Nate Lammons Interview: ATP Doubles Changes, Serve Drills, Offseason Plans, & More

Nate Lammons is the 19th-ranked doubles player on the ATP Tour. He and his doubles partner, Jackson Withrow, made the semifinals of the US Open earlier this year.

Nate played college tennis at SMU in Dallas, Texas where he still lives and trains with other professional doubles players like Austin Krajicek and Hans Hach. In this conversation, we discuss:

• Who's had the biggest influence on his doubles game?
• How Nate practices his serve - he has one of the best serves on the ATP doubles tour.
• Changes to the doubles tour - free fan movement, faster pace of play, mic'd up players, etc.
• Simulating in-match pressure.
• How he & Jackson "got over the hump" during the 2024 US Open to reach their first major semifinal.
• How Nate trains his first volley when his partner is serving.
• Nate's offseason plans.
• Their on-court apparel from Sigrun.

Nate and Jackson are among the few teams that have stayed together for more than a couple of seasons. Their team chemistry and consistent progress show how important a good partnership is in doubles.

Follow Nate on Instagram.

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Transcript

Speaker 1 1:18

hey everyone, welcome to the show. Today we have nate lamens on. Nate. Welcome, appreciate it. Happy to be here. So, uh, I wanted to start with um kind of your doubles uh game. Overall, who's had the biggest influence on you as a doubles player?

Speaker 2 1:41

I mean, I think the coach that I've used the most kind of the bulk of my college time and since then has been Kyle Spencer. You know, I think he helped me tennis wise when I was in school, both on the singles and the double side, and I think you know I've continued to use him and I he's. He's definitely been the best, best resource I've I've had by far.

Speaker 1 2:03

What are some of the I guess, keys that make him such a good coach? And then, what are some of the the biggest lessons you've learned from?

Speaker 2 2:13

No, I think the one of the things I really like about Kyle is that he he sort of tailors his coaching to the individual player. I think in my case, while there has been some technical corrections, I think a lot of it is kind of a mental or approach side of things as well. That I find has really resonated with me. I know he's not always that way with other players. I know Jackson uses him as well and Jackson tends to be a little more technical with his analysis of misses and matches. So when they chat it's definitely more technical and with me it's, you know, a little bit of of a lot of things. But as far as individual lessons, I can't really think of one in particular. But I think the the overall sort of mindfulness and focus on on process has been the biggest from him. I think he's been with me the whole way when I was not so great and when I've had my highs and lows, and I think he's really kept me kind of focused on that improvement and sort of that constant process.

Speaker 1 3:18

So I want to ask about the US open. Obviously y'all made the semifinals, which is the furthest you've made it in a grand slam, so that, um, a did that feel like kind of getting over a bit of a hump for you, or did it feel any, I guess, different than other grand slams, and what exactly went right during those two weeks for y'?

Speaker 2 3:38

Sure, it definitely did feel like a little bit of a hump, one of the things that we sort of had a year-end chat this past weekend actually, and this is one of the things we talked about the previous two quarters that we were in last year. I think we went away from those losses really not happy with the performance we brought to the table and I think, less so on the results and more of just kind of what we were able to do on our side of the net we weren't super happy with. And so when we got back to the quarters this year and to be honest it was kind of our mindset the whole U S open was, um, you know, I think we we had had a good summer, so we had strung together a couple wins over the summer, and so we went into US Open and while we did have some points potentially coming off, I think we went into it basically not even thinking about that pressure, because we had been able to string together some good results over the summer. And, admittedly, if you look at our US Open journey there this year, the first two rounds were very, very close. You know, the first round we played two Americans and we had a battle that went deep into the third and second round. We played a couple of Frenchies and it was the same way.

Speaker 2 4:53

And I think definitely by the time we got out of the second round we're like, hey, we're playing with house money here. You know we maybe didn't play our best or our cleanest, but you know, here we are, we're still here, and you know it's two S open, it's our home slam, um, you know, at that point we were playing Joe and Raj, who, who, uh, hadn't really lost there in New York for a while. Um, so we were able to go into that match with no pressure. Luckily we played well. It was kind of tough condition that day, with some sun, and you know I'm pretty pumped to get to have played two matches there on Louis Pretty sweet stadium, and I think we were kind of just soaking in the moment. I think it allowed us to bring out some great tennis.

