Why do some people have more time on the tennis court?

January 23, 2026

It is fascinating to watch a top player take on the world’s elite and yet never appear stressed . These players always seem to have time to prepare their shots, even though the ball is coming at high speed. The secret lies not in some mysterious ability to slow down time, but in technical and mental skills : exceptional footwork, the right distance to the ball, the ability to anticipate the game (anticipation), deep understanding of the game, and effective movement patterns such as positioning, split-stepping, and quick recovery between shots. By mastering these areas, skilled players make the game seem slower – they create their own time on the court.

Footwork and correct distance to the ball

Footwork is the foundation of keeping up with today's fast-paced tennis. As coach Patrick Mouratoglou puts it: "The best players in the world are always the ones who move the best. If you want to understand their tennis, start by looking at their feet, not their racket... great movement is not about effort, it's about efficiency, balance and reading the game before anyone else." [1] . Good footwork gives the player time and space to execute their shot optimally. In fact, many club players miss more shots due to poor movement than due to lack of technique – they simply don’t get in position to utilize their technique [2] .

Elite players take lots of small adjustments to always get to the ball perfectly. Roger Federer is a case in point: he is known for “floating” across the court with countless quick footwork. Mouratoglou points out that Federer takes many small steps before each hit to get the perfect distance to the ball, with a wide, stable footing – this gives him exceptional precision and balance in his shots [3] Thanks to this footwork, Federer was able to take the ball early and make the game look almost effortless [4] [5] There are also examples on the women's side: Ash Barty, former world number one, moved extremely efficiently with small adjustment steps and good positioning, which meant that she rarely looked stressed despite hard exchanges of blows.

Maintaining the right distance to the ball is crucial. A player with good footwork positions himself so that the ball is in the ideal hitting position (at waist height, not too close or too far from the body). This requires constant small corrections with his feet. As Mouratoglou says: “Roger (Federer) takes an enormous amount of adjustment steps... he wants to have perfect distance to the ball. His precision comes from his feet... Footwork is not a ‘detail’ in tennis – it is tennis.” [3] .

Anticipation and game understanding

In addition to quick footwork, top players seem to have the ability to anticipate what is going to happen next. Anticipation – being one step ahead – allows them to start moving before their opponent’s shot has even crossed the net. Andy Murray, one of the best readers of the game on tour, has said: “I try to anticipate the ball well. That’s something that has helped me since I was a kid – learning to read the game well.” [6] . Since as a junior he could not overpower older players with power, he instead developed his understanding of the game and his ability to anticipate [6] The result is visible in his matches: Murray often makes it to where no one thought it was possible, thanks to the fact that he already knew where the ball was going to come.

How do you train and use the ability to anticipate? Skilled players “read” their opponents through subtle cues. Their bodies tell them what to do, if you learn the language [7] Coaches teach that there are three key factors to observe in an opponent just before they hit: 1) Where on the court the shot is being hit, 2) how the shoulders rotate, and 3) how the racket is pulled back [8] . Depending on position, you can predict likely shots (e.g. a player who is out of position is often forced to make a shorter response). The angle of the shoulders and the start of the swing can reveal whether it will be a cross, long line, slice or topspin. By studying the patterns of opponents , the pros learn to recognize situations and think "When X happens, Y usually follows". This understanding of the game allows them to take a few steps in the right direction even before the ball is hit - suddenly the ball doesn't feel as fast, because the player was already standing there waiting.

A good example is Agnieszka Radwańska, a former top-ranked WTA player. She didn’t have the hardest hitting on the tour, but her ability to read the game earned her the nickname “The Professor.” Radwańska was often positioned in advance , picking up impossible balls and making opponents wonder how she could always be there. Her anticipation and understanding of the game slowed the game down from her perspective – she was one step ahead.

