Interactive Forum April 2012: Victoria Azarenka Forehand

[johnyandell]

Victoria Azarenka Forehand

Victoria Azarenka has made a big jump in her confidence and her results this year. Basically when we filmed her at Indian Wells, she was overpowering, so let's take a look at her groundstrokes in the next two Interactive Forums, starting with her forehand.

I have these questions for our subscribers: How does Azarenka's preparation compare to the other women and the pro men? What do you notice about her stances and her followthroughs? Finally, on the tighter rear camera views, what can we see about her hitting arm and her wrist?

[johnyandell]

Quicktime versions

[don_budge]

Sock please...

Very impressive action with the hips and lower body. Tremendous drive with the legs that is translated into speed of the head of the racquet. I like the backswing as a body motion as opposed to an arm motion and I especially like the manner in which she "measures" her forehand shot with the face of her racquet at the initiation of her backswing. This has the effect of setting the wrist into position as well.

Now if somebody would just please stuff a sock in her mouth. The screaming and grunting is beyond obnoxious and the post match comments are nearly as vexing. Why is it that to be a champion one needs to be so self-involved, self-indulgent and seemingly clueless?

[synergy]

Good preperation and use of legs. Not a big fan of how her wrist flexes on the follow through though. Great videos John.

[bottle]

Elbow Lift: How much? How little?

Victoria lifts her elbow. Compare that with Federer (elbow stays put). And with Lendl (her elbow doesn't fly as much as his). The amount of free elbow travel she does use, however, combines nicely with the slight shrink-wrap she then employs to right-angle her arm if to "right-angle" is a verb.

[florian80]

Overall a great forehand. What really stands out to me is how high she finishes with the elbow of her hitting arm and how penetrating her shots are because of that.

Sometimes I believe the rather big loop can cause her to be late but in the form she has been in lately that doesn't seem to be a factor. She also doesn't take full advantage of the stretch shortening cycle because her wrist is laid back a little too early in my opinion.

Overall her groundstrokes are definitely extraordinary and fun to watch!

[woppie]

Ace

In the case of her Stance: A Front view short ball she uses a neutral stance where some players utilize the open or semi open stance. B Side perspective: She moves wide and uses a open stance. Second forehand inside in: C She uses a semi to open stance.

Finish or Follow through: A Front view: Azarenka extends well forward with her elbow lifting higher than most WTA players and the finish above the shoulder with the face of the racket ending open behind her. B She plays an inside in shot lifting the elbow higher than most players would( other players would in this situation finish around the side of the upper arm. Her racket ends above the shoulder as well. In this situation the finish in my opinion would better better suited to finish around the upper arm for the wrist to move in a more easier way. Azarenka shot would therefore have less spin due to the way she extends and finishes.( The ball leaves the strings quicker with her choice of follow through. C She ends with a reverse shot to help her gain more spin in this situation. Why? She needs to make sure she gets the ball in and it adds control. A shot I would use on in an emmergency situation and not for every stroke( joint ware and tear of the tendons and pressure on rotator cuff and tricep area). Ace