Speaker 1 5:37

What did you learn from the previous quarterfinal losses? Is there anything specific that you can share that y'all kind of took away from those?

Speaker 2 5:45

I mean, I think what I took away from it was really just, it was a comfort level gap that I don't think I had before and I think it's amazing, I mean, how small the margins are in doubles. And I think the slightest, the slightest bit of kind of mental shortcoming really can, can be a huge difference maker. And I think in the previous two quarters that we had played while our opponents did play well in both of them, I think you know, we allowed a little bit of the moment. And wanting to, you know, wanting to advance, wanting to get these bigger point totals, all those things really you know, wanting to advance, wanting to get these bigger point totals, all those things really, you know, let that affect us, whether we acknowledge them or not at the time.

Speaker 2 6:27

And I think it definitely took us sort of vocalizing that and saying, hey, okay, this is why these two didn't go our way, um, or a big reason, why not the entire reason? But, um, I think for us this year in the quarter we were we, you know, we were much more level-headed and and I think that that really showed we were level-headed to start and our opponents gave us a little bit of a lead early and allowed us to settle in even more. Um, and I think, yeah, it was really just a mindset thing, because I don't know that the to me, I think the strokes and and all that, yeah, there's been some minor adjustments, but I think, uh, just sort of the calm um was the biggest difference maker that's interesting to hear because I I've talked with um.

Speaker 1 7:10

When you were saying that, what came to mind for me is a couple years ago I don't know if it was in new york or somewhere else, it was at one of the majors. I was talking with a singles coach who played um I think he was playing djokovic in like the third round or something, and the the guy lost to djokovic like in four sets. And I was talking with the coach and he said um, we kind of agreed on like you've got to lose that match to ultimately beat him later on. Like You've got to get through that experience to win later on. It's very rare do you get to that stage and then you win the first time out. You've got to learn how to deal with all that stuff.

Speaker 2 7:51

So that makes a ton of sense. Yeah, I think too, especially on the single side, dealing with the bigger court is a huge adjustment, Also from an actual, actual how am I hitting the ball, playing the point standpoint does that affect you a lot in doubles as well?

Speaker 2 8:08

um, not not as much, not as much, I think. Yeah, there's some points that you can extend. You know, you get in, you can get into these points where you're kind of throwing up a lot of lobs and it's hard to finish it. Um, I wouldn't say that that makes or breaks a match, though, but there are here and there some some you know chances to extend a point that you wouldn't get normally.

Speaker 1 8:28

But in singles you can like run sideline to sideline and like back up, like Medvedev and it all do like to the wall. Is that what you mean?

Speaker 2 8:36

Yeah, and you don't really get a chance to practice it because all your practice courts aren't that big, so you don't really get a chance to see that type of point consistently until you get to play on those center courts kind of experimenting on the doubles tour this year.

Speaker 1 8:50

So we had the limited changeovers, the free fan movement. I think in DC they miked up Harry Heliovarra and a few other players. What do you think of all these, and which ones would you like to see stay?

Speaker 2 9:21

What's your kind of take on all of it? I think the free fan movement is a great one. I think maybe that comes from the standpoint of someone who played in school that I don't know that that's a huge adjustment to me. I don't know that I really noticed people moving anyway. So I think to me that's a real easy one, especially if you say, just on the sides which I think they they did at a lot of the tournaments I think that's a no brainer, just cause I think too. I mean, if you have to leave the game, you know there's no really another sport where if you leave the game you can't come right back in. So I think that's that's kind of a no brainer.

Speaker 2 9:57

Um, the change over time I don't mind the idea of changing the time. I think they need to play around with just how much time you get a little bit more. Um, I, I know in DC there there were some complaints cause it was really hot there and um, especially early on, we, by the time we got to the chair, sat down, uh, and took a sip. We were already getting time called on us which, um, I don't know, it feels like you're sort of accelerating the match. So much to the point where there's less strategy and more, just okay, go right as as fast as you can to the next point. Um, but I do. I can also appreciate that a lot of doubles points are super short. So you know, from a efficient time use standpoint, I get it. You know we want to give the fans as much actual tennis as possible and that is a good way to do it. Um, the mics, the mics a tricky one for me, because the at least what they trialed in DC was fairly bulky.

