In doubles, you'll often play against a team with one of three different game styles.

• Pushers - they lob endlessly, never miss, and make you beat yourself.
• Attackers - they serve and volley, get to the net, and apply relentless pressure.
• Baseliners - they play straight-up doubles, usually 1-up 1-back, with really good groundstrokes that force errors and make you afraid to poach.

In this episode, I cover how to beat each of these types of teams, including recent examples where I saw it work. I'll share the best formation to use against pushers, how to give baseliners zero rhythm, and one vital thing you need to look for against teams who attack.


**Doubles Strategy Courses** These video courses will help you play smarter doubles and make winning easier.

• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics Video Course: https://the-tennis-tribe.teachable.com/p/25-winning-doubles-tactics
• League Doubles Training Masterclass Video Course: https://the-tennis-tribe.teachable.com/p/league-doubles-training

**Doubles Ebooks** These guides offer proven advice to improve your doubles strategy.

• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics:  https://www.thetennistribe.com/25-winning-doubles-tactics/
• Return Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/return-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/
• Serve Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/serve-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/
• Net Play Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/net-play-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/

***

Download your free doubles guide to learn how to force errors and get more easy volleys at TheTennisTribe.com/doubles-guide/.

***

• Tennis Gear reviews: The best racquets, shoes, bags, & more
• Read our written doubles lessons here
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video lessons

-----

**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

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Kirsten Flipkens is a former WTA player who retired earlier in 2023 and is now coaching. I spoke with her at the WTA Finals where she was coaching Demi Schuurs & Desirae Krawczyk.

We chatted about:

• Her transition from player to coach.
• Doubles tips for club players.
• How to improve drop shots and slices.
• Her favorite doubles drill.
• Mixed doubles strategy.

There's also a brief interruption/guest appearance by Ons Jabeur... she was walking through the hotel lobby and took the microphone from Kirsten.

At the end, we discussed Kirsten's plans for 2024 and beyond, as well as how to make doubles more popular.


**Doubles Strategy Courses** These video courses will help you play smarter doubles and make winning easier.

• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics Video Course: https://the-tennis-tribe.teachable.com/p/25-winning-doubles-tactics
• League Doubles Training Masterclass Video Course: https://the-tennis-tribe.teachable.com/p/league-doubles-training

**Doubles Ebooks** These guides offer proven advice to improve your doubles strategy.

• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics:  https://www.thetennistribe.com/25-winning-doubles-tactics/
• Return Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/return-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/
• Serve Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/serve-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/
• Net Play Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/net-play-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/

***

Download your free doubles guide to learn how to force errors and get more easy volleys at TheTennisTribe.com/doubles-guide/.

***

• Tennis Gear reviews: The best racquets, shoes, bags, & more
• Read our written doubles lessons here
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video lessons

-----

**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Video Course

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This is a conversation with Demi Schuurs from the WTA Finals in Cancun. Demi partnered with Desirae Krawczyk and I spoke with her between her first and second matches.

We discussed how she spent her days off in Cancun, including her gym routine. I asked her how she's had so much doubles success with different partners. This is her 5th consecutive WTA Finals with four different partners. Demi made a surprise appearance in the singles draw of the WTA 1000 tournament in Guadalajara and she tells us the story of how that happened.

Towards the end, we talk about their first match where they lost 9/9 deciding points. She tells me what "playing more aggressively" means to her and analyzes previous matchups against the teams in their group. She actually keeps a notebook that she writes in after each match. A great tip for other doubles players.



**Doubles Strategy Courses** These video courses will help you play smarter doubles and make winning easier.

• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics Video Course: https://the-tennis-tribe.teachable.com/p/25-winning-doubles-tactics
• League Doubles Training Masterclass Video Course: https://the-tennis-tribe.teachable.com/p/league-doubles-training

**Doubles Ebooks** These guides offer proven advice to improve your doubles strategy.

• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics:  https://www.thetennistribe.com/25-winning-doubles-tactics/
• Return Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/return-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/
• Serve Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/serve-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/
• Net Play Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/net-play-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/

***

Download your free doubles guide to learn how to force errors and get more easy volleys at TheTennisTribe.com/doubles-guide/.

