Fast Courts
Playing on a fast, slick court is particularly difficult because the ball skids and stays low after the bounce. The entire pace of the game is faster. Shots seem to be hit harder, rallies are shorter, and less time is available to get into the rhythm of your strokes in the match. If you have to make an adjustment, try to schedule some practice time on the court before match day. Consider these fast-court tactics:
Turn your shoulders quickly, get the racket back early, and start your swing sooner.
Rely less on full-body rotation to prepare for groundstrokes.
Use the open stance as much as needed on groundstrokes.
Bend your knees and stay low to hit groundstrokes.
Rely less on topspin and more on flat or slice groundstrokes.
Play deeper than usual, especially on the serve return.
Make returning first serves a priority.
Block fast serves instead of swinging at them.
Return serves low and at the feet of a net-rushing server.
Apply less spin on serves to take advantage of the power boosts you’ll get on fast surfaces.
Don’t overhit setups. Let the fast court provide extra pace.
Attack all short balls without overhitting, and hit them behind your opponent.
Go to the net on medium-deep shots that you would not normally follow.
Expect your opponent to be more aggressive than on a slow court.
Expect short rallies.
Tennis: Steps to Success Jim Brown,Camille Soulier