Five months ago Naomi Osaka had the world at her feet as she won her second successive Grand Slam title. When she lost 7-6, 6-2 to Yulia Putintseva on Centre Court on Monday it was like watching a different person.
In terms of her tennis, Osaka’s biggest problem is that she has backed off behind the baseline. When she was winning the US and Australian Opens she was stepping into the court and controlling the points with her bold hitting. That was what made her so dangerous. Against Putintseva she just wasn’t dictating play. She just can’t afford to get drawn into too many long rallies.
I fear it’s a case of too much too soon. In a very short space of time Osaka has become a huge superstar, particularly in Japan. I think everything that has happened off the court might just have become too much for her to handle.
If I was working with Naomi I would tell her: “This is all part of becoming a top professional, but losses like this aren’t going to damage your career. You need to stay strong mentally and understand that there are a lot of pressures on your shoulders. Just try to settle back and play your game.”
One of the keys to playing well on grass is to stay low on your shots. Simona Halep gave a great demonstration of that in her 6-4, 7-5 victory over Aliaksandra Sasnovich. Holy mackerel, she could have been a goalkeeper playing over in France at the Women’s World Cup with the way she was getting down so low to hit the ball.
Her footwork was excellent and she moved beautifully, though she suffered a nasty fall in the match. Provided she hasn’t injured herself badly, I could see her going a long way in the tournament.
Tuesday’s match of the day: Fans on Court 18 will be in for a treat when Frances Tiafoe takes on Fabio Fognini. It will be fascinating to see the American’s power against the Italian’s magic. Man, they could sell tickets for this one on Broadway.
Tiafoe is a great prospect, but I think it’s time he started winning more matches. He can get too emotional. He has one hell of a game, but I think there are times when he is just too aggressive. He needs to show more control.
As for Fognini, you never know what to expect. He has as much talent as anybody, but he needs to apply himself.
Ask Nick:If you have a question for me – whether it’s about how to improve your game, training techniques or anything else concerning this great sport of ours – just email me at QuestionsforNickB@gmail.com.
Today’s question is from Keith, who asks me whether he thinks he should change to a two-handed backhand. He’s 25 years old and has always played with a one-handed backhand but thinks that playing two-handed might give him more control and more power.
There’s no easy answer to this. Not many players make this change, especially at an older age, but that’s not to say it won’t work for you. However, be prepared for the change to take time.
I’ll give you an example of an American player whose coach advised him to make the change the other way, from a two-handed backhand to one-handed backhand. He did make the change, when he was a teenager, and it ultimately proved very successful, but it took him three years to feel completely comfortable with the new stroke. His name? Pete Sampras.
Here’s a suggestion of a way to start. Carry on hitting with two hands, but after making contact follow through with just one hand. That will start to give you the sense of what a one-handed backhand will feel like.
My A-Z of the IMG- looking back over my life at the IMG Academy in Florida which I founded in 1978. A is for Jimmy Arias, who was one of my original students at the Academy and returned recently as one of our two Directors of Player Development alongside Pat Harrison. I first met Jimmy when he was 12. He already had a huge forehand at that age and his power game helped to change the face of tennis. It’s great to see him back at Bradenton teaching the Bollettieri way, with sunglasses on and shirt off.
B is for Boris Becker, who had already won five Grand Slam titles but was going through a lean time when he asked me to coach him at the end of 1993. We had a great time together, with one of my outstanding memories being his semi-final victory at Wimbledon over Andre Agassi in 1995. I was Andre’s coach when he won Wimbledon in 1992 so his meeting with Boris was a real roller-coaster occasion for me.
For more information on the IMG Academy’s tennis programmes email info@imgacademy.com or call +1-800-872-6425
