The game of singles in tennis is extremely demanding. You are all alone out there, struggling against your opponent, your own emotional swings, bad line calls, the elements, noise from the other courts, spectators, and countless other gremlins. What you don't need is an elaborate, sophisticated strategy. You need something simple, a plan that is safe and effective, one that allows you to focus on executing your shots without thinking too much about tactics. Below are guidelines to help you keep it simple and still win.

One more ball. The secret to tennis is to hit one more ball over the net than your opponent. So rather than try for risky shots, just get the ball back into play. Never mind the spectacular 100-to-1 shot. Just get the ball over the net one more time. Most points in tennis are won because of the opponent's errors, not one's own great shots. Give your opponent one more opportunity to lose the point. This applies to the return of serve as well as ground strokes.

Hit cross court. On balls hit to you on a diagonal, hit it back cross court. The net is lower and you have more space in which to hit when you hit cross court. Going down the line is risky: the net's higher, the court's shorter, and you might also pull the ball wide. Further, changing directions on the ball is more difficult, due to the deflection of the ball off your racquet. It is physically easier to send the ball back in the direction in which it came. This is particularly true on the return of serve. Get it back deep cross court and your odds of winning the point have improved remarkably.

Deep and down the middle. On balls hit to you straight up the middle, hit it back deep and up the middle. Use topspin to clear the net safely and pin your opponent deep in the back court from where it is difficult to attack. You can change the angle slightly to move your opponent around, but don't go for a low percentage shot into the corner. Aim well inside the side. This is the time you will want to hit to your opponent's weaker side, but don't go for too much.

Wait for the short ball. If you are engaged in a rally from the back court, just keep the ball going back deep in the direction from which it came. Don't be the one to change directions. Be patient and wait for the error. The error can be either a point-ending shot into the net or out of bounds by your opponent, or a short ball which you can attack.

Attack the short ball and come in. If your opponent hits the ball short (i.e., one that bounces weakly near the service line), come forward and hit the ball down the line. If the ball is below the level of the net when you are ready to hit it, a slice shot is in order; if it bounces above your waist level, then you can hit it flat or with a little topspin. Down the line is the percentage shot because you'll have less court space to cover. Generally, you are not trying for a winner on this shot. You want only to hit it fairly deep into the corner, allowing you time to advance a little closer to the net and await a shot that you can volley cross court for the point. Be alert for the lob.

Get your first serve in. Everyone likes to take two giant steps forward and smack the second serve. Don't give your opponent that opportunity. You may need to take the pace off your serve a little to improve your consistency, but that is a small price to pay. Go for a hard serve if you must when you are ahead 40-love. If you can get 60-70 percent of your first serves in, your odds on winning the match are very favorable.

Don't go for the lines. Even the pros miss their targets, so give yourself some margin for error. Instead of aiming for the singles line on a cross court shot, aim a foot or so inside the line. If you are slightly off on your shot, chances are it will still land inside the line. This is true for volleys as well as groundstrokes.

Bisect your opponent's angle of return. On every ball hit to your opponent, she has an angle of possible returns: down the line on one side, and cross court on the other. The better the opponent the wider this angle of possible returns, because better players hit with topspin and can hit the ball closer to the net on their cross court shots. Your best defensive position anytime your opponent is ready to strike the ball is exactly in the middle of her angle of possible returns. Position yourself so that you bisect that angle and you will have your forehand and your backhand equally covered. This applies to volleys as well. When you come into the net after a short ball, set up so that you again bisect this angle of possible returns.

Lob frequently. Most of the advice above relates to playing percentage tennis. That is, playing shots that are likely to result in a successful return of the ball over the net and within the boundaries of the singles court. It is difficult enough to hit a tennis ball properly when you are stationary and well-balanced, so don't go for risky shots when you are running full tilt and are stretched out wide. That said, one of the best shots when in this predicament is the lob. It is relatively easy to hit, it gives you time to get back into position, and it forces your opponent to hit an overhead, which is often a player's weaker stroke.

Be zen-like. Zen meditators breathe through their nose and count their breaths. Try this in between points. It will relax you and keep your mind on the match at hand. In you can handle a mantra as well, I recommend "watch the ball."

Refer to your notes: I suggest you jot some of these tips down on a 3 x 5 card and put it in your tennis bag. During your change-overs, refer to them to monitor your progress. Don't worry, it's legal.

Randy Cummings
Match Point Racquet Sports
www.racquetgear.com