The “Super-Strength training strategy
Train Like A Pro: The Super-Strength Strategy
Watch Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz for five minutes, and you’ll swear they aren’t human. They move perfectly, hit precisely, and never seem to tire. But while they may look like tennis machines, their success is actually the result of a very human, very specific strategy.
If you analyze the statistics, you’ll notice the "cracks"—the small flaws that every player has. The difference is that Alcaraz and Sinner don't obsess over those cracks. Whether it’s Alcaraz’s flashy variety or Sinner’s unflinching power, these pros win because they play to their strengths far more than they get caught up in their flaws.
As regular old human tennis players, we can take a lesson from this and follow the same game plan that they lay out.
The Power of “Strength-First” Training: Jannik Sinner
If you want to see this idea in action, look no further than Jannik Sinner’s 2024 and 2025 seasons. For years, Sinner was known as one of the hardest hitters on tour from the baseline, yet he struggled to consistently crack the Top 3. The “crack” in his game wasn’t his speed or his backhand—it was his serve.
Crazy to think, right?
Sinner and his coaching team (Darren Cahill and Simone Vagnozzi) didn’t just try to make his serve “consistent” enough to get the ball in play. They completely rebuilt his motion—switching from a “platform” to a “pinpoint” stance—with one specific goal: to weaponize his serve so it would set up his “Super-Strength” (his baseline power).
The Data Behind the Dominance
The results of this strength-focused training were historic. By prioritizing the serve as a tool to dictate play, Sinner’s 2025 stats exploded:
Service Games Won: Sinner led the ATP Tour by winning a staggering 92% of his service games. To put that in perspective, he held serve more often than legendary "big servers" like Taylor Fritz and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
The "One-Two Punch": His first-serve points won jumped to 79.5%. This means roughly 8 out of 10 times he landed a first serve, he won the point—usually within the first two shots.
The Historic Double: Sinner became the first player in ATP history to lead the tour in both Service Games Won (92%) and Return Games Won (32.6%) in the same season.
The Lesson for the Rest of Us: Sinner didn't try to become a finesse player. He took his greatest weapon—his ability to crush the ball from the baseline—and fixed his serve just enough to ensure he got to use that weapon on his own terms.
The Master of Instinct and Chaos: Carlos Alcaraz
If Sinner is about mechanical precision, Carlos Alcaraz is about explosive variety. His “Super-Strength” is his ability to create chaos—using drop shots, lobs, and sheer athletic speed to keep opponents off-balance.
Early in Alcaraz’s career, critics pointed to his “shot selection” as his biggest weakness. But his development in 2024 and 2025 showed that he didn't stop being flashy; he leaned into the chaos. As he shared on the Louis Vuitton [Extended] Podcast:
“I really want to be aggressive all the time… that’s my style. If I lose, I want it to feel like I went for it… When I’m having fun on court, I can show my best tennis.”
Refining the Aggression
Alcaraz realized that playing “safe” tennis to fix unforced errors actually made him a worse player because it neutralized his unpredictability. Instead, he tweaked his gear and technique to support his attacking style:
The Heavier Racquet: In 2025, Alcaraz added lead tape for a heavier setup. This wasn't to "fix" a stroke, but to add "weight" to his shots so he could end points even faster.
The "Djokovic" Serve Shift: Heading into 2026, he’s been working with coach Samuel López on a motion that mimics Novak Djokovic’s. By simplifying the motion, he’s making his serve more reliable, ensuring he stays exactly where he wants to be: on the attack.
ACTION PLAN: The 70/30 Rule
How do you apply the Sinner and Alcaraz method to your own game? Stop trying to fix everything and start auditing your weapons.
1. Find Your “Super-Strength”
Before your next session, ask yourself: “How do I actually win points?” Is it big forehand winners or a rock-solid defensive backhand? Whatever it is, that is the Super-Strength you must prioritize.
2. The Training Time Split
Divide your practice time into this specific split:
70% on your Weapons: Drills that let you dictate play with your best shot.
30% on your “Stabilizers”: The shots that keep you in the point (crosscourt backhand, topspin second serve) just enough so your strengths can take over.
3. Practice the "Short Point" (0-4 Shots)
Strategy expert Craig O’Shannessy points out that 70% of tennis points end within the first four shots. Competitive players should spend more time developing their strengths within these first few strikes. Creating point scenarios around your Serve + 1 or Return + 1 is the fastest way to improve your match results.
Conclusion: Play to Win, Don’t Play "Not to Lose"
The biggest difference between a club player and a champion isn't that the champion has no weaknesses; it's that the champion refuses to play on their opponent's terms. When you spend your training hours obsessing over your flaws, you enter your matches with a "defensive" mindset. But when you sharpen your sword, you enter the court looking for the first opportunity to use it.
Manage your weaknesses, but master your strengths. That’s how you turn a "regular human" game into a championship one.
Ready to find your Super-Strength?
Don’t let your "cracks" hold you back any longer. Every elite player has a team behind them to identify their weapons—I’d love to be part of yours. Let’s map out your 70/30 training split together.
Coach Javon Montgomery
650-499-9387
javonmontgomery@gripspintennis.com
