Simona Halep in a Reductio-ad-Absurdum Baseline Game

Patterned by Darren Cahill and other coaches to a reduction-ad-absurdum baseline game lacking much variety and punch in comparison say to her 2014 incarnation, Simona Halep still does not have the means to beat the power players, as the match today with Amanda Anisimova in the quarters of Roland Garros has just clearly demonstrated. Anisimova, as many young players, has adopted the men's forehand, the ATP forehand, as a weapon of choice. Neglecting detailed advice from these [1] [2] and other quarters, Simona has done nothing to update her weapons, except some minor changes on her service delivery.

As I have written to her in a recent message (I am not sure whether she reads such messages)
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Dear Ms. Halep, I beg to differ vigurously with your assessment or Mr. Dobre's that with Bertens "it was the FH or the BH." It's the overall variety that is painfully missing. It's just that the last coaches have convinced you to reduce your repertory of utilized shots (slice, dropshots, classical volleys have disappeared to a large extent), even if you master them, as well as offering a limited strategy, that of fighting from the baseline.

Notwithstanding your great success at RG2018, I still hold the opinions I had in 2015.
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As to variety, I cannot but repeat what I said four years ago already.

Marius Hancu
Montreal, Canada

It's never too late to learn from Justine ...

... and what the Russian girls know about serving 😎

You and your coaches have been saying for at least two years that you would like to improve your serve.

Here is an idea as well as an opportunity for you to really do it to empower (💪) yourself.

I know (without exaggeration, as I did this with several of my students here and several people from US whom I coached professionally over the internet - i.e. I got paid for it, as it worked:-)), what you have to do, without changing for now from the pinpoint to the platform stance.

The observations and suggestions are as follows:

You need more /upper body/torso/right (as you are a righty) shoulder and hip / rotation in the trophy position (when both arms are up).

It will provide you with more power, topspin and action on the ball, and more margin over the net.

The changes are effective immediately. Just try them, if you feel curious:-)

If I were nearby, this would not necessitate so many explanations.  

It is something that was known and executed beautifully by Justine Henin: turning more your shoulders and hips during the service motion, past the line that is perpendicular to the net, in order to achieve more power and action on the ball.

E.g., at 1:51 in:

Henin vs Serena ● US Open 2007 QF Highlights

But if I look at today's players it's like Justine never existed 😪

As for yourself, like for all the Romanian (and Canadian) girls, your torso, your hip line, your shoulder line are all perpendicular to the net in the trophy position, even though none of you reaches 118 mph on serve like Justine, who is 1.68 m tall, just like yourself, for she had a better technique. Please look e.g. at this pic:

at 3:05 in:

Simona Halep vs. Elina Svitolina | 2019 Qatar Total Open Semifinals | WTA Highlights 

 

BTW, it was strange to watch today Ms. Begu doing all the right things during her service motion (moving her right leg behind during preparation, bending/arching her back) only to have them cancelled out by an insufficient shoulder and hip rotation.

 

Surely, please feel free to communicate my suggestions to her and other Romanian players.

 

Following Henin, the Russians know better 😭. Kasatkina's torso is something like 45 degrees with the back to the net in trophy.  

Let's learn from her.

 

Elena Vesnina vs Daria Kasatkina 2018 02 22 QF Highlights

The same is valid for Yastremska.

Voila 😎

Best regards.

Marius Hancu

Montreal

e-mail: diosper2 AT yahoo DOT net

Ms. Halep, New Approach vs the Power Players

Dear Ms. Halep,

Yes, again :-) glorious music https://www.vahvafitness.com/athletic-physique-exercises/ to set you up in a great mood.

Now, in my opinion, it's time for you to use a new approach vs the power players. At the US Open, you rallied (well, most of the time, honestly speaking, recovered balls, in a defensive approach) from 2 meters behind the baseline, and allowed your opponent to park herself on the baseline and rob you of time.

I'd say, no more of that. It's time for a paradigm shift that will make you the aggressor, and also help your health (via shorter exchanges).

First, you will place yourself at the baseline, you will step in and consistently take the ball on the rise. You will utilize the energy of the incoming ball, rob your competition of time, and surprise them.

Start practising that now with your sparring partner: take the ball all the time on the rise in rallies and when he feeds you by hand from close by. You might not be as strong as some  of the big ladies, but have extremely fast feet and hands. Use them offensively. Yes, there's a risk that sometimes the ball might just fly by you, but then that happens also when you are 2 m back.

Second, you will try to redirect the balls mostly to their BH. But don't be afraid to try to break down their FH too with your variety.

Third, yes, confuse them with your variety. Don't just reply to power topspin with power topspin. Feed them slice, dropshots, flat, fast and slow, high and low balls, lobs. Steal the net from them. Serve and volley at times, say after kick serves that allow more time to get to the net. Make them uncomfortable, and their errors will follow.

Yes, practice 50 serve-volley sequences with your sparring partner.

Fourth, when returning, use more frequently chip/sliced returns a la Wawrinka (BH and FH). They absorb well the power of the incoming ball, and generate a slow/dead ball which the opponent will have to accelerate again.

All these remain valid:
Be prepared for her slice and dropshots: when going forward after short balls start from an aggressive split-step. Be more aggressive than her, accelerate your shots better than she does. Your high-topspin or flat DTL or inside-out drives were very successful at Montreal. Hold the ball longer in your racquet, and play behind her as much as you can. She will play crosscourt a lot - surprise her with DTLs. Be the first at the net. Step into the court and generate angled shots. Return aggressively but line up/target well your shots.

Good luck with all these power players. Enjoy turning the tables on them :-)