Positional play

A positional play is a tactic for conducting a rally, the goal of which is to maximize the complexity of the opponent’s position. To do this, each shot must be aggressive and accurate. The opponent in this situation will not be able to carry out counterattack actions. Their main task is simply to return the ball to the court.

Positional play means preparing for a smashing final shot or a way to make an opponent make a mistake. In any case, a tennis player who qualitatively implements such tactics has a much greater chance of winning a point.

An effective positional play is characterized by diagonal and linear transfers. It is these actions that make the opponent do a lot of running work, which entails fatigue soon. On the other hand, a tennis player who plays a positional game saves energy resources. For protracted or equal fights, this aspect is very important.

Often commentators use the term “positional struggle”. This means that both athletes are looking for the opportunity to play the first number. As a rule, tennis players exchange shots almost equal in aggression and danger, until one of them gets a chance to lead a positional play single-handedly.