Enhancing Performance in Tennis Doubles

Speaker 2 10:58

Um the mic itself was fine, um, cause I had practiced in it one day. The mic itself was fine, but the sort of receiver receiver. The receiver was pretty bulky and and what we use to sort of strap it onto us was was not super comfortable. Um, so if, if we can find a mic situation that's a little less, you know, cumbersome than I think I'm on board with that. Um, you know, I don't know that I'll personally provide a whole lot of content with what I'm saying on court, but you know, that's that's fine. I mean, that's up to the viewer, I guess, to appreciate or not.

Speaker 1 11:35

Yeah, yeah, I know I'm sure summit players will be obviously more entertaining. I know some of Harry's videos kind of went viral on social media.

Speaker 2 11:50

Harry's a funny guy, it's hard to tell just watching him.

Speaker 1 11:52

But you get some of that for sure with the mic. A lot of his reactions are hilarious. But yeah, I mean it seems like you know just a little stuff like that could be potentially good for doubles. And I'm certainly with you on the free fan movement. I mean there's no other sport where you have to wait around and I would imagine it like limits the growth of the sport a little bit as well. If somebody is new to professional tennis and they go to a tournament for the first time and they have to sit and wait for a changeover outside, it's like what are we doing here? Like I paid for this ticket, why can't I go in? Yeah, exactly, exactly. That's strange. So y'all got back from the ATP finals recently. Y'all were alternates for the second year in a row. Talk about that experience, what that's like. And then also, what do you need to? What do you feel like you need to work on this off season or going into next year to get over that next hump and make that final eight?

Speaker 2 12:47

Yeah, sure, um, I think the first one is it's motivating. You know it was motivating last year and I would say it's definitely frustrating both years is sort of sitting there watching Um, obviously, being in that position means we had a great year, so we're sort of choosing to focus on that instead, um, and ultimately, I feel like the tour finals is, is it's kind of, it's a reward, I guess, for having a great year. Less so, um, like the goal itself, if that makes sense, um, I think, especially because it's an additional point that you can add to your, to your ranking breakdown, I think it really plays out more like yes, okay, if you have a great year, you get rewarded with this additional opportunity for board, for points and money. Um, but I think for us, like we really want to, you know, we'd love to win a slam, slam, and I think that would be kind of the that. That to us, that's the ultimate goal and I think, obviously, if we win a slam, we're probably going to be entering, so it'll be a nice, uh, nice bonus at the end.

Speaker 2 13:50

Um, as far as things to work on, um, you know, I think a lot of it for us is just being a little bit more well-rounded. I think we've. We have shown progress, um, already, but I think for us we're we started continuing that work. I mean we're a big serving team, um, you know, we we can be streaky, returning, kind of a slashing team and we're just, you know, kind of continue to work on, you know, just being a little more solid away from the serve and return, basically make our opponents work a little bit more. We're pretty dangerous, pretty athletic, and I think that allows us to win from defense sometimes. But I think it's kind of in that neutral place when the point started and I think both of us can be be a little bit better. And I think that's really the difference that I see between between us and the and the top teams is they're able to do it a little more consistently than we are.

Speaker 1 14:41

Hmm, you talked about how y'all are more of a serving team. Returning is something maybe you've focused on a lot the last few years. It seems to me watching y'all at the US Open it seemed like you are returning better than you were, say, a year ago. Is there some A? Do you agree with that? And then B, is there some way you're like tracking that? Do you like use analytics or is this like a feel thing for you, like I feel like I'm returning better than I was six months ago? Like how do you monitor that progress?

Speaker 2 15:19

So I guess the short answer is I don't have analytics for it. I would agree, though, that it does feel like we were both returning better. Um, some of it, I guess is, is um, you know, I guess I haven't looked into it enough on the analytics side, Um, I did talk recently, when I guess it was last week, to um, Phil Farmer. Um, and I know his player, Austin um, has sort of looked into that and and is and is finding that data Um, and I know his player, Austin um, has sort of looked into that and and is and is finding that data.

Speaker 2 15:50

Um, I'm not sure exactly where he didn't share that information, but, uh, I think, um, there is definitely something to be learned from that. I know, I think I'd I'd really like to see some of that type of information. Um, I don't know how easily it would be to get, say, return stats or serve stats, but I think there are glaring holes that you see when numbers like that come out, and I think that is something that singles players have access to right now already through the tour, and I think, the software is on its way to working for doubles as well, but I don't know that it's as available to us, but it's definitely something we'd be interested in learning about.