***

• Tennis Gear reviews: The best racquets, shoes, bags, & more
• Read our written doubles lessons here
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video lessons

-----

**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet

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Dan Kiernan is the coach of 2023 US Open Champion Gaby Dabrowski, ATP doubles team Lloyd Glasspool & Harri Heliovaara, a podcast host, and a former podcast guest from earlier this year.

Dan chatted with me and Tennis Tribe doubles writer, Hanlon Walsh, from the WTA Finals in Cancun a day after Gaby and her partner, Erin Routliffe, beat the top seeds, Coco Gauff & Jessica Pegula, in straight sets. In this conversation, we discuss the match, the game plan, and a specific phrase Dan told the players when up a set and 3-1... "start again". I asked him what that meant.

Some of my favorite interviews are with coaches because they have a way of articulating what happens on the court so that we can use it in our own matches better than most players. Dan is one of those coaches. His answers are thoughtful, complex, and applicable to your own doubles game and life.

Enjoy!

Check out Dan's Podcast here: https://www.controlthecontrollables.co.uk/



**Doubles Strategy Courses** These video courses will help you play smarter doubles and make winning easier.

• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics Video Course: https://the-tennis-tribe.teachable.com/p/25-winning-doubles-tactics
• League Doubles Training Masterclass Video Course: https://the-tennis-tribe.teachable.com/p/league-doubles-training

**Doubles Ebooks** These guides offer proven advice to improve your doubles strategy.

• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics:  https://www.thetennistribe.com/25-winning-doubles-tactics/
• Return Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/return-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/
• Serve Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/serve-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/
• Net Play Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/net-play-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/

***

Download your free doubles guide to learn how to force errors and get more easy volleys at TheTennisTribe.com/doubles-guide/.

***

• Tennis Gear reviews: The best racquets, shoes, bags, & more
• Read our written doubles lessons here
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video lessons

-----

**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet

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This is another interview with Elise Mertens and Storm Hunter from the WTA Finals. This time I spoke with the 2nd seeds after their second match victory over Melichar-Martinez and Perez. They won the match 7-5 6-4 over a two-day period and numerous rain delays.

We discussed how they handled the delays, as well as a tactic I noticed their opponents using on 2nd serves and how they handled that. I also asked them about playing in the windy conditions, especially Elise who likes to use the lob often. I found her response surprising.

At the end, they talked about how they spent their time after the delay and the morning before they restarted the match at 2-0 in the second set.

**Doubles Strategy Courses** 

• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics Video Course
  This video course will teach you the best doubles tactics for serving, returning, rallying, and approaching so that you’ll have a winning plan for every point.
  
  Enroll here:  https://the-tennis-tribe.teachable.com/p/25-winning-doubles-tactics
  
  
• League Doubles Training Masterclass
  The ultimate training for league doubles players, teams, & captains. Create smarter game plans for holding serve, return strategy, communication, teamwork, scouting, and every common scenario for 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 doubles.
   
  Enroll here: https://the-tennis-tribe.teachable.com/p/league-doubles-training

**Doubles Ebooks** These guides offer proven advice to improve your doubles strategy.

• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics:  https://www.thetennistribe.com/25-winning-doubles-tactics/
• Return Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/return-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/
• Serve Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/serve-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/
• Net Play Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/net-play-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/

***

Download your free doubles guide to learn how to force errors and get more easy volleys at TheTennisTribe.com/doubles-guide/.

***

• Tennis Gear reviews: The best racquets, shoes, bags, & more
• Read our written doubles lessons here

-----

**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

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This is another interview from the WTA Finals and it's a great one. We chatted with 2020 US Open Champions, Vera Zvonareva and Laura Siegmund, after their 3-set victory over Krejcikova and Siniakova.

We discussed the rollercoaster of a match where they lost a two-break-lead in the 2nd set as well as two match points in the tiebreaker. I asked how they were able to stay focused after the momentum changed.

Laura is one of the most aggressive net players in the game with next-level instincts (super fun to watch). She shares how she adjusts when she does get beat down the line, which happened several times during the match. I loved her answer to this.

Vera also talks about how the doubles game has changed, and they both give their input on what needs to happen to grow doubles.

