Analysis: Maria Kirilenko – Defensive Backhand

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ANALYSIS -> Maria Kirilenko Movement Analysis

With Maria Kirilenko doing so well at the French Open this year it seemed fitting to share this analysis of her in a defensive situation on the backhand.

Maria Kirilenko (Photo credit: Carine06)

As with many tennis players Maria has had a fair share of injuries and even in this image sequence she wears a knee bandage/support.  The question for me is why has her body got to this point?  Of course there will be injuries but optimizing the body to perform the actions that are required can drastically reduce the injury potential whilst maximizing the output.

Only a few minutes ago Maria called the trainer for a lower back issue in the first set of her match with Azarenka.  Commentators also mentioned that yesterday she had a shoulder issue.  Coupling this with a possible knee problem in this analysis the question inflates to whether these are isolated injuries are they in fact interlinked and the injury is just moving around the body as one is addressed?

I believe it is that later and that to truly solve Maria’s issues the body function must be considered as a global entity and that areas of limited movement and/or dysfunctional posture will impact the possibilities at other joints in the system.

This could mean, for example, that poor hip function could lead to a rotator cuff injury as the shoulder works harder to achieve the output than it needs to.

As I have eluded to in past posts all performance process (tech,tact, phys,ment) are linked and influence each other.  Therefore all must be considered in analysis although assumptions maybe made it is closer to the truth if all are considered.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ANALYSIS -> Maria Kirilenko Movement Analysis

In the analysis I include some training exercises related to the areas that have been considered aimed at developing the patterns and enhancing performance.  It must be said that the exercises alone will serve this purpose although it is important to understand , as in the case of Maria Kirilenko, that the function of the body and the adopted postures must not carry limitations and the transmissions of forces are efficient and seamless.  I suggest and recommend that this is addressed prior to implementing any training program.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ANALYSIS -> Maria Kirilenko Movement Analysis

 

I hope you enjoy the analysis and please contact me if you are interested further or have any questions.

Regards,

the Tennis Engineeer

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ANALYSIS -> Maria Kirilenko Movement Analysis

Slipping and Sliding

With the clay court season upon us and the count down to the French Open beginning it is interesting to consider how to move on clay.  My view is that we should not encourage sliding on clay even though it is possible.  I have also heard the opposing view also that says sliding is advantageous and an effective way to move on clay.

I am not saying that there will be no sliding at all but my observations have lead me to believe that sliding is for emergencies only and that the time involved in decelerating the slide and re balancing to recover is time lost.

Watching the likes of Nadal and Ferrer on the clay it is evident that there is a preferred movement style consisting of

Rafael Nadal, Master Series Monte Carlo 2007 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

shuffles where balance is continually maintained.  Recently, on my trip to Sanchez-Casal it was confirmed to me that moving in balance is the ideal and the one they will train for and sliding is not taught.

The physical demands of playing on clay are high with not only the style of play attacking the an/aerobic systems but also the stress on the rest of the body.  We use the vibrations generated from the foots impact with the floor to create power/force and the aim of the body is to transfer as much of this as possible, seamlessly through to impact.  The lower frictional force between the surface and the shoe causes a quest for force and in addition challenges balance with the body working harder to manage itself.

Does this increase the tension/compression in the body?  I don’t truly know but I can feel the effects of this environment on various parts of my body when training and it is tough.   This feeling suggests to me that the fluidity of movement and the transfer of forces within the actions are of up most importance in producing effect play but also in staying healthy in training.  Force leakage will be magnified and compensations will occur.

Ensure bodies are balanced and transferring force effectively, prepare the body for this and challenge it to organize itself in the most efficient manner and you will see success on the dirt.