Stefanos Tsitsipas shares his secret to a great forehand
Stefanos Tsitsipas has shared what he feels is the secret to a great forehand as he prepares to start his Wimbledon campaign.
Tsitsipas says he doesn’t think too much about trying to hit the ball hard and instead his focus is making a good connection.
The Greek No 1 says that he makes small adjustments to his forehand grip but tries to keep it as consistent as possible.
In a recent Q&A he shared what he feels makes a good grip.
“My grip is quite “flat”, as we say in tennis, but I am still able to generate power and topspin while maintaining control,” Tsitsipas said.
“During rallies, I generally stick to my preferred grip, but minor adjustments can be made depending on the situation and the type of shot I want to execute.”
Tsitsipas can’t really unlock exactly how to to strike the perfect forehand as he feels it is a matter of flow.
“I have to be honest, it is not something I deliberately think about,” Tsitsipas added.
“My goal is to have a good contact point and, throughout the years of practice, I have developed such a strong and as you say “elegant” forehand which I am humbled by.
“For me, the perfect forehand shot combines power, accuracy, and spin, involving good footwork, positioning, and timing.
“My favourite forehand is the inside-out forehand, which I follow up at the net, searching for the volley depending on the situation.”
Tsitsipas has a similar philosophy when it comes to his service game and he can really get in the zone sometimes.
Tsitsipas served 39 first serves in a row when he beat Dominic Thiem in Madrid and he faces him again to open Wimbledon.
He says that serving well is something you shouldn’t be thinking too much about.
Tsitsipas went on: “When serving, my rhythm is very important but the most important part is the toss. If I am able to repeatedly get a good toss, then I will most likely hit a good serve and hope for the ‘elegance’.
“I have to say that during the match [against Thiem] I was not aware of how many first serves I had made but now, looking back at it, I can remember feeling very Zen and focused, some call it flow. Once in this mental state, everything slows down and all you can see is the ball. I strive for this every match.
“How and where to serve will depend on several factors. Some being who I am playing against, what surface I am on, what the weather is like but, mainly, how I am feeling on that day.”
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