Speaker 1 16:32

Yeah, what? Um. So back to the serve. Uh, y'all have been one of the best serve teams on tour for several years in a row. Now, what are some of your favorite serve drills?

Speaker 2 16:46

I mean, I think for us, the biggest thing we do is just sort of make sure we hit all the spots you know, fairly consistently.

Preparing for Tennis Doubles Season

Speaker 2 16:54

I don't know that we do, to be honest, we don't do a ton of like serve and play points with each other. Just, I think, partly because if we're serving full all the time it's pretty tough to return and so it's not necessarily the most constructive practice, at least that type of thing, I would say, occasionally we put out actual targets to aim at. But that's the exception, I think, for us. Both of us are very confident in our serve and just going out and you know, kind of every day, definitely every week, before kind of tournaments get kicked up, is, you know, hit first and second to both spots, kind of both body spots, you know, really confirm that we have them on the day and on the week and we both call things very aggressively in matches and I think we've had the ability of you know success, I guess in some crunch moments serving well and serving to smaller targets, and I think that that type of success kind of builds over time. So we, we trust it. We trust it in kind of all moments.

Speaker 1 17:56

Interesting. So so when you're going out to practice your serve, like whether it's for 20 minutes or whatever you're not setting up targets. You've just kind of got it in your mind Like I'm going to go with a slice wide and then this one's T, this one's body backhand, and you're not really, uh, setting up physical targets targets out there.

Speaker 2 18:15

Yeah, the vast majority of the time, um, and some of that is obviously we've hit a ton of serves. So I feel like we, we can tell when we've hit the target and when we haven't. Um, but, um, you know, I will say, the satisfaction of hitting the actual target when it's up there is it does make it worthwhile setting it up sometime. Um, yeah, but yeah, I mean, maybe that's something we should work in more Um, it definitely couldn't hurt. Um, but yeah, I feel like we, we have a pretty good sense of when we've, when we fit the target properly, and when we haven't.

Speaker 1 18:47

How do you so when you're whether it's a serve drill or something else. How do you think about simulating kind of in-match pressure and just make sure you know if you're going to serve for 20 minutes, make sure you're not just going through the motions and you're really focused. Is there any tips or tricks that you do to simulate that?

Speaker 2 19:07

I mean it's, first of all, it's a great question because it's very hard. I think anytime you practice anything, it's really hard to simulate sort of the match pressure, both having the visual pressure of someone on the other side of the net, but also kind of you know, you're always aware of the score, whether you don't want to think about it or not. And I think I think for us, both of us are pretty, um, naturally hard on ourselves, if that makes sense. So I think, um, that's, that's really it. I mean, and also too, I think limited reps, or limited reps isn't the right way to say it, but you know you said 20 minutes. But let's say we're going to go out and serve, let's say we're going to hit five to the target, and because there's a limited number, you know we're not sort of endlessly serving, where we're making sure that, okay, we're hitting five reps to this spot and like they kind of better be good because we're only hitting five to that spot. If that makes sense.

Speaker 2 20:01

I think the danger, the danger of of serving especially cause it's you don't need somebody else there is that you can go and just do it sort of endlessly, and I think that leads to kind of wasted reps because they're not fully focused. Um, I think for us that's the biggest thing, Um, but it's, it's funny. You mentioned that Cause even when we play practice sets, it's not really the same as match pressure, right I mean, because you're kind of just playing, you're practicing, sure, but it's kind of fun. So, yeah, in those moments sometimes we put little things on the line, like we'll put some push-ups or we'll put a coffee or dinner on the line, nothing crazy, um, but it is a challenge. That's something that we struggle with too, just kind of trying our best to simulate match match pressure. It's.

Speaker 1 20:49

it's pretty challenging thing to do yeah, I think, putting little steaks in there like that, like a dinner or a drink or whatever is a good idea. Um, but yeah, there's from every. I've asked that question to a lot of people and there's like not a clear, good solution.

Speaker 2 21:04

It's really hard to do.

Speaker 1 21:06

Yeah, one thing you mentioned is hitting five serves to a spot. So when you're doing that, let's say like we're going out, do you go out and say, okay, I'm going to do the wide serve, then I'm going to do the T serve, then the two body serves and I'm going to do do five each, or do you mix it up? And then when you say five to a spot, does it mean you have to land five good ones to the spot or just five attempts?

