Second Serves: The Need for Speed
As players progress in their tennis careers, arguably the hardest transition they go through is jumping from high level junior tennis to the professional ranks. The world of fancy hotels, top notch facilities, and feeling of proximity to the top of our sport is replaced by the reality of Futures – the minor leagues of…
Does Success at Les Petits As Predict Success in the Pros?
Les Petits As is widely considered as one of the most important junior tennis tournaments in the world. Held in Tarbes, France, it is the unofficial world indoor championship in the Under-14 category. The list of singles winners, on the men’s side, includes well-known legends of our sport such as Rafael Nadal, Richard Gasquet, or…
The Predictable Carlos Alcaraz
One of the things that makes watching Carlos Alcaraz play tennis so exciting is the variety in his game. When his feet are set for a forehand, he is equally adept at blasting a 100mph missile, or use his touch and send a soft drop shot barely over the net. He can slice, come to…
Not a Fan of Dirt
Clay is certainly not Daniil Medvedev’s favorite surface, and he’ll happily tell you so. Despite winning the Masters 1000 in Rome this year, Medvedev’s preferred surface is hard. He’s won his only Grand Slam title on the hard courts of US Open in 2021, made the finals in New York in 2019, as well as…
Beneath The Surface Of Tennis
When trying to forecast the outcomes of our decisions, one of the more widely used mental models differentiates between first-order and second-order consequences. First-order consequences are the more obvious, surface-level ones. They also tend occur relatively early after the decision is made. Understanding second-order consequences requires a deeper analysis, looking beyond the obvious. Second-order consequences…
Nick Kyrgios The Tactician
It would be an understatement to say that Nick Kyrgios is a polarizing figure in the world of professional tennis. He is a Grand Slam champion, and one of the most talented athletes in our sport. At the same time, one can never be quite sure what is going to happen when watching one of…
Carlos Alcaraz and Second Serve Placement
After the conclusion of the 2022 Australian Open, all the talk on the men’s side – and rightfully so – has been about Rafael Nadal and his 21st Grand Slam title. As much as Nadal has meant to the sport, it is no secret that the proverbial clock is ticking, and he is at the…
Predicting wOBA Using Process-based Statistics
When trying to determine a batter’s overall offensive value using a single statistic, one of the most popular metrics to use is the weighted on-base average (wOBA). wOBA is calculated as a ratio of a linear combination of “outcome” statistics (unintentional walks, hit-by-pitches, singles, doubles, triples, and home runs) divided by, essentially, the number of…
Forehand: Offense, Backhand: Defense
By now it has been well established, that the majority of points in men’s professional tennis are shorter than 4 total shots, or 2 per player. Yet the most exciting spectacle in a tennis match is the extended rally, with players exchanging groundstrokes, battling for court position, and looking to exploit any small opening to…
Ruminating on the Underhand Serve
Almost every sport has a set of unwritten rules that the competitors are expected to abide by and follow. In baseball, baserunners are discouraged from stealing bases in the late innings of a blowout. In American football, teams will often take a knee instead of running an offensive play if the game is already decided…
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Michal's Musings 