Rafael Nadal exemplified and even perfected the first definition of "serve plus one," especially on clay, when he capitalized on his viciously spinning lefty forehand by maneuvering to hit it more than 80% of the time after his first serve went in. The tactic proved especially effective when Rafa served wide in the ad court. Opponents had to hit returns from outside the alley, and Novak Djokovic, the greatest serve returner in tennis history, was the only player who could significantly lower that 80% by hitting returns sharply and accurately enough to force Nadal to hit backhands more often.

The proverb that “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link” applied perfectly to both French Open champions. Mirra Andreeva and Alexander Zverev dramatically improved their forehands by making them more aggressive.

No longer mere rallying shots or even occasionally timid point losers, their forehands became weapons to complement their strong backhands and powerful first serves. Both first-time major winners benefited from relatively easy draws; neither played a former Grand Slam champion or even a finalist.

Mary Carillo ranks among the top TV commentators and analysts in tennis history. I've long admired her vast expertise, integrity, and courage to speak out on tennis's burning controversies. Last December, I was honored to interview Mary when the sports world learned she would be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in August. This interview appeared in Sportstar magazine in India. I hope you thoroughly enjoy the interview, and, as always, I welcome your comments.
Interview Copyright 2025 by Paul Fein

“Beyond Hours & Dollars: A Career Guide for Rackets Professionals” packs so much foundational information, time-tested insights, and valuable advice that it could also have been titled “Everything You’ll Ever Need to Know About Being a Successful Racket Sports Professional.”