sketch: tennis two-handed backhand

Even though the last grand slam of the year, the US Open, is over, that doesn’t mean the season is over. Tournaments continue onto Asian countries like China, Japan and Korea. Actually, did you know that tennis competition is a 11-month long season? Players only get a true rest in December. There is always a tournament going on somewhere, internationally.

It seems like it is exhausting for athletes, to travel for so long and so far. Tennis as a career is a life choice and good money can be made if they go up the rankings. Plus, they get to see different beautiful cities. Still, it is great for avid tennis fans, like myself :) Plenty of entertaining games to watch on television!

My drawing is of a player who is very focused, doing a two-handed backhand. As you probably noticed, capturing tennis players in action is my favorite way to practice figure drawing.

Have a great Sunday!

 

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sketch: tennis receiving stance

Can you believe the summer is almost over? I can’t.

Anyway, at this time of year, the US Open tournament action commences in Queens, New York. Two weeks of the world’s best athletes competing on the biggest stage. As a big fan of tennis, I draw a female player in a receiving stance. She is ready to hit an aggressive return.

What sport do you enjoy to watch, or play?

sketch: tennis forehand

The French Open comes to a close this weekend. For the women, I am rooting for Simona Halep because she’s been working so hard for so long. And this is the farthest she has reached in a major. On the men’s side, I hope Nadal wins the final. He is after all the king of clay.

My sketch shows a player preparing for a forehand swing.

sketch: backhand

The second week of Wimbledon is happening now. I was excited that Americans, both on the men’s and women’s side, made it into the second week of the world’s best tennis event .

Serena Williams has been the most consistent American lady to appear deep into the tournament. But at the age of 35, who knows how much longer she will play? Thanks to a whole group of up-and-coming talented American ladies, there is much to look forward to, in players such as Madison Keys and Christina McHale.

The last American man to make it to the finals was Andy Roddick, back in 2009. Unfortunately, he had a heartbreaking loss to Roger Federer in 5 sets. I wish Andy would come back from retirement and give it another go.

This is my sketch of a male player in a prepared stance for a backhand swing.

tennis two-handed backhand

We are in the first week of the Australian Open, round of 16. Who do you hope to win? Personally, I hope American Isner can at least reach the finals, but of course, the big four would await him – Federer, Murray, Djokovic and Nadal. On the ladies side, it would be cool to see Canadian Bouchard win it, but it will probably be Sharapova or Serena Williams.

My sketch depicts a two-handed backhand that is set just before the ball bounces directly in front of the player. When the ball is hit deep to the baseline of your opponent’s side, he or she has a split second to decide whether to hit it or let it go in hopes that the ball will go