Tips: 5 Tips to Winning a Tie-Breaker

Tips: 5 Tips to Winning a Tie-Breaker

Note: I originally wrote this post on ehow but I figured it would be appropriate to add it here too.

Are you choking up when your match gets to a tie breaker? Don't know what your doing wrong or how to fix your tiebreak record? A tiebreaker can be one of the most heart-wrenching moments in a tennis match. It can either be the deciding factor in who wins, or it can switch the momentum to your opponent--or you. So in honor of Juan Martin Del Potro beating Roddick in a third set tie breaker, here are 5 easy tips winning one.

Before the point

Take deep breaths. Do not get nervous. You are just as good as your opponent or you wouldn't be in this situation. Never fear your opponent, or be scared to make your shots. Think about your opponents weakness--does he/she have a week backhand? How are their vollys? Serves? You will need to exploit these weaknesses during the tiebreak.

Starting the point

Serve a high percentage serve with a lot of spin. A perfect serve would be to slice or kick the serve out wide. The serve should be just a bit more potent than your second serve (if you have a decent second serve). If you can, kick the ball to the weaker hand of the opponent. If your returning, you want to hit nice solid return, but do not blast the ball. The goal is just to get the point started. As the points go on, and your lead becomes bigger, you can hit out on your serve, or return, more.

During the point:

When the point starts, hit in high percentage patterns. Don't be afraid to hit out, however that doesn't mean go for lines. You want to hit nice deep balls with lots of spin. The balls should land somewhere in no-mans land. Use your spin to put yourself on the offense by moving your opponent around. Be patient, do be in a rush to attack. Keep working your opponent in high percentage patterns. Its not wise to go for the big shot during the rally off the baseline. Its low percentage and it will bring your confidence down if you miss--not to mention put you behind in the breaker. These are things you can't afford, because points are limited.

Attacking

Attack all short balls. The ideal situation is to hit the approach off the short ball. If not, be sure to step in to the ball and add a bit more pace when your opponent gives you a short ball. Not only will it put you on a greater offensive, but it will let your opponent know he is on the verge of losing the point, chances are he will feel like he is forced into a situation where he has to go for broke, or you get another, shorter, ball. Also, when you attack, attack the opponents weaker side more than usual. Usually its the backhand. Chances are, your opponent is nervous too, and will choke up on his weaker stroke. Either he will generate a lot of errors, or he will push the ball over the net. Either way its good for you.

Intangibles:

Even if you get down in the tiebreaker, think positive and act positively. It doesn't hurt to through a fist pump once in a while to pump your self up. Also, it creates pressure for your opponent, and will likely cause him to lose his composure if he senses your still confident.

Also play extra high percentage the first two points. Chances are your opponent feels the pressure and will be hitting out, creating errors. If you win the first two points, you have the momentum in your direction, and your opponent will seems he is more behind than he really is. If you win the first two points, go ahead and hit out a little more and go for more. It will add more pressure on your opponent, and take off some pressure on yourself.