Alright, so today I wanna talk about something I’ve been messing with lately: Matteo Berrettini’s tennis game. I’m not a pro or anything, just a guy who enjoys playing and trying to improve. So, I started digging into Berrettini’s style because, let’s be honest, that forehand is a beast.
First off, I watched a bunch of his matches, focusing on his footwork and preparation for his shots. You know, the usual stuff. But I wasn’t just watching, I was watching. I mean, pausing, rewinding, and trying to mimic his movements in my living room – much to my wife’s amusement.
- The Stance: The first thing I noticed was how wide his stance is. It gives him a solid base to generate power from. I tried widening my stance, and yeah, I felt way more grounded.
- The Backswing: His backswing is huge, almost a full loop. I started exaggerating mine too, and it definitely added some oomph to my shots.
- The Follow-Through: He finishes high over his shoulder, really driving through the ball. I tried to copy this, and my forehands started landing deeper in the court.
But just watching isn’t enough, right? I needed to get on the court and actually do it. So, I dragged my buddy out for a hitting session. I told him, “Dude, I’m channeling my inner Berrettini today!” He just laughed.
The first few balls were a disaster. I was overswinging, missing the sweet spot, and generally looking like a fool. But I kept at it. I focused on those three things: the wide stance, the big backswing, and the high follow-through.
Slowly, things started to click. My forehands started to feel heavier, and I was getting more spin. I could feel myself generating more power from my legs. It wasn’t perfect, not even close, but it was definitely an improvement.
I also noticed that Berrettini uses a semi-western grip. I was using a more eastern grip, so I adjusted that a little bit. It felt weird at first, but it helped me generate more topspin.
Here’s what I learned:
- Don’t try to copy everything at once. Pick one or two things to focus on, and work on those until they become more natural.
- Record yourself. I used my phone to record a few rallies, and it was super helpful to see what I was actually doing vs. what I thought I was doing.
- Be patient. It takes time to change your technique. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results immediately.
I’m still working on it, of course. But I’m definitely seeing some improvement in my game. And hey, even if I don’t end up hitting like Berrettini, at least I’m having fun trying. Now, to work on that serve…
