Starting A point and beginning a rally.

Serving Get your first serve into play. A first serve hit at 70% speed with 90% success is better than a serve hit at 100% speed that is only 50% reliable. Your opponent will often change his/her strategy from defensive to offensive when preparing for a second serve Place first serves to opponent's weak side Avoid forehand unless you are sure that this is the person's weak side. Does this opponent have a wrist - oriented forehand? Serving through the middle on the deuce side will make it difficult for your opponent to hit the ball away from you especially if he/she is a right handed player. The opposite is true for a left handed player receiveing serve on the ad side of the court. Return of Serve. Get the serve back. Sacrifice glory for keeping the ball in play.  Be sure to step in when attempting to return a serve with a lot of speed.  Serves hit with topspin are best taken on the rise. If you are having difficulty returning the topspin serve by attempting to hit it on the rise back up further behind the baseline. This will give you the opportunity to hit the ball on the way down from its peak height.  This option will give your opponent an advantage if he/she is a serve and vollyer because it will give the server more time to get to the net and execute a successful volley. Second serves from your opponent should be hit more aggressively with a strategy in mind. On the deuce side, this may mean hitting down the line. On the ad side, this might mean hitting an inside out forehand to the opponent's backhand or driving the serve down the line, if the serve is slow enough for you to change direction. After the serve or return of serve. During the rally make sure your shots clear the net by at least 3 or 4 feet. This will give your shots depth and keep your opponent pinned behind the baseline. Continue to rally with your opponent until he/she hits a short ball. When this happens take the opportunity to move into the court and direct your shot to the open side of court.  If it appears that your opponent will have difficulty returning your shot you should consider beginning your approach to the net.  Be sure to take a split step when your opponent takes his/her racquet back.  After you have determined the direction of the return move quickly to intercept and volley the ball into the open court.  If you are a player who does not like attacking the net, you should position yourself around the baseline in a position that will give you the best opportunity to hit another forehand. Your next shot should be to the opposite side of the court, if your opponent’s return allows you to make this shot with confidence, otherwise you should return the ball down the center of the court.