**Doubles Strategy Courses** 

• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics Video Course
  This video course will teach you the best doubles tactics for serving, returning, rallying, and approaching so that you’ll have a winning plan for every point.
  
  Enroll here:  https://the-tennis-tribe.teachable.com/p/25-winning-doubles-tactics
  
  
• League Doubles Training Masterclass
  The ultimate training for league doubles players, teams, & captains. Create smarter game plans for holding serve, return strategy, communication, teamwork, scouting, and every common scenario for 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 doubles.
   
  Enroll here: https://the-tennis-tribe.teachable.com/p/league-doubles-training

**Doubles Ebooks** These guides offer proven advice to improve your doubles strategy.

• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics:  https://www.thetennistribe.com/25-winning-doubles-tactics/
• Return Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/return-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/
• Serve Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/serve-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/
• Net Play Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/net-play-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/

***

Download your free doubles guide to learn how to force errors and get more easy volleys at TheTennisTribe.com/doubles-guide/.

***

• Tennis Gear reviews: The best racquets, shoes, bags, & more

-----

**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy

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Elise Mertens and Storm Hunter are the #2 seeds at this year's WTA Finals in Cancun. This is a short conversation with them after their 1st round match where they defeated Aoyama & Shibahara 6-4 6-2.

We discussed how they took momentum after going down an early break in the first set. Then I asked them how they game plan against a player like Shuko Aoyama who takes away the net. Elise also shares where she gets her ridiculously effective lob. I really liked her answer here. They talk a bit about having a lefty-righty combo, and Storm answers some questions about her plans for 2024 as she tries to balance a singles and doubles career.

**Doubles Strategy Courses** 

• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics Video Course
  This video course will teach you the best doubles tactics for serving, returning, rallying, and approaching so that you’ll have a winning plan for every point.
  
  Enroll here:  https://the-tennis-tribe.teachable.com/p/25-winning-doubles-tactics
  
  
• League Doubles Training Masterclass
  The ultimate training for league doubles players, teams, & captains. Create smarter game plans for holding serve, return strategy, communication, teamwork, scouting, and every common scenario for 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 doubles.
   
  Enroll here: https://the-tennis-tribe.teachable.com/p/league-doubles-training

**Doubles Ebooks** These guides offer proven advice to improve your doubles strategy.

• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics:  https://www.thetennistribe.com/25-winning-doubles-tactics/
• Return Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/return-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/
• Serve Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/serve-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/
• Net Play Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/net-play-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/

***

Download your free doubles guide to learn how to force errors and get more easy volleys at TheTennisTribe.com/doubles-guide/.

***

• Tennis Gear reviews: The best racquets, shoes, bags, & more
• Read our written doubles lessons here
• Subscribe to our YouTube C

-----

**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy

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Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara are the #3 seeds at this year's WTA Finals in Cancun. This is a short conversation with them after their 1st round match where they defeated Krawczyk & Schuurs 7-5 6-2, winning 9 of 9 deciding points.

We ask the Japanese pair how they played the big points so well, what they did to adjust to the courts (they have a higher bounce than usual), and their plans for 2024.

**Doubles Strategy Courses** 

• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics Video Course
  This video course will teach you the best doubles tactics for serving, returning, rallying, and approaching so that you’ll have a winning plan for every point.
  
  Enroll here:  https://the-tennis-tribe.teachable.com/p/25-winning-doubles-tactics
  
  
• League Doubles Training Masterclass
  The ultimate training for league doubles players, teams, & captains. Create smarter game plans for holding serve, return strategy, communication, teamwork, scouting, and every common scenario for 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 doubles.
   
  Enroll here: https://the-tennis-tribe.teachable.com/p/league-doubles-training

**Doubles Ebooks** These guides offer proven advice to improve your doubles strategy.

• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics:  https://www.thetennistribe.com/25-winning-doubles-tactics/
• Return Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/return-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/
• Serve Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/serve-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/
• Net Play Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/net-play-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/

***

Download your free doubles guide to learn how to force errors and get more easy volleys at TheTennisTribe.com/doubles-guide/.

