The Racquet Archive

Comprehensive tactical retrospectives, stroke analytics, and tour-level strategy breakdowns curated from The Racquet Substack by Matt Lin.

---

Articles & Tactical Breakdowns (24)

• How can tennis grow and market itself better?

  Published: 2023-10-09 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  One last post from Matt and The Racquet: Show me the growth, death of cable bundles, direct to consumer complexity, gatekeepers

  Read Full Analysis →

• The Racquet is going on hiatus

  Published: 2022-06-23 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  What's next, refunds etc...

  Read Full Analysis →

• Hurkacz Gets Everything Right

  Published: 2022-06-19 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  Hurkacz & Medvedev serve placement, return positions, tradeoffs of the deep position, volleys, grass strategy

  Read Full Analysis →

• Berrettini's shiny weapons are back

  Published: 2022-06-12 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  Berrettini's serve and forehand, the slice masking the backhand, van Rijthoven upsets Medvedev, Murray hip

  Read Full Analysis →

• 14

  Published: 2022-06-05 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  Nadal wins his 14th Roland Garros title: first of all 'lol', quick analysis, point length, baseline patterns, backhands

  Read Full Analysis →

• Iga and a million ways to win points

  Published: 2022-06-04 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  Świątek wins Roland Garros, serve+1, Iga's balanced tools, Gauff's lack of serving advantage

  Read Full Analysis →

• Rafole reversion to the mean in Paris

  Published: 2022-06-01 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  Nadal's forehand dominance, Djokovic's fleeting patterns, 2nd serve edge, long point edge, baseline strategy, and physical ebbs

  Read Full Analysis →

• May Racquet Mailbag

  Published: 2022-05-19 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  Roland Garros Draws, Grass Masters 1000's, climate change in tennis, doubles as a format, Medvedev on clay, Jabeur & Anisimova clay form, Tsitsipas vs lefties, breakaway tours, comparing eras

  Read Full Analysis →

• Djokovic Has Plan A Through Z

  Published: 2022-05-15 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  Djokovic's forehand balance, Tsitsipas nearly solves a puzzle, 2nd serves, serve placement, micro not macro, Roland Garros favourites

  Read Full Analysis →

• Alcaraz goes back to back

  Published: 2022-05-08 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  Alcaraz beats Nadal and Djokovic within 24 hours: match analysis, AD serving placement, droppers, and offence

  Read Full Analysis →

• Never let 'em know your next move

  Published: 2022-05-01 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  Carlos Alcaraz: TikTok goes the drop shot

  Read Full Analysis →

• April Racquet Mailbag

  Published: 2022-04-28 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  Clay line-calling, left handed advantages, shitpoasting, netflix attention, Alcaraz weakness, tennis pundit opinions about Ukraine, Raducanu's coaches, two handed forehands

  Read Full Analysis →

• Rublev pushes Djokovic over the edge

  Published: 2022-04-24 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  Djokovic still struggling on 1st serve, early point forehands, fitness, Rublev's excellent returns

  Read Full Analysis →

• Tsitsipas Back On Clay

  Published: 2022-04-17 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  Tsitsipas wins the serve and serve+1 battle against Davidovich Fokina: serve placement, +1 performance, clay strengths

  Read Full Analysis →

• Davidovich Fokina Prepared For War

  Published: 2022-04-14 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  Djokovic's early clay season struggles, Davidovich Fokina's intelligent return strategy, long point dominance, Novak's forehand

  Read Full Analysis →

• Equal pay equal play?

  Published: 2022-04-07 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  That silly argument somehow comes up again in 2022

  Read Full Analysis →

• Iga x2

  Published: 2022-04-02 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  Świątek completes the Sunshine Double: 2nd serve strategies, Świątek's margin, linear vs angled hitting

  Read Full Analysis →

• Backhand Balance

  Published: 2022-03-30 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  Alcaraz wins the backhand corner battle against Tsitsipas, forehand-backhand balance, court positioning, point length, nextgen vs nextnextgen

  Read Full Analysis →

• Barty came, beat the game, and left

  Published: 2022-03-23 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  Ashleigh Barty retires at 25, leaves on top

  Read Full Analysis →

• Airbending In The Desert

  Published: 2022-03-21 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  Alcaraz tames the wind, Nadal's volleys, forehand and serve placement

  Read Full Analysis →

• Indian Wells Mailbag

  Published: 2022-03-17 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  Heckling, the pickleball blob, extinct single-handed backhands, Alcaraz bullishness, 5th set tiebreaks, China & Russia, salty player interviews

  Read Full Analysis →

• The 10% Chance

  Published: 2022-03-13 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  Nadal gives Korda no help: first strike tennis, Nadal's return adjustments, the balancing act

  Read Full Analysis →

• The Big 3 Moat

  Published: 2022-03-06 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and the developmental ouroboros

  Read Full Analysis →

• Racquet Mailbag - March

  Published: 2022-03-03 · In-Depth Tactical Breakdown

  Short tennis players, Asian tennis, long vs short socks, tennis' Netflix show and gatekeeping, nextgen on grass

  Read Full Analysis →

---