Search this site

Adverts

Banner
Banner
Banner

Sponsored Links

Welcome to TennisZoo.com

Thanks for visiting the home of Tenerife Tennis

Hi, I am John Debnam, a tennis coach based in Los Gigantes on the beautiful Canarian island of Tenerife. This site is dedicated to the sport of tennis, to which I owe my career, news of local and international Tennis events, tips on playing the game and various other items of interest I come across along the way. Enjoy the site and send your thoughts and ideas to john@tenniszoo.com.

John Debnam - tennis coach from Los Gigantes, Tenerife
Home of Tennis in Tenerife, Spain
Kim Barbie! PDF 
Written by John Debnam   
Monday, 08 February 2010 21:14

Kim Clijsters just keeps setting records:

First Belgian woman to reach a Grand Slam final; first Belgian to be ranked world number one; first mother to win a Slam title in almost 30 years. Now, she's the first female athlete to be made into a Barbie doll.

Today it was unveiled that Clijsters—and daughter Jada—joined the ranks of Oprah and Elizabeth Taylor as women who embody the values of Barbie, and have therefore been molded into immortality. Speaking of bodies, the real Kim has a fit, athletic body—couldn't they have found a little more room to pour some plastic into that mold? At least Barbie Kim doesn't have to worry about chaffing, nor does she have to be concerned about a full set of ribs. And knee injuries are no longer an issue, since it seems she lost hers. In a statement, Clijsters mentioned she was big into dolls as a kid (I wonder if she had that doll head you could put makeup on) and will "cherish it (the dolls) for life."

About ten years ago, Serena and Venus Williams released their own (non-Barbie) dolls at FAO Schwartz. Their dolls cost $19.99 (no word yet on the price of a Clijsters doll) and came with sun visors and water bottles. The Kim Barbie includes a necklace with clear Swarovski crystal and "real socks." I can only imagine how little girls across the country will reenact Kim and Serena's semifinal match at last year's U.S. Open.

 
Serve And Return Drill For Singles PDF 
Written by John Debnam   
Wednesday, 03 February 2010 16:27

 A great practice to try with a friend or with your coach - make a note of the coaching note.

Instruction:

1. Set up a court as illustrated using three different coloured markers to indicate tee, body and wide serves the server should mix up these three serves. Place corresponding colours in the appropriate return areas.

2. A wide serve should be hit back cross court, taking advantage of the angle created by the serve(green target).

3. Hit the down the tee serves(red) down the line, running the ball away from your opponent’s backhand [as illustrated]. A  body serve(yellow) can be directed deep down the middle, neutralising the server’s advantage.

4. Once players have spent time on the forehand court move to the backhand court following the same principles.

5. Change server and return player.

Coaching Notes:

Begin by just emphasising the serve and return. After players have achieved some success with the drill play the rally out and build the point from the serve and return.

Good game to play is the server gets to play 10 points serving to the green zone and wins the point if the receiver fails to return back to the green zone(you can divide the servers side into 3 equal zones).

If the receiver returns into the correct green zone, then they score the point.

No double faults, so both players get to hit a lot of balls.

The try 10 points to the yellow and then red zone.If you do not have coloured targets just divide the service box into 3 equal zones using string or tape.

Keep the score at both ends - so after 10 points to the red zone it may be 10-0/8-2/6-4 etc.

 
Where To Hit To.... PDF 
Written by John Debnam   
Monday, 01 February 2010 09:01

This practice can either be used with your coach or a friend.

The idea is to recognise "early" where is the best place to hit your shot.

This exercise makes you "think" about not only where to hit to, but also to arrive correctly to be able to play the shot.

The court is divided into 4 zones as shown in the diagram below.

Your partner feeds you a ball, and if it lands in zone 1 you must hit the deep cross court shot.

Zone 2 makes you practice the deep backhand cross court.

Zone 3 gives you a chance to either hit straight deep or a short cross court angle.

Zone 4 same as 3 but with the backhand.

Probably its better when playing the shots that land in zones 3 and 4 to decide before hand where you are going to hit it.

So get out there and practice, practice, practice.

 
Sun Goes Down On Andy's Dream PDF 
Written by John Debnam   
Sunday, 31 January 2010 13:12



So close in the third set, but The Fed once again showed why he is the best there has ever been.

Two after match comments made the day - 

"I can cry like Roger, it's a shame I can't play like him."said Andy.

Roger responded: "Andy, well done for your incredible tournament. You're too good a player not to win a Grand Slam so don't worry about it.

 
Pure Guts!! PDF 
Written by John Debnam   
Saturday, 30 January 2010 11:16



Congrats Serena - well done Justine - at long last a decent womens final.

 
«StartPrev12345NextEnd»

Page 1 of 5