***

• Tennis Gear reviews: The best racquets, shoes, bags, & more
• Read our written doubles lessons here
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video lessons

-----

**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet
• Return Strategy Cheatsheet
• Serve Strategy 101 - Vi

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Matthew Futterman (@MattFutterman) is an award-winning tennis journalist who has worked for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and now, The Athletic. He has authored two books and is working on a third, about tennis, called "The Cruelest Game".

This episode is a little different. You're not going to get doubles strategy out of this one, but you will get some deep insights into the world of pro tennis, why it isn't as popular in the US, and why doubles, specifically, has struggled.

Matt has covered our sport for the better part of the last two decades interviewing singles stars like Novak Djokovic, doubles specialists like Austin Krajicek, and more. We discuss ideas on how tennis might change the format of doubles to make it more appealing. He also explains why Novak Djokovic is such a fascinating player and person.

Matt shares three stories of his that you should read:

• Austin Krajicek Nearly Gave Up on Tennis to Sell Insurance
• Abuse in Tennis
  •  https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/25/sports/tennis/tennis-predatory-coaches.html
  •  https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/23/sports/tennis/usta-coach-sexual-assault.html
  •  https://theathletic.com/4928508/2023/10/05/us-tennis-sexual-abuse-pam-shriver/
• Coco Gauff and the Unknown of Being a Grand Slam Champion

🎾  Follow Matt on Twitter
🎾  Sign up for Tennis Stories at The Athletic


**Doubles Strategy Courses** 

• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics Video Course
  This video course will teach you the best doubles tactics for serving, returning, rallying, and approaching so that you’ll have a winning plan for every point.
  
  Enroll here:  https://the-tennis-tribe.teachable.com/p/25-winning-doubles-tactics
  
  
• League Doubles Training Masterclass
  The ultimate training for league doubles players, teams, & captains. Create smarter game plans for holding serve, return strategy, communication, teamwork, scouting, and every common scenario for 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 doubles.
   
  Enroll here: https://the-tennis-tribe.teachable.com/p/league-doubles-training

**Doubles Ebooks**

-----

**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy Cheatsheet

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2nd serve points only account for about 35% of points in doubles, but it's crucial to have a good 2nd serve strategy. Your goal should be to win 50% or more of your 2nd serve points.

In this episode, I share some ideas on improving your 2nd serve strategy for doubles players with strong, medium, and... WEAK 2nd serves.

• When should you use formations on 2nd serves?
• Is it okay to poach or fake on a 2nd serve?
• What should you do if your partner has a weak 2nd serve and the opponent is crushing it at you?

You'll learn tactics and game plans for handling all those situations and more.

• Sign up for Tennis Con 7 for 40+ free lessons from top tennis coaches. This week only!
• My new Doubles Training Product will be on sale Wednesday, November 8
• Email me if you're attending the WTA Finals - will[at]thetennistribe.com

League Doubles Training Masterclass is 30% off through Sunday 11/19.

• Enroll here: https://the-tennis-tribe.teachable.com/p/league-doubles-training?coupon_code=LEAGUE30
  
  

**Doubles Strategy Course** This video course will teach you the best doubles tactics for serving, returning, rallying, and approaching so that you’ll have a winning plan for every point.

• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics Video Course:https://the-tennis-tribe.teachable.com/p/25-winning-doubles-tactics

**Doubles Ebooks** These guides offer proven advice to improve your doubles strategy.

• 25 Winning Doubles Tactics:  https://www.thetennistribe.com/25-winning-doubles-tactics/
• Return Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/return-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/
• Serve Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/serve-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/
• Net Play Strategy for Doubles: https://www.thetennistribe.com/net-play-strategy-for-doubles-ebook/

***

Download your free doubles guide to learn how to force errors and get more easy volleys at TheTennisTribe.com/doubles-guide/.

***

• Tennis Gear reviews: The best racquets, shoes, bags, & more

-----

**Join the #1 Doubles Strategy Newsletter for Club Tennis Players**

• New doubles strategy lessons weekly straight to your inbox

**Become a Tennis Tribe Member**
Tennis Tribe Members get access to premium video lessons, a monthly member-only webinar, doubles strategy Ebooks & Courses, exclusive discounts on tennis gear, and more.

• Learn More & Sign Up Here

**Other Free Doubles Content**

• Serve Strategy

-----

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• Sign Into Your Member Account
• Access Your Member Dashboard