnished by the one year he should have won the title. Having not finished off Goran Ivanisevic when he had his chances in the 2001 semi-final, he allowed the rained delayed match to run into a second day where he eventually succumbed to a more inspired Goran.

A World Ranking of 4

Let’s also not forget that 2004 saw Tim reach the dizzy heights of 4 in the Mens ATP World Rankings, with superb achievments, reaching the semi-finals at the French and US Opens.

The Backhand

Tim’s backhand was a really sound shot technically. His slice approach was first class and his topspin drive was a great weapon. Unfortunately Tim’s forehand was slightly weaker and he would often get caught stiking the ball a touch too late.

Britain should be proud of what Tim has achieved in tournaments and Davis Cup. Hopefully Andy Murray will remain fit enough to carry the baton.

Click below for a reminder of some of those great shots!

I thought I’d take a look at some of the things to consider when making this decision.

What are you looking for in a tennis club?

Everyone wants something different from their tennis club membership, so to avoid disappointment it’s very important to be clear about what you want from a club. Here is your checklist:

1. Do you want indoor courts, outdoor courts or both?

2. Does the club have the court surfaces that you like?

3. Is the club maintained well and are the courts, lines, nets, fences, clubhouse, changing rooms etc in a good state of repair?

4. Do you want a club with an active social calendar? If you do, obtain a list of the up-and-coming social events and see if it floats your boat!

5. Will you want tennis coaching and does the club have a pro-active coach? Again make enquiries.

6. Does it matter to you whether the club is run by the members or privately owned?

7. Does it bother you if the club holds tournaments which may mean that the courts are out of bounds for a week or two?

8. Does the club have a friendly atmosphere?

9. Will you be mostly playing with a particular person or do you require the club to create playing partners for you?

10. Does the club have social mix-in tennis such as club nights, ladies mornings or Sunday morning mix-in?

11. Are you a budding team player who would like to be considered for the teams? If this is the case, are the teams ‘closed shops’ or are places open?

12. How many teams are there and are there any team training sessions?

13. Do you require a creche for your toddler for when you’re on the court?

14. Would you like a clubhouse that offers food during the day?

15. Is the bar area inviting?

16. Is it important that the club has floodlights on some courts?

Tennis Coaching - Is there a slot for you?

For many, the tennis coaching can be a huge area of disappointment as becoming a member doesn’t always mean that the coach has space in his diary for you. If the coaching is an important reason for joining a club, you should check with the pro first to see if he/she could find a suitable slot for you. If the head pro is fully booked maybe there is an assistant coach who could fit you in. As long as the assistant is licensed/qualified this should be fine.

Tennis Coaching - Are there any adult groups?

If you prefer group coaching to private lessons, first check that there are coaching groups and then check that there is the right standard group for you.

Tennis Coaching - What about the kids?

Maybe you are joining the club with your kids and so need a good choice of either weekend or holiday group coaching sessions? Check the junior group coaching programme with the pro.

Running through the checklist above should help you choose the right tennis club for you.

Good luck!

John Key

p.s. If you’re happy with your tennis club and feel it deserves a mention, let us know about it.

1. “Whoever said, ‘It’s not whether you win or lose that counts,’ probably lost.”

— Martina Navratilova

2. “Experience is a great advantage. The problem is that when you get the experience, you’re too damned old to do anything about it.”

— Jimmy Connors

3. “Tennis is a perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of total tranquility.”

— Billie Jean King

4. “Family’s first, and that’s what matters most. We realize that our love goes deeper than the tennis game.”

- Serena Williams

5. “I have this terrible dark side to my personality, which playing tennis keeps at bay.”

- Monica Seles

6. “Billie and I did wonders for women’s tennis. They owe me a piece of their checks.”

- Bobby Riggs

7. “Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.”

- Arthur Ashe

8. “If you can react the same way to winning and losing, that’s a big accomplishment. That quality is important because it stays with you the rest of your life, and there’s going to be a life after tennis that’s a lot longer than your tennis life.”

- Chris Evert

9. “If you don’t practice you don’t deserve to win.”

- Andre Agassi

10. “Golfers are forever working on mechanics. My tennis swing hasn’t changed in 10 years.”

- Pete Sampras

Djokovic is refreshing in so many ways. Not only is he is the first player for some time to appear to have real fun on the court, but he will also play a hugely important role in keeping the sport interesting for the public, with both his personality and his genuine challenge to the dominance of Federer and Nadal.

Technically Djokovic is superb and I will take a detailed look at his backhand very soon here at Backhandworld.

The current crop of male and female Serbian stars are enjoying fantastic success the world over and are gaining fans everywhere they go. As a result, the game of tennis is also a winner!

John Key

Below - Djokovic shows a novel way to serve and volley.

“Isn’t tennis coaching just hitting a tennis ball around for a living rather than being stuck in a stuffy office - therefore surely tennis coaching must be bliss?” Well to be honest, I have some very mixed views on this, based on the wonderful benefit of hindsight.

