POVERO SAMPRAS

E' stato derubato dei trofei vinti sui campi di tutto il mondo, gli hanno risparmiato solo i 13 dei Grandi Slam.
Dispiace sempre quando avvengono queste disavventure, soprattutto per coloro che non lo hanno conosciuto. Per quelli come me, che invece lo hanno apprezzato, rimane il ricordo di tanti fantastici momenti che nemmeno il furto delle coppe vinte potrà mai cancellare. Il ricordo di un grande campione dello sport più bello del mondo.
Coraggio Pete.

TENNIS - TOP TEN TIPS

• CONCENTRATION: Keep your thoughts solely on the game, in particular the ball - make it an obsession. Do this and you will lapse into deep concentration. It takes a lot of practice. Champions do it.
• ERRORS, ERRORS, ERRORS: Stop making errors - now! You win most matches on opponents errors, and keeping the ball in play. So eliminate your own errors and keep the ball going. Elementary - but so easily forgotten.
• RECEIVING SERVICE: Be on the balls of your feet, racket in the ready to prepare immediately you know whether it is to be backhand or forehand.
• BEND YOUR KNEES: You won't get maximum power if you don't bend your knees. To transfer body weight into your shots you must bend your knees as you step into the stroke.
• BAD CALLS, BAD STROKES: Bad strokes, bad calls etc. forget them, they're past. All that matters is keeping your concentration and the next point. So however bad and unsetting - forget them. And it's back to the ball.
• WATCH THE BALL: watch the ball so intently you see the pattern on it. Don't take your eyes off it. Watch it right onto your racket. It takes practice. Champions do it.
• PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE: Get the racket back early every time - as soon as the ball leaves your opponent's racket. Give yourself time to play well. The game takes on a new dimension with early preparation.
• FOOTWORK - MOVE, MOVE, MOVE: Never stand still. Footwork is the secret of success in so many sports. It is vital in tennis. Hurry your footwork in order to prepare early, and play unhurried strokes.
• SERVICE: The majority of service traumas stem from bad throws that get progressively worse - erratic, misplaced. So calmly concentrate on your throw-up - and get your first service in.
• HIT THROUGH THE BALL: To achieve a consistent good length - hit through the ball. Don't hit across it, or hit at it - hit powerfully through it. Consistent long length is a winner.