Backhand Approach of Amelie Mauresmo

A no-frills motion paves the Frenchwoman’s way to the net. BY Anne Smith, Ph.d Reigning Wimbledon champion Amélie Mauresmo is an all-court player who, unlike most of her peers, regularly attacks the net. And whether she’s coming in off a short ball in a rally or attacking a weak serve, as she is in this sequence, her slice backhand approach is the shot she uses most often to get her to the net and pressure her opponent. 1. Mauresmo is attacking her opponent’s weak serve and has moved inside the baseline to take the ball early. Any time you approach, you should be at least in front of the baseline before you strike the ball. Mauresmo has a perfect shoulder turn—her chin is over her right shoulder—and her backswing is compact. Many players have too much backswing on the approach shot; because you’re moving forward you need to keep it short. She’s balanced, with most of her weight on her back leg, ready to transfer her weight forward as she hits the ball. Too many players bend at the waist and reach on the approach shot, sacrificing power and control. Though it’s hard to see in this shot, Mauresmo’s using her left hand to cradle the throat of the racquet and assist in the take-back. Her right arm is slightly bent and she’s using a Continental grip. 2. Mauresmo’s head is in good position, with her eyes fixed on the ball. She’s moving forward, which will give her shot extra bite. You can tell from the shadow on the court that the ball is just inches from her racquet and will probably hit the string bed slightly below center, which is what you want on the slice backhand because the ball will slide along the strings. Impact will occur just in front of her right foot. Pay attention to her left arm in this frame: Mauresmo moves it back in the opposite direction from her hitting arm to maintain her balance. 3. Notice the angle formed by Mauresmo’s forearm and her racquet. It hasn’t changed since the first photo. She has no unnecessary wrist action in her backhand approach, which translates into greater control and consistency. And now you can really see how her left arm extends back to counter her right arm. This movement is important for maintaining good balance. It also keeps her upper body sideways for a longer period of time, allowing her to hit through the ball effectively. Mauresmo’s head is still and she has her eyes on the flight of the ball rather than on her opponent or her target. 4. Mauresmo’s follow-through, like her backswing, is compact, which is what you want on an approach shot. With so much going on as she advances toward the net, she needs to keep her mechanics as simple and efficient as possible. Excess motion often leads to mistimed shots. Her weight is not only moving forward, but she’s also moving back into the court to gain good net position. Again, note how her left hand perfectly mirrors her right. To practice this movement, imagine that you’re a baseball umpire signaling “Safe!” whenever you finish your slice backhand.