How to Play Tennis Like Roger Federer

Critics and fans alike widely recognize Roger Federer as one of the greatest tennis players who ever played the game. His power and vision make him an incredible attacker, while his determination and speed make him a tenacious defender. Playing tennis exactly like Roger Federer is impossible, but you can learn the basics of his game by following these steps.

Instructions

1. Purchase a Wilson (K)Factor (K)Six-One Tour 90 tennis racket. This is Federer's stick of choice. He customizes his with weights and hybrid strings, but the basic racket's pretty much the same.

2. Calm yourself down before stepping onto the court and keep cool during your match. Federer's clear head and even temper are trademarks of his game.

3. Fix your grips. Roger hits his forehand with a semi-western grip, his topspin backhand with an eastern backhand grip, and his slice backhand and serve with a continental grip.

4. Stay as fluid and relaxed as you can during your strokes. Because of his flexibility and balance, Roger's able to develop a ton of racket-head speed on all of his shots.

5. Hit your topspin forehand from an open or semi-closed stance, but use a full shoulder during your windup to generate power.

6. Go for accuracy instead of power on your serves. Roger can boom serves with the best of them, but it's his placement and spins that make his serve hard to break. Also, disguise your shots by using the same body motion for each serve.

7. Play your crosscourt slice backhand short in the court. By cutting these shots near the service line, Federer draws his opponent in and forces him to come up with a tough shot.

8. Be creative on the court. Roger uses strategy to construct points, but his real gift is for invention. Always keep an eye open for angles that your opponent isn't expecting and go for them when you can.