So, I started hearing the name Emma Gu floating around the tennis scene a while back. Didn’t pay too much attention at first, you know how names pop up. But then I caught a few highlights, maybe online or something, and saw her play a bit.
Watching Her Game
What struck me, watching some clips, wasn’t necessarily just power, but this real aggressive court positioning, especially on returns. Seemed like she was trying to step in, take the ball early, cut down the angles. Looked really proactive, you know?
I play tennis myself, just casually down at the local courts. Nothing serious, mind you. Mostly doubles with some folks, sometimes singles if I can drag someone out. My game’s pretty standard, stay back, try to be consistent. Seeing her approach got me thinking.
Trying it Out Myself
So I thought, okay, let’s give this a shot. Next time I went out to hit, I made a conscious effort. Stand closer to the baseline on the return. Try to meet the ball sooner. Simple idea, right?
Well, simple idea, harder to actually do. First few attempts were just awful.
- I felt rushed, totally jammed up.
- My timing was completely off.
- Ended up framing the ball or hitting it way out.
- My usual hitting partner started giving me looks.
It really messed with my rhythm. The serves coming at me, even from a casual player, felt way faster from that closer position. Needed quicker feet, faster reaction, a more compact swing. Things I definitely don’t naturally have tons of.
The Reality Check
Spent a good couple of sessions trying to force it. Stood closer, tried to jump on second serves. Sometimes it worked, felt great, like I was dictating. But mostly? More errors. Way more errors.
It was a bit of a reality check. Watching someone like Gu, who’s obviously trained for years, hours a day, doing something effectively, and then trying to just plug it into my weekend game… yeah, doesn’t quite work like that. Her whole game is probably built around that aggressive style – the footwork, the anticipation, the specific shots.
I realized my own limitations pretty quick. My footwork isn’t pro-level (shocker, I know!), my reaction time is just average. Trying to play exactly like her on returns just wasn’t fitting my overall game or physical ability.
What I Learned
So, did I stick with it? Not really, not the full-on aggressive version. I backed off a bit, maybe stand a step closer than I used to on second serves sometimes, but not hugging the baseline like I first tried.
The whole exercise wasn’t a waste though. It made me think more actively about court positioning, which I hadn’t much before. Made me appreciate the skills involved at the pro level even more. It’s one thing to watch and admire, another thing entirely to try and replicate even a small part of it.
Now when I see highlights or watch matches, including hers, I look at that stuff differently. I see the positioning, the footwork needed, the timing… and I just appreciate the skill involved. Fun little experiment for my own game, even if I didn’t turn into an aggressive returner overnight.
