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Roger Federer Fundamentals: Control the Center

In tennis, much as in chess, it is crucial to control the center. As competitors in chess both jockey for early position in the center of the chessboard, so too do tennis players seek to gain control of the center of the court through their groundstrokes.

Controlling the center is of great importance, primarily owing to the geometry of the court. The player who can first gain control of the center has greater access to the area inside the baseline, from where he or she has greater access to the angles within the court. By moving forward, the player with control of the center can move the opponent more readily. Therefore, the player who is in control of the center typically has control of the point, and has more options at his or her disposal.

Roger Federer is a master at controlling the center of the court. Watch carefully how he is very quick to capitalize on weak replies and seize control of the center, putting his opponent on the run, while constantly inching further and further inside the baseline, creating increasingly acute angles with each shot, until the opponent either cannot keep up, or Federer chooses to seal the point at the net.

All players can benefit from learning and mastering this basic and incredibly important skill.

Music: Sonata in D-min, Handel

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