Three tips from his game that you can use in your own.
1. Use your serve to set up the point.
Marcos Baghdatis, who’s risen from outside the Top 50 to a spot inside the Top 10 in the span of a year, is aggressive and likes to make things happen on the court, so he structures points from the outset to maximize his strengths, particularly his big forehand. He has what I call a sneaky first serve. By that I mean he’s someone you wouldn’t categorize as a big server, but he uses his delivery in a cagey way. Sure, he can hit with plenty of pace, but he’s especially good at hitting his spots and positioning himself to take the next ball early. This permits him to rush his opponent, dictate play, and not allow his opponent time to recover. If one of your skills is hitting on the rise and managing and manipulating the angles of the court, you want to figure out your opponent’s return preferences and place your serve so you can take time away from your opponent and put him on the defensive during the rally.
2. Focus on good contact when you hit on the rise.
If you’re on top of the baseline and your opponent has been backed up with either an offensive serve or a penetrating shot, you don’t have to concentrate as much on generating pace. Baghdatis can hit as big as anybody but, like Andre Agassi, he doesn’t overdo it when he hits the ball on the rise. That’s a smart idea. Remember, even though you’re taking your opponent’s time away by hitting early, you’re also giving yourself less time and are more likely to mishit the ball if you try to do too much. What you need to focus on is solid contact. To do this, make sure you pay attention to your footwork and get yourself in good position. Pick your target clearly in your mind. Most important, don’t worry about taking a big backswing.
3. Develop a finishing shot.
By playing close to the baseline and backing your opponent up, you create opportunities to finish the point. Baghdatis is not a classic volleyer but he’s very efficient at the net because once he gets there he usually has an easy volley to put away. If you pin your opponent behind the baseline and get a floating reply, be prepared to end the point either with a classic volley or a drive volley. The keys to doing this are footwork— move in quickly—and shot recognition— being aware of your own good shot and anticipating when your opponent will send back a floater. You don’t have to be great at the net to do this. You simply have to be aware of those times when you can come in fast and knock the ball off.