When it comes to tennis advice, there are not many better mentors than coaching legend Patrick Mouratoglou.
The Frenchman has coached legendary figure Serena Williams, with Mouratoglou recently splitting with Naomi Osaka.
Mouratoglou has helped several high-profile figures in various aspects of their games, enjoying particular success with American icon Williams.
He continues to keep a close eye on the sport, with Mouratoglou calling for a change to the schedule, joining many players in that regard.
And budding tennis players and perhaps even professionals are also fortunate enough to benefit from his continuous expert advice on his social media.
Patrick Mouratoglou’s four tips for hitting a great slice
Indeed, Mouratoglou recently dropped four easy tips for hitting a great slice, much to the delight of his followers.
Offering a demonstration, he explained on Instagram: “Number one, don’t hit the ball too much in front. There is no way you can drive the ball like that.
“For a better control, let the ball position itself between your hips, but more on the front part and next to you on the side.
“Number two, cut down the ball first and then in the direction of the target. Of course, do that in one single motion. Ideally it should look like a curve.
“Number three, use your opposite arm to keep your shoulders in the right direction. Four, pass your back leg in front of your front leg after your shot for a better weight dispatch.”
How Roger Federer became the master of the slice
Only a handful of players have ever been able to master the slice shot, which is understandably a difficult skill to pull off.
The likes of Steffi Graf and Stefan Edberg were fond of the shot, but the backhand slice of Roger Federer remains one of the greatest shots of all time.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion shared insight into his efforts in that area at the 2019 US Open, having first adopted the approach as a youngster at the Swiss National Tennis Center.
“I don’t know if it’s evolved, ever,” said Federer, as quoted by the US Open website. “It’s the only shot I could hit when I was younger because of a lack of power in my shoulder.
“I struggled to come over [the top] when I was little. I remember when I went to play in front of the National Tennis Center, the coaches, if they were going to pick me or not, I was like, ‘Well, I better come over my backhand, otherwise they think I can only slice,’ which I could only really do.
“They picked me. Then, as I grew stronger, my backhand started to evolve in terms of my coming over the backhand. But my base, in a way, has always been my slice. I always enjoyed playing that shot.
“Some conditions allow you to hit it better than others. Nowadays, with slow conditions, it’s sometimes harder to utilize, but I still think it has a great place in the game today.”
It was a truly graceful shot from Federer, and one which played a key role in his stunning success on the ATP Tour.
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