Okay, let’s talk about this practice I did, focusing on the Matteo Berrettini versus Felix Auger-Aliassime matchup.
Getting Started
So, I decided I wanted to really break down a match between these two. Heard a lot about their power games, you know? Felt like a good exercise. First thing, I needed some decent footage. Not just highlights, I wanted to see the flow, the points between the big moments. Dug around online for a bit, trying to find a full replay of one of their recent clashes. Took a while, gotta admit. Not always straightforward finding good, uninterrupted stuff.
The Process
Once I found a decent quality stream or recording, I settled in. Got my coffee, notepad ready. Didn’t want to just passively watch, the goal was to actively analyze, like I usually do. I started playing the match, remote in hand. Paused it. A lot.
My first focus was the serve. Big part of both their games, right?
- I watched Berrettini’s motion, placement. Noted how often he went for the big one versus a kicker or slice out wide. Looked at his percentages on first and second serves, just by feel mostly, counting in my head for stretches.
- Then did the same for Felix. Huge potential on his serve too. Watched where he aimed under pressure versus when he was ahead. Tried to spot any tells in his toss or preparation.
After serves, I moved onto the return game and the first shot after the serve – the ‘serve +1’. This is crucial for both guys. Who was controlling the baseline better right after the serve? Berrettini’s forehand is obviously a monster. I watched how he looked to dictate with it immediately. Felix, more of an all-around game, but how was he countering? Was he getting pushed back or holding his ground?
Digging Deeper
Then I started looking at rally patterns. Okay, so maybe not tons of super long rallies, but when they did happen, what was going on?
Berrettini: Really noticed how much he uses that slice backhand. It’s not just defensive; he uses it to change the pace, give himself time to get back into position for the forehand. Felix definitely tried to attack it when he could. That was a clear pattern I jotted down.
Auger-Aliassime: Looked for how he constructed points. He’s got the weapons, but sometimes, watching him, felt like he was maybe unsure which one to use? Or perhaps rushed things a bit. Made notes on his decision-making during medium-length rallies. Also watched his body language closely after missed opportunities or errors.
Had to rewind certain points multiple times. Especially break points or key moments like 30-30 games. Who was stepping up? Who made the loose error? Tried to understand the pressure aspect. It’s easy to hit big when you’re comfortable, harder when the score is tight.
Wrapping Up
Spent a good couple of hours on this, pausing, rewatching, making notes. It wasn’t about predicting who would win next time, more about understanding their styles and tactics in a head-to-head situation through my own observation. It’s a hands-on thing, you know? You can read about it, but watching it unfold, focusing on specific elements yourself, that’s how I really get a feel for it.
Finished up by compiling my notes. Just simple bullet points and observations. Stuff like “Berrettini heavily favors Forehand direction after slice BH” or “Felix consistency dips on BH wing after long rallies”. Simple stuff, but useful for my own understanding. Good practice session, definitely felt I got a better handle on their dynamics after doing this deep dive myself.