As a UK tennis coach, I enrolled on and passed all the available coaching qualifications in the 80’s (see LTA Coaching careers). These qualifications along with a half decent reputation as a player, meant that I was in the mix for some good head pro positions at various leading British tennis clubs. Having successfully come through the interview for a very big club in a lovely London suburb, I was then to find out the truth about being a head tennis pro.

Tennis coaching - the juggling act!

Within a year of taking this new position I soon realised that successful tennis coaching required juggling many important factors. Below are some of the commitments that were a factor:

1. Fitting in all the private and group lessons required by junior and senior club members

2. Running senior’s club night and team training

3. Running junior night

4. Stringing all broken rackets for club members

5. Travelling to tournaments to watch my leading juniors play matches

6. Coaching the British Mens number 2

Tennis coaching with no covered courts and a very English climate!

Whilst my club was a leading British club with a large membership, unfortunately there were no covered courts. The club did have some floodlit courts, which meant to keep members happy and meet their demand for lessons, many of my lessons had to be conducted under lights on a cold damp winter’s night. Many times I would arrive home from the club at 9pm with 5 rackets to string for the following morning. With the last racket still in the stringing machine at 1am and the following day’s first lesson at 8.30am - the schedule was demanding.

I would be on the court 6 days a week, with my day off generally taken up with more racket stringing or watching match play.

The other telling factor was that many of my good juniors were playing at National level and so would require a really good workout in their lessons. We would also play many practise sets in the lessons adding to the increasing work load and fatigue.

Variation on the theme!

For me, one of the most difficult aspects of a typical days tennis coaching was the way my lessons could change from coaching a leading junior, to a lesson with a complete beginner and then a two hour session with a British Davis Cup player. Whilst variation can be a good thing it is also inevitably tough.

Coaching performance players

Although my forte was in working with performance players, I needed to hold on to my position as the club’s head pro and all the commitments that went with it to pay the bills.

Around this time (late 80’s) I found that having a large crop of good performance players was not a good thing financially. The reason for this, is that on the whole the parents could not afford to finance the numerous days I spent watching their children’s matches. As a result I travelled to the tournaments out of my own pocket and also missed out on my coaching income back at the club. Once I returned to the club there would also be a backlog of lessons and rackets to string.

Nowadays there are jobs specifically for performance coaches who can concentrate solely on their pupil’s lessons and schedules without the financial need to hold down a head pro position. This is a great improvement (see Developing performance players).

The physical strain

My 20 years in tennis coaching definitely took its toll on me physically and resulted in a 6 year period where injury prevented me from hitting a single ball. Having said that, there were many fantastic times. A clear blue sky and an English grass court, or maybe a victory against the odds by one of my juniors, made it all worth while.

Would I do things differently?

Yes - Maybe I would insist that I could take on an assistant coach to help with the work load (my club didn’t allow this). Maybe I would hold firm and not book in that 9th hour’s lesson of the day because a club player is upset that they can’t seem to get a slot. Maybe I wouldn’t physically work so hard in my lessons. Maybe I would not run a stringing business along side my coaching.

The problem for most club coaches is that there is a limit to what they can charge per hour and lots of lessons are required to earn a decent living. This is especially the case when coaching at an outdoor club in the UK as many lessons get cancelled due to to bad weather. Stringing rackets and a small pro shop can certainly help make the coaches’ income more healthy.

I feel blessed to have had a long career in the game I love but it’s certainly not been a bed of roses!

John Key

In some households, tennis seemed to be the only topic of conversation - the subjects varying from technical analysis, competitors’ wins and losses, tournaments etc. This constant tennis talk only served as reminder of the importance of the game in the family - which of course built the pressure yet more. The parents on the whole meant well and absolutely did not mean to cause this grief - they were just carried along on the wave of ambition and competition that manifested itself in this unfortunate way.

Some parents could see the error of their ways and were able to channel their enthusiasm in positive constructive ways. Others were not and generally ended up with a child who no longer wished to play the game.

Every player feels awful at the end of a bad loss - constructive criticism mixed with highlighting the positives, is very much part of the improvement process. There is no place for the outright mental slaughter of a young player.

I was very fortunate as a youngster, as my father was a professional soccer player in England, who played the bulk of his years in the top division. As a result, he had experienced the ups of a great performance and the lows of a bad one. His experience also told him when the time was right to discuss my performances - at the side of the court was not one of them! When it came to my junior tennis days - the cup was definitely always half-full in the eyes of my parents.

The coaching, travelling to tournaments, training camps and the practise sessions, are hard work for any tennis parent. The better the child is, the busier the schedule becomes. But let’s not forget that a happy young player will be a better player in the long run.

JK

Maybe it was like this in the days of Laver and the close bunch of touring Aussies - but that was before my time and so I can’t comment. Of course there were the odd matches over the ensuing years and the one match that particularly springs to mind was Borg’s victory over Nastase in the 1976 Wimbledon final. Nastase climbed the net and hugged and kissed Borg as he won his first of many Wimbledon titles.

Hats off to Andre Agassi!
I really think that Andre Agassi is the person who should take the credit for the emergence of the ‘good loser’. Andre was always particularly generous in defeat and humble in victory.

It’s fantastic for all the youngsters playing the game to see this trend and long may it continue.