Speaker 2 21:34

um, I think it depends what I'm working on, if it's just, if I'm just going out there saying, okay, I want to kind of groove each one, make sure, kind of make sure it's there, but just sort of confirm that I have it. Um, then yeah, I would probably go kind of five and in my case I I start with second. So I I usually would go, I would hit the kick serve, whichever side that is so widen, the ad, t and the deuce. I hit the kick first and I'd hit like kind of a kick toss, but hit a slider the other way, and then I would hit, hit a body, kind of nasty body, with the second and then do that process both sides with the second and then do first. And it's fairly similar.

Speaker 2 22:13

I would say with first I start T both sides, start T both sides, then go wide and into the bodies, um, and I think um, occasionally though there's there's an element of okay, I want to make it a little more realistic in a way, and I want to say, okay, I'm going to do first, second, and a lot of this is what we'll do when we do serve them at each other, so we can practice. Return is, if the first serve is missed, then I will play the second and usually those are still to the same spot, at least to give our partner a chance to to play a point. But I would say those are the two scenarios that I use the most, for sure, okay.

Speaker 1 22:51

And are you switching? Sorry, I like to get into like all these little details. No, absolutely. Are you switching between deuce and add? So you said T for serve, deuce and add. Do you do T deuce, t add and then go back to deuce for wide? Or do you go T deuce, wide, deuce, t add and then go back to deuce for wide, or do you go t deuce, wide deuce?

Speaker 2 23:08

and then if I'm just serving, if it's just me serving, then I would go. I would probably start deuce and go do the two. I would say t wide, c wide, for sure, and then switch to the other side. Um, usually I don't hit as many bodies. Um, to be honest, maybe that's something I could get better at, because they are subtle, like sort of the two body sides. Um, when Jackson is involved, I would say I'd serve the majority to him in the ad. Um, get him his reps and then I'll do the deuce, and he's usually either kind of waiting or he's doing the ad because he would be doing the opposite for me. Um, yeah, so we can both kind of do the opposite end at the same time okay, got it.

Speaker 1 23:54

Um, what is oh? So y'all played together for three years now, maybe a a little over. Is that right? Sounds about right. Do you feel like sticking together helps you versus other teams at different times in the season? One thing somebody told me is that the Bryans talked about how it was an advantage for them early in the season because these other teams were still trying to, like, figure out their chemistry, but then later in the season they had kind of developed that chemistry and figured things out. Do you feel like that's the case, or is it different for y'all? What do you think?

Speaker 2 24:37

no, I think that I mean there's definitely something to be said for that. I think the um you know the first like starting in australia for us's there's a lot of new teams coming out next year and so I think you're totally right that there there is an opportunity for us there because the rapport is already there. You know the we've. We have a pretty good idea of how each other play and, it is true, by the end of the year, assuming those same teams stick together, they will have had a great, great chance to develop. You know just as much and have a great idea of each other on the court.

Off Season Tennis Training and Tournaments

Speaker 2 25:11

Unfortunately, there's an added element of okay, it's, the start of the season might not be as grooved. You know, I think there's. There's an element of that. I know historically haven't been a great starter of the of the season and I tend to play my best tennis towards the back end. Yeah, some of that could be. Yeah, it's just being match fit and having to play a ton of matches together. Some of it is a surface thing. You know, come like March, april, things start to move to clay and you know that's an area that Jackson and I are still working on. But I would say that, as far as like team chemistry, it's absolutely the case that start of the year is the chance for the established teams to to do something that the other teams are still kind of searching for um, so I want to move into the off season.

Speaker 1 26:01

What, uh, can you talk us through kind of what the off season looks like for you, maybe from week to week? I mean, the new season starts in like four or five weeks, so it's not a very long offseason. But what does that look like? I've heard other players talk about in the past like they take a week or two off, then they work on fitness, then they start hitting more balls, then they start matches. How does that look like for you?

