You have the stronger forehand, the better serve and more chances to attack. Yet you walk off the court beaten by an opponent you consider entirely beatable.
Brad Gilbert offers an explanation: sometimes we try to do too much. We take risks the situation does not require, end rallies prematurely and relieve our opponent of the job of winning points on their own.
In his view, the path to more wins often begins with better decisions about the shots we already have.
Give your opponent the chance to miss
When he starts working with Andre Agassi, Gilbert sees a player with enormous ability who does not always use it effectively. Agassi can hit plenty of winners but also undo them with a large number of unforced errors.
The change Gilbert is after is a change in mindset. A quality ball can create enough pressure without being a finishing shot. If you keep ending the rally yourself — with a winner or an error — your opponent rarely has to solve difficult problems.
For club players, this means distinguishing between two situations: a ball that allows you to attack and a ball where it is wiser to maintain the pressure and wait for a better opportunity.
The goal is for every attack to have a reason.
Match your risk to the specific match
Playing on the edge can produce an impressive win. The same approach, however, can hand an unnecessary chance to an opponent you could outplay with more consistency.
Gilbert stresses that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Some players take far too many risks; others hesitate when they need to take the initiative.
The useful question is: “How much risk do I need against this opponent today?”
The answer depends on what your shots are doing and how the person on the other side responds.
Don't abandon a winning tactic
Players sometimes change something that works because they are afraid of becoming predictable. Gilbert prefers to keep using an advantage until the opponent shows they can counter it.
If the wide serve regularly brings a weak return, use it. If your opponent struggles to control high balls to the backhand, keep putting them in that situation.
Predictability is not a problem in itself when the other player has no effective answer.
The same applies to coming to the net. If you win almost every approach, ask yourself whether you are using that option often enough.
Recognise when it is time to change
Sticking to the plan makes sense when the plan creates opportunities. If you are losing convincingly and the same situations keep going your opponent's way, you need to try an adjustment.
You can change your return position, the height and pace of the ball, or the direction in which you build the rally. There is no need to overhaul your whole game at once.
A tight set that slips away, however, does not prove the tactic is wrong. Sometimes a handful of points decide the score. What matters is assessing how the match is unfolding, not just what the scoreboard shows.
Give your opponent the ball they don't like
Gilbert tells a revealing story about Agassi's match against Karol Kučera. Hard-hit balls allowed Kučera to use their pace and redirect them successfully.
The solution was unusual for Agassi: higher balls through the middle. This gave the opponent fewer convenient angles and forced him to generate pace and initiative himself.
The lesson applies at every level: your most impressive shot is not always the most uncomfortable one for your opponent. Watch what actually troubles them.
Under pressure, return to your strengths
At the end of a set, players often change their behaviour. Some start playing too cautiously; others go looking for a rushed finishing shot.
Gilbert advises relying on what you do well. If your dependable pattern is serve plus forehand, use it in the big points as well.
This means keeping a clear intention and an appropriate safety margin. Focus on executing the next point rather than on the consequences of a possible loss.
Improve one specific metric
Not every improvement requires a technical change. Gilbert describes how, with Agassi, he focuses attention on holding serve, because Agassi's return game is already exceptionally strong.
For club players, a useful starting point is to review several of your own matches. Where do you lose points most often? Do you give away points when returning second serves? Do you rush the first shot after your serve? Do you miss comfortable chances to attack?
Pick one recurring problem and work on it deliberately. Small improvements matter when they show up again and again during a match.
Three questions for the next changeover
Putting these ideas into practice can start with a quick check:
- What is winning me points today?
- Where am I giving away points unnecessarily?
- What one change can I try now?
The answers help you bring your attention back to the tasks on court. That is the essence of Gilbert's approach: use your abilities wisely and find a way to win this particular match with the game you have today.
Source: the provided subtitles of the interview “Why You’re Losing Tennis Matches You Should Win — Brad Gilbert”. The practical questions and applications for club players are an editorial adaptation of the ideas discussed.