Don’t overdo it

Have a match coming up against the top player in your league? That guy or gal who beats you every time, even if you start out with a big lead? Take a lesson from last weekend’s Rogers Cup champ, Novak Djokovic, and don’t worry about playing up to your opponent — just be yourself. You’re not unique for wanting to play your absolute best against the best competition. But asking that much of yourself — I have to hit more winners, fewer errors, and better angles, TODAY — often produces decidedly worse results. Playing within yourself isn’t easy, but there are ways to approach a match that can help you do it. Think about spin and depth, not power: Players too often think they have to hit the ball harder against a quality opponent. You’re probably better off working your opponent with softer, topspin strokes that clear the net by a safer margin and land deeper in the court. If your opponent has less to work with — fewer short balls and fewer obvious angles — you’ll find more chances coming your way. Don’t be afraid to use the middle of the court: You don’t always have to put your opponent on the run (check out how many backhands Djokovic aimed at Rafael Nadal’s feet in the semifinals of the Rogers Cup). It’s difficult to create angles, and hit winners, off deep shots in the center of the court. If you jam your opponent, you might get that short ball you’ve been waiting for. Use your second serve as a first serve: Unless you are an ace machine, keep that first-serve percentage high, even if it means a little less pace and a little more spin. Concentrate on placement. Repetition is your friend: If you find something your opponent doesn’t like, keep going after it. Do you think Djokovic felt guilty about pounding Federer’s backhand over and over again on Sunday? You don’t need to look better than your opponent. Winning will do just fine.