The Whole Delivery

Photo from Getty Images and Wtatennis.com The renowned phrase before ominous weather hits, "The Calm Before The Storm", is certainly also used frequently in sport. A massive force that can't be stopped when fully ensconced, the feeling of relaxation, prior to the arrival of extreme conditions, can change rapidly when those conditions come. It could cause a player to lose his or her nerve in a sudden instance, never being able to recover from the acerbic nature of such a powerful, pestilent force. Sometimes though, there are special instances where special people have an ability to show "The Calm During The Storm." Moreover, some people are just "The Calm", no matter when or where. Petra Kvitova, in the year of 2011, has shown she is not only level headed and relaxed in the most stressful situations. Instead, she IS that level headed person, blessed with the "Calm gene." It was evidence today, and proved to be the defining differen...

Tactics for Sharapova/Lisicki Sharapova: 1) Stay steady, stay calm..... 2) ....But this isn't a counterpuncher, and you will need to serve aces today 3) Miami match may mean nothing, but......it may mean something to you upstairs, and to her. 4) Look at Sasha for strength, and don't let the crowd get to you. 5) Breathe Lisicki: 1) You play with no pressure, you are on a magic journey 2) First serve, and be occasionally bold on the 2nd serve 3) Drop shots, and get her off the baseline. Make her move up and down instead of just side to side 4) Make it more physical than mental 5) The crowd will be behind you, and get into Sharapova's head. Make her nervous and doubt herself. I say Lisicki in straights I think. She is playing with house money, and the magic. And Sharapova's form has been overrated this tournament, as she looked shaky against Robson before the nerves got to the 17 year old.

From AELTC Tactics for Lisicki-Bartoli For Lisicki: 1) You are still playing with house money. Try not to feel nervous 2) Test Bartoli's fitness 3) Don't be scared to come to net 4) You guys are the best two players on grass in the top half right now......Show that you are the best For Bartoli: 1) Breathe, breathe, breathe 2) Attack Lisicki's 2nd serve, back up a bit on her first serve, take away her down the middle at least. 3) Show this to be a mental tough match. Tactics for Kvitova-Pironkova Kvitova: 1) Place Doubt into Pironkova early 2) HIt hard, but especially, to her forehand for short easy volleys 3) Keep your concentration high. Pironkova: 1) You haven't thought about the rankings at all......Don't do it now 2) Don't get tight, and stay with Kvitova 3) No off speed serve.....Go for it, because the junk won't work in this match. (The other two quarterfinals will come in a bit.)