Handy Hints

Written by: Staff on 22nd January 2011

Handy Hints

Andy Murray (GBR) |

Today we are going to get serious. Today we are going to try a little tennis instruction. Today we are going to pay attention.

As part of the ever-improving service we at 10sballs.com try to provide for our readers, we are going to provide a couple of handy hints for all players everywhere (while is Sven is out and about taking care of his adidas brood, someone had to volunteer to hold the coaching fort).

Here we go, then. Rule one: do not peak too soon. This, it turns out, is not as easy as it sounds – just ask Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. The Spaniard played one of the shots of the tournament as he took on Andy Murray in the third round. Scampering back to chase down one of the Muzza’s trademark lobs, he tried a “tweener”. With great care and precision – a chap can do himself awful damage if he mistimes that particular shot – he pinged a winner between his legs and down the line to leave the Muzz flapping at thin air.

“I was thinking, oh my God, I’m in for it today when people are pulling those sorts of shots off,” Scotland’s finest said with a grin, “but I was able to turn it around quite quickly. It was an amazing shot. Since I’ve been on the tour that’s never happened to me, so it was a little embarrassing.”

The crowd certainly thought it was a shot and a half and cheered loudly; Garcia-Lopez punched the air with delight. This was it: this was his finest moment. Unfortunately, it was also only the second point of the match so, having reached the very summit of his form within two rallies, the only way was down. Oh, boy, did he go down. He won just 48 points in the 82 minutes as the Muzz swept into the fourth round 6-1, 6-1, 6-2.

As a by-the by, Muzz also explained how he kept himself in good nick in the heat of the Australian summer – he chugs lots of energy concoctions.

“I don’t drink much water anymore,” he said, soberly. “It’s not good for you. I’ve been drinking more energy drinks. As the match goes on, I increase the strength of every set drink with more glucose. It’s difficult as you just never know how it’s going to be out there.”

Far be it from us to suggest that his new dislike of water is in any way connected with the cancellation of his contract with Highland Spring, providers of natural spring water from the Ochil Hills, but it does make you wonder.

Anyway – on to rule two: if you want to annoy a Spaniard, shout at him in Spanish. This may sound odd, but – trust us – it works. Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi were happily making their way through to the third round of the men’s doubles when they ran into Feliciano Lopez and Juan Monaco. Even for the No.3 seeds, this was a bit of a challenge but as they battled their way past the Spanish speakers 7-6, 6-4, they kept urging themselves on with cries of “Vamos”. Admittedly, this was unusual for two men from India, but no matter.

Yet when they came to shake hands at the net, F-Lo and Monaco were fuming. They wanted to say their piece and no one was going to stop them. They were, apparently, upset by Paes’s behaviour and they wanted Paes to know it. This came as news to Paes, who acted the sweet young innocent afterwards.

“We always do play a very aggressive style of doubles,” Bhupathi explained. “That’s what’s given us all our good results. They, being two singles players, they’ve probably never seen it before. They probably were taken aback a little bit. They were probably not happy that we used the word ‘vamos’. I don’t think they have a patent on that one. Small things like that added up. Kept adding to their frustration that we were playing good tennis as well.

“Unfortunately, believe it or not, this is not the first time it’s happened to me. When Leander and me were playing Orsanic and Oncins in Dubai 95, they got upset because we used ‘vamos’. This was in 2000. Two years ago when I was playing González and Acasuso at the French Open, I used ‘vamos’ and they got upset. I’ve been using it for a long time. If these guys are going to get upset, I’m going to continue to use it.”

And, as Paes explained further: “At the end of the day, whether it’s ‘vamos’ or ‘allez’, we’re Indian, nobody has patent, we’re saying it to each other. It’s like them using an Indian word against us and we’re getting upset. No reason, no?”

Perhaps the lads in the locker room ought to brush up on their Hindi and, in moments of tension, shout the odd phrase or saying at Bhupathi and Paes and see what happens. And, by the way, how do you say “storm in a teacup” in Spanish?

Topics: Andy Murray, Feliciano Lopez, Guillermo Garcia Lopez, Juan Monaco, Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi