20 September 2010

TIGHT IN PREPARATION AND LOOSE IN CONCLUSION: GRAHAM RYDING

Here we have another example of the 'stress' of the weaker ranked player when it comes to conclude against the higher ranked player (you remember the first example between Shabana and El Hindi a couple of weeks ago?). In the below rally Graham Ryding (a former top20 player for almost a decade between 1998 and 2007, peaking at #10 in 1999 and regular training partner of great Jonathon Power) is mainly dictating, David Palmer is rather reacting (as accurately and simply as ever). Each single preparative backhand that Ryding is hitting in this rally to open up the court is hilariously tight - except the last one that wanted to be conclusive. Psychologically it must be tough when you hit a variety of perfect shots one after the other, and your opponent retrieves them all - you can easily end up cracking in the wrong time.