Risk Management

Which down the line and when to hit it are critical questions in risk management.

As much as the foundation of your strategy should be built around your strengths and game style, there will always be times in matches where lower percentage shots will be played. These tend to look great when they come off, but are also easily criticized as the wrong shot choice when they end up as an error or gift the opponent an easy route to winning the point.

It's often the down the line shot choice that falls into the risky category. So the first questions to ask are which down the line shots fall into your list of strengths, and which don't?

The ones that don't should only be attempted when there is a real purpose behind the shot choice, such as changing the cross-court pattern. The ones that you feel more comfortable with can be chosen more often, but again ideally with purpose, such as an opportunity to attack into space that you've created with your previous shot.

As a rule, the further wide and/or deep you find yourself in the court when playing the ball, the more of a risk the down the line option is. Ideally when hitting down the line, you should be able to direct the ball in a dead straight line and it will safely find the court. Once you start hitting down the line from a wider position, the angle of your shot is travelling towards your opponent and your recovery movement is further to reach your optimum recovery point for the next shot. So to make these risky shots work, they have to be hit hard and accurately.

Own the risk when you choose a high risk shot.

Whenever you are faced with choosing a high risk shot, I like to use the term “own the risk." Take ownership of the risk you are taking, and understand what will help it to go your way, like hitting early and with confidence. If your strike the ball late on a down the line shot, and it invariably goes wide.

Taking ownership in this way has the added benefit of making it easier to accept the error that may come. By accepting the risk before taking it, you are more easily able to forgive yourself should the risk not pay off, which in turn allows you to move on and prepare for the next point without accruing negative mental baggage.

When I see my opponent taking on high risk shots, I'm always happy. Hopefully one of the reasons they have opted for low risk is due to my strong play, but regardless of the reason, I know the odds are always in my favor.

It's like a casino. There will be some big winners, but the house will always come out ahead. I know my opponent may pull off some shots, but overall they will miss them more often than not, so I can happily give them a few big winners without feeling any concern. It's a marginal gain in my favor that should land me a few more crucial points.

Your choice of shots during points, and even at the start of the point, will fluctuate during the match in terms of how much risk is involved. Managing this fluctuation is important, and for me the best strategy is to tighten up on the bigger points, while taking on lower percentage plays at moments where the impact on the scoreboard isn't so damaging.

On the biggest points, I like to take the attitude that my opponent must earn the point if they are to win it, I am not going to give it up with a cheap error. Playing higher risk shots on bigger points also creates pressure to make them, and often that pressure can cause the error on its own.

Make your opponent earn it on big points.

Which are the most important points? Opinions may vary, but in my view the points to give maximum importance and intensity are as follows.

Being 15-0 up is a nice feeling and may set the tone for the rest of the game. Better to be up, instead of chasing after the first point.

The importance of these points is sometimes under estimated. Their importance lies with the fact that whoever wins them will have a chance to win the game on the next point. Better it's you, and better still you don't give up these points too easily.

The importance of these points is clear, someone has the chance to win the game. If it's you, then your opponent would just love it if you cough up a bad error on a low risk shot, as the pressure on them is instantly released. If it's your opponent, then you want them to earn this point from you.

As the server, it's important not to be fooled by the illusion of safety that comes with having 2 or 3 consecutive game points, they can soon disappear, and then the pressure mounts to still be able to close out the game.

If you're going to be pegged back to deuce, at least make sure the opponent earned it, and you will then find it easier to accept, and be better positioned to push on and close the game anyway.

As the returner in this situation, it may not be the worst time to take on a risky or a different play. If it comes off, it could be a foothold back into a game that you were looking unlikely to win.

As the server, you should be taking the mentality of one point at a time, and try your best to be difficult to beat. Play the percentages, and make the opponent come up with something that's too good. As the returner, once again this is no time to take on low percentage options, the break points can easily disappear, and you should try to win the first one as if it were the only one you had.

Doing something unexpected in big moments can pay huge dividends—like a serve and volley on a second serve.

There is a danger that you become too predictable, and your opponent will start reading your game. This is where secondary shots can play an important role, and also the bravery to take some controlled risks on important points, shots that wouldn't be the first choice, but that you feel you have the ability to play.

Having the ability to do something unexpected at key moments can pay huge dividends. One of the best examples of this on the pro tour is when a player might choose to serve and volley for the first time in the match at break point down.

Using the kick serve here can be particularly effective, giving time to close the net. This bravery is often rewarded with a simple volley to win the point, and instant release of pressure.

Risk Management

Nick Wheatley