Speaker 2 26:24

Yeah, so I mean this is really only my second like proper offseason I think in the years past you know the challengers challenger year goes a little deeper than than the tour one does and um, so really the last two have kind of been the first, first couple that I've kind of been able to plan out and do right. Um, last year I did I want to say the off season was right around six weeks and I did two weeks away from tennis. Um, still, I guess working out at is sort of at my leisure, but not, I wouldn't say anything tennis specific really Um, then the next two weeks getting back into into playing, um, definitely that third, that third week was kind of just just sort of hit the ball around a little bit, don't, don't, uh, don't go crazy, kind of ease the body back in. But definitely ramped up the I would say, court specific type fitness and movement. Um, I think that fourth week I met with Jackson somewhere and we did a training block together. So it would have been, you know, kind of ramp up the, the tennis, the actual court work, um, and less gym work probably. And then, given that it's the holiday season, it it's uh, you know, there's definitely some off time in those last couple of weeks, kind of spent with family. Um, you know, and it's sort of, I would say, try to maintain the level of sharpness that I would have gotten from those first few training weeks, um, but also try to maximize the time at home.

Speaker 2 27:49

The uh, the tricky thing with such a short off season is, uh, it can be difficult to reset mentally and because it is, it is a lot of time on the road the vast majority of the year. So I think this year is is a little different for me. It's kind of about the same time. I want to say it's about six weeks. Um, I think this week, this year I'm maybe prioritizing more just the freshness aspect of it.

Speaker 2 28:16

Um, you know, and I think so the first it's, it's similar though in that two weeks, two weeks full full stop, probably on the tennis side, um, I might get on court a little bit tail end of next week and and you know, just sort of kind of start tickling around, nothing, nothing crazy.

Speaker 2 28:39

Um, then that third week there's a couple smaller things that like sort of technique wise that I'm wanting to to kind of bring in next year, and so I'll spend a lot of time on that. It's less, less um physical, I guess, and more just real, intentional um, as well as some court work that week, um, and then kind of the last two weeks, um really being the only ones that I try to ramp it up and hit a ton of balls, um really with the main goal of being as like physically fresh and mentally like excited to get back out there. Um, you know, it's it's a long season, obviously, and I think I I've definitely struggled at moments just kind of maintaining that balance between physical freshness and also just like mental drive, cause it it does beat you down, kind of working and working all the time.

Speaker 1 29:25

Yeah, yeah, it's. It's interesting to see. Um, I actually saw Austin posted on Instagram earlier like one of the most biggest misconceptions about doubles or something, or myths about doubles, and he talked about how a lot of people think it's it's easier than singles, but in reality, actually the schedule can be more difficult. Those top doubles teams are still having to play you know a lot of the 250s and 500s and things like that, Whereas in singles, you know a lot of the top singles players only have to play 10, not 10, like 15, 20 tournaments a year.

Speaker 2 30:07

So yeah, I would. I would agree the schedule. The schedule definitely is tougher. I mean there are some teams for sure that have figured out how to play fewer. You know, I've figured out how to play kind of in that 20 to 25 ballpark. It's tough, you gotta, you, you gotta go out and produce in those in those 20 weeks. I think I've always been someone who played a lot of tournaments and that kind of helped me, you know, kind of stay sharp. But you know, maybe, maybe that is something to play around with, trying to rein it in, try to play a few fewer weeks. But, like Austin said, it is tough. You know, I think if you look at the way the points distribute out, that on the double side someone of equal ranking to someone on the single side, the double side would have quite a few more points.

Speaker 1 31:01

And I think that's because everybody plays so many more weeks as well. Yeah, um, talk a little bit about practicing in dallas. Uh, you went to smu. You practice out of smu still, I believe, and y'all've got a really good crew there with uh austinrychek. Um, jackson isn't too far away. I know john isner used to practice out of there. Several other players as well.

Speaker 2 31:19

Talk a little bit about that yeah, I mean, I think for me it's, it's great. Obviously that's where I went to school, so it's all it's already home and um, at the time they made it, it was definitely, I feel, like the premier sort of college facility. Uh, six great indoor courts with six outdoors right there. Um, now there's a great gym and and physio facility in in-house, um, so it's great to be able to do all of that in one spot, um, and then you, you add to that the players. Like you said, you've got got austin here. Uh, you're, john was around. I don't see him picking up a tennis racket too often anymore. But there's also Hans Hock is around. He and Austin actually share a coach, so he's here.

Speaker 2 32:02

And luckily, you get to use the SMU guys quite a bit. They're usually pretty happy to have us and so I think it's a good opportunity for everyone involved. And, like you said, yeah, jackson's nearby for everyone involved. Um, and like you said, yeah, jackson's nearby, um, there's a few other guys in texas kind of roaming around um, here in dallas, josh, he's another guy. A couple smu grads are out there. So when they pop back, um get to use them too.

Strategies for Tennis Doubles Volleys

Speaker 2 32:26

So I mean there's, there's someone, oh, mitch, mitch kruger as well. Oh yeah, that's right, he doesn't like to to practice doubles, probably all that much. We're maybe not the best practice for him, but uh, but we get out there with him here and there and I think, um, while it's also, while it's great for practice, it's also great kind of for you know kind of a a semi team atmosphere, if that makes sense. You know there's a, there's a crew of Dallas guys and we all like to see each other do well, um, so all that you know kind of plays in the. It's a great place to base, for sure.

Speaker 1 32:59

Yeah, yeah, that's super cool. Um, so let's get to the listener questions and then we'll hop off here. Uh, so these are from Instagram. Uh, pushkar asked would you rather play a 500 in the middle of nowhere or a 250 with a good crowd?

Speaker 2 33:21

It's a great question, I think, from like a ranking, a ranking and money standpoint. The 500, for sure. But I've definitely played those two scenarios, that's for sure. But I've definitely played those two scenarios, that's for sure. Um, I feel like it's not in the middle of nowhere, but the match I played in Dubai there was nobody really watching us, uh, so it kind of felt like the middle of nowhere for us. It's really far from home, um, and no one was watching.

Speaker 2 33:47

Um, and obviously the two 50 in Dallas is amazing. Uh, pretty good atmosphere every time, even if you know the bells and whistles of the tournament aren't there. Gosh, that's tough. I think if I could consider the 250 something of a home event, so if it's here in the States, probably I would probably play the 250 because I would feel like the crowd was cheering for me, at least part of it, whereas 250 kind of anywhere else I feel like I'd be probably the enemy of the crowd was cheering for me, at least part of it. Um, whereas 250 kind of anywhere else I feel like I'd be the probably the enemy of the crowd. So I'd probably take the 500.

Speaker 1 34:21

yeah, yeah, dallas is uh going to be a 500 next year because it's fun, it's done such a good. I mean, I went the first three years and it's um such a good tournament and the turnout is great. I feel like tennis in texas is definitely on the rise, definitely a lot of, a lot of people play here.

Speaker 1 34:39

So makes sense, makes sense um, so I had two people ask about, uh, y'all's outfits. So one question is who decides the outfits? And another question was where did you get the gear y'all were wearing in Miami, I believe it was.

Speaker 2 35:02

I guess I'll answer the second question. First, the clothing brand is called Sigrun S-I-G-R-U-N. It's based out of New York and so all the outfits are Sigrun. Um. So the Miami outfit, um. I guess we would have worn a couple. One of them was a shirt, lit or a sleeveless, sleeveless white shirt and like a flowery shirt, and the other one was, um gosh, I think we wore the yellow shorts or something. It's a long time ago.

Speaker 2 35:33

It feels like a long time ago, but all of it, all of it's there online with Sigrun. They make great stuff. We're super comfortable and they support. They support us as well as a couple of American, other American doubles guys, so it's cool that to be a part of that team as well. As far as who picks the colors, I leave that up to Jackson. I guess I don't care how I look, and so Jackson's much better at looking sharp and keeping us put together, so I just defer to his judgment.

Speaker 1 36:05

There you go. Okay, we'll link to Sigrun in the show notes for people who want to go shop some of their gear. There we go. So the last question question we talked about the serve a lot. Uh, what is the best advice for the first volley after the serve? So the serve plus one volley that's a great question.

Speaker 2 36:25

Um, I think the when I am hitting first volleys or working on them, the, the scenarios I like to think about are really the scenarios where my opponent's going to be. So I feel like the casual player is probably going to play kind of a one-up, one-back scenario pretty much exclusively, with maybe not a ton of crossing, I would imagine. So I think for me, I really just kind of focus on the target that I want to hit my volley at and I'm kind of okay if the guy makes a good move or the girl makes a good move and gets to it. So I think for me that's the biggest is, you know, kind of focus on making a great hit and covering your place, you know, getting to the spot, and if someone has a great return or they make a good move, anything like that, then you kind of live with that.