Positioning, split-step and recovery

Effective positioning is about what happens between shots : how you move immediately after you hit the ball and before the next shot comes. Top players make the most of the time between shots by quickly returning to a balanced starting position and preparing for their opponent's next move. A basic rule is to always split-step at exactly the right moment. A split-step is the small jump in which both feet leave the ground and land simultaneously just after the opponent hits the ball [9] . This hop step puts the player in a wide, ready stance with the weight on the front of the feet, which provides explosiveness in both directions. The very best timing is to land the split step the moment after the opponent hits the ball – then the muscles are loaded just as the ball is coming [10] .

Immediately after the split step , the player accelerates in the direction the ball is coming from . The fastest way is to turn the side facing the direction of the shot and sprint (rather than backing straight or crossing the legs incorrectly) [11] . On the way to the ball, the best players take both big steps and small adjustment steps to slow down perfectly at the moment of impact. Note how Novak Djokovic moves: he often takes several small "drip steps" before hitting the ball, and his balance is so good that he can even slide into shots on hard courts. Djokovic sometimes performs a double split-step – an extra small jump sideways – to be able to immediately change direction in case his opponent changes direction of the shot at the last second. It is this constant activity in his feet that makes him seem to always be on time despite his opponent's powerful shots. As one coach described it: "It's not about big movements, but about constant small steps and double split-steps that create rhythm and perfect timing. The legs do the work." [12] Once the player reaches the ball, the feet are already in the optimal position – then even a difficult passing shot or a hard return becomes a controlled shot, executed in balance.

Just as important is what happens after your hit. Top players never stand on their heels admiring their ball; they immediately initiate a recovery to the correct position. If you plan to stay at the baseline, immediately after the hit, turn your body towards the net and sidestep back towards the middle of the court [13] . By regaining position with your eyes forward, the player can cover both the forehand and backhand sides equally quickly. If you instead turn your back on one of the corners you hit, you open yourself up to being outplayed behind you [13] . Note how Rafael Nadal bounces back towards the middle position after each groundstroke, ready to change direction in case his opponent hits him straight at him next time. Even when his legs burn with fatigue, elite players keep their footwork going between strokes – they never stop completely on their heels. Standing on tiptoe and bouncing a little in place is a trick to avoid numb legs stealing time from the next move. [14] If you stand still, you have to "start the engine" again, which costs you precious moments. That's why players like Lleyton Hewitt (former world number one) exhibit constantly active footwork - their feet are moving even between strokes, always ready for the next leap.

Slowing down the game – a trainable art

The phenomenon of "having time" on the court thus comes from training and skill , not magic. Toni Nadal – Rafael Nadal's famous coach and uncle – stressed the importance of good positioning in today's fast-paced tennis: "With the speed of the ball today, there is no choice but to seek a good position to gain control. The great players measure their steps well, find a good position and from there try to hit a good shot to increase their chances of winning." [15] . This quote sums up the gist: footwork and position are key to mastering the tempo. A well-prepared player has time to execute his shot in balance, which makes the game seem slower . At the same time, the opponent, who does not have the same time, is forced to chase and stress - the difference becomes decisive in the match.

The inspiring message is that these skills can be trained . Whether you are an advanced amateur or a professional, it is important to hone your footwork, game understanding, and movement patterns until they become second nature. Split-step before every shot , practice recovering quickly, practice your ability to read your opponent's body language. Small adjustments—like an extra step here or an earlier start there—can make a big difference in how much time you feel you have. As coach Dan McCain puts it, consistently doing your split-steps, moving right to the ball, and recovering properly “makes a huge difference in a player’s level.” [16] . Eventually, with practice, all of this happens automatically without you having to think about it – then you have really given yourself extra time. When these movements become natural, you can play relaxed, on instinct, almost as if the game is in slow motion. In close matches, it is often not the batting technique that separates the winner from the loser, but how they position themselves and move at each moment [17] .

Footnote: Examples and quotes in the text come from public statements and expert analysis, including Patrick Mouratoglou (coach), Toni Nadal (coach) and Andy Murray (player), as well as training materials from TennisOne and other sources [1] [2] [3] [6] [8] [15] [17] .

[1] [3] [4] [5] #rogerfederer #footwork #tennismovement #tennisanalysis #playerdevelopment #tennisfans #tennistechnique #goat #thecoach | Patrick Mouratoglou