When it occurs, a hush descends over the tennis court docket. There’s a cut up second wherein the group realizes the rhythm of the purpose has been irrevocably altered. A tennis high-wire act has begun, and Carlos Alcaraz and his drop shot are on the tightrope.
Whereas it might look treacherous, the drop shot just isn’t as dangerous because it appears to be like for Alcaraz, who’s its best exponent on the ATP Tour. He wins the purpose when he performs it 60 % of the time, in accordance with knowledge from Tennis Viz.
It’s particularly efficient on clay, the floor for the second Grand Slam of the 12 months. The drop shot has all the time been necessary, but it surely was not too long ago thought-about a little bit of a final resort.
Alcaraz himself believes timing is every thing. “It’s important to discover the good second to do it, as a result of it’s a lot better to do a not-great drop shot however in a fantastic second than a reasonably good drop shot in not a superb second,” he mentioned not too long ago.
His superpower is his capability to disguise the shot — to make it seem like he’s about to unleash a 100mph forehand earlier than altering his grip and feathering over a drop shot.
On the clay courts of Roland Garros, the drop shot might be key. Sinner must be prepared for an onslaught — whether or not he can cease it’s one other matter.
GO FURTHER
Drop pictures in tennis go from eccentric to important, with some assist from Carlos Alcaraz