Speaker 2 37:15

It's. It's not always easy to control that, I think. Um, for me at least personally, if I, if I kind of wait and see what my opponents are doing and then look it's kind of a similar thing on the return but if I, if I'm waiting, looking at my opponents trying to hit it around them, I usually don't hit the ball very well, so I usually just focus on hitting a good shot, and if they're there, they're there.

Speaker 1 37:41

Do you have a target picked out before the serve even lands?

Speaker 2 37:46

For the serve plus one volley.

Speaker 2 37:49

A lot of times, a lot of times, and it's usually dependent on where I've called myself going. So Jackson and I play a lot of times, a lot of times, and I usually that's usually dependent on where I've called myself going. So Jackson and I play a lot of eye formation, especially this year we did, and I find that out of eye it's. It's very tough for the, the returners partner, even if they're up at the net, to cover. If, if you hit a decent line line volley, if that makes sense, like you you're serving. So in this picture, whoever's serving here to Jackson, if they're coming in and covering line and they just hit a volley back towards Jackson, you can tell how far away I am. It would almost be impossible for me to reach that. Maybe that's an error in my positioning, to be honest, looking at that, but I think so you're saying the server hits it here, it's back towards jackson, back towards jackson yeah, okay, or I'm sorry the server's partner goes back towards jackson okay no, no, the server the server are you?

Speaker 2 38:43

are you right about the server's partner?

Speaker 1 38:45

yeah, yeah so so for the first volley, your target does it depend on like, what volley you get, or do you have like one target picked out for your serve plus one volley?

Speaker 2 38:58

I think it's usually I have a target picked out, um, okay, I think. Yeah, usually, usually I'm thinking about where the finish is. So if it's a t serve, the finish would be away, and then if it's a wide serve, the finish is probably middle. Obviously, some of that depends and actually the scenario I'm playing around with is standing a little closer and I think depending where you stand as a service partner, that really dictates what your opportunities are as the volleyer.

Speaker 2 39:32

For anyone who watched a lot of Turin, a lot of these teams are standing super, super close to the net and from that position you're able to finish basically in both directions with either volley, and so your, your possibilities are open. I think the traditional kind of maybe more old school servers partner is a little bit further back, and so if you're that far back it becomes much harder to cut off these angles or create these angles and that kind of linear volley. It becomes more the play. So I mean, for me I'm kind of in between, to be honest. I'm trying to kind of find the right grain there in my case.

Speaker 1 40:11

Yeah, a lot of it probably depends on the uh the opponents too right are they playing two back versus? One up, one back and you know what style are like. Are you playing somebody who's super fast? It just kind of kind of depends on the opponents for sure awesome nate.

Speaker 2 40:27

Well, yeah, the other thing too is if anyone has a glaring, sorry. The other thing too.

Speaker 1 40:32

Sorry, broke up there for a second, no, you're good. The other thing too is if, if has a glaring, sorry. The other thing too, sorry, you broke up there for a second, no, you're good.

Speaker 2 40:35

The other thing too is if, if a player does have a glaring sort of soft spot, then you know you, you maybe are pegging on that from the get-go to. You know, if some guys, while they, while they're great, they maybe have a weaker ground stroke, so you're thinking, if I can't finish it, I'm gonna hit it there. So that that is something at times you're thinking about.

Speaker 1 40:55

Yeah, yeah, that's really good advice. Yeah, usually at the club level there's always one of those right.

Speaker 2 41:01

Yeah, exactly, so for most people listening.

Speaker 1 41:03

Yeah, there's either a forehand in the deuce court you can target a backhand in the deuce court, a forehand in the ad court or a backhand in the ad court. One the ad court or back into that court. One of those four, you hit the volley. There it's. You're gonna win a lot of those points, yeah um, really good advice. Awesome, nate. Well, thanks a ton for coming on, um, I'm sure we will uh do it again at some point in 2025.

Speaker 1 41:24

Any um final uh, final advice for the audience or anything you want to leave everyone with.

Speaker 2 41:32

No, I guess. I mean, I guess just watch, watch more doubles, If. If you enjoyed anything I was talking about.

Speaker 1 41:38

Awesome, all right. Thanks again, nate, for everyone listening. I'll leave everything in the show notes and I will talk to you all soon.