March 2025
Quotes per day and their meanings
March 3 – “Doubles: Playing angles on the rectangle.”
Observing the doubles court, one can see it's rectangular. There are limited safe openings to target in a doubles match against two players. The opponents frequently unguarded the angle shot in doubles, making it a strategic choice. Even if an opponent reaches the angled shot, they are drawn off the court, compelling their partner to cover and defend against both you and your partner.
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March 4 – “Eyes in front because you’re always on the hunt.” - Curly Davis
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In doubles tennis, intercepting your opponent's shots at the net is crucial. You must "read the clues" of where the ball might be played to do this effectively. Looking back at your partner can distract you from observing the opponent, thus missing these clues. It's essential to keep your eyes forward and stay alert.
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March 5– Poaching, hit the way you move so you can move the way you hit.” - Curly Davis
When poaching, aim to hit the ball in the same direction you're moving. This technique helps you maintain your momentum and also signals to your partner where they should position themselves.
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March 6 – “Poaching…Fake Til You Make It” - Curly Davis
In every sport, players often feint in one direction and move in another to keep their opponents guessing. Tennis is no exception: players may pretend to poach, then feint again. When the opponent anticipates a feint, that's the moment actually to poach. The key is to be proactive, not just stand still.
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March 7 – “Net play, Be alert so you don’t get hurt.” - Curly Davis
Being positioned at the net makes you a target for the opponent. The ball comes at you fast, and you need to stay alert. There's no room for daydreaming.
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March 10 – “Doubles is a team sport.”
Tennis is commonly viewed as an individual sport, yet a team can be formed with two or more players. A successful doubles team operates with a team mindset rather than as separate individuals.
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March 11 – “Down the middle solves the riddle.”
Coaches frequently face questions from students about where they should have hit the ball after a point. The conundrum is, "Where do you hit the ball?" The strategic answer is down the middle of the opposing team. This often leads to miscommunication between opponents, allowing the ball to slip past them. Additionally, aiming for the middle of the team usually means targeting the center of the court, which is generally a "safe" shot selection.
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March 12 – “Be a good doubles partner.”
Everyone has their own concept of the perfect doubles partner. Generally, it's agreed that this partner should be supportive, observant, and an effective communicator. They should avoid criticism and take steps to improve the match's result without dominating as the "boss" of the team.
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March 13 – “Shoulder height, Green light.”
You are at the net with a shoulder-height ball; you have the “go ahead” to hit it at the net opponent's feet.
March 14 – “Low go…High you die.” - Curly Davis
As a net player, this approach simplifies shot selection. When the net player receives a low ball, they aim their return towards the furthest player, steering clear of the opposing net player. Conversely, if a high ball comes their way, they target the opposing net player's feet with the shot.
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March 17 – “If your partner loses their serve, your not doing enough at the net to make the receivers think about you.” – John McEnroe
When you're at the net, your goal is to create confusion and disrupt the opponents while staying within the rules. Whether you're moving left, right, or making any legal move, your actions are essential in helping your partner win their service game.
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March 18- “The secret to having a good net partner is you being a very forgiving partner.”
Everyone makes mistakes, and if your partner misses a ball and turns to find you rolling your eyes or standing with your hands on your hips, they may become discouraged. Remember, they will err, as will you. Forgive them and encourage their participation for the good of the team!
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March 19- "If they're leaning…then you're lobbing."
When your adversary is positioned at the net, and you sense they are leaning forward in order to cover your
passing shot, then the answer is lob over their head, they will have difficulty reversing their body.
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March 20- “Formation variation.” - Sal Paolantonio
Adjusting formation between you and your partner is crucial in doubles play. The three fundamental formations are both players up, both back, and one up with one back. The one-up, one-back formation has several variations, and it's best to play in your preferred formation. Ultimately, if you're not
winning, switching up your formation is wise.
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March 21 – “Be a disruptor. Disruptor their thoughts, and disrupt their rhythm.” - Curly Davis
When your opponent is striking the ball, aim to disrupt their concentration legally. You can achieve this by altering your position on the court as they hit the ball or by applying spin to the ball, requiring your opponent to adjust.
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March 24 - "Hitting yourself into position vs hitting yourself out of position." - Curly Davis
When choosing the correct shot, we must quickly check how it will leave us with our positioning, in the right place for the opponent's response or out of position for our opponent response. For example, if you poach and hit the ball in the opposite direction of your moving, you are now out of position. If you hit the ball in the direction you are moving, you are now in position for the opponent's likely response.
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March 25- "See their buns…you run." - Curly Davis
When lobbing over your opponent's head and you see them running back for the ball (see their buns), you run to the net because you will likely receive a weak response and you want to be in a position to capitalize on the short ball.
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March 26—"To err is human. To blame someone else is doubles."
This humorous quote is too often accurate.
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March 27 – "Position without Possession." - Curly Davis
In doubles, if you do not have possession (hitting) the ball, you are responsible for being in a good position on the court.
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March 28—"Doubles, you have more court but less safe court."
When playing singles, the tennis court measures 27 feet wide, while the doubles court measures 36 feet wide. However, you have two adversaries in doubles, making it harder to find safe zones to hit your shots.
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March 31 – “Proper court position will lead to court pressure.”- Curly Davis
Various types of pressure can be applied on the tennis court, including court pressure. This involves positioning oneself in an area of the court that compels the opponent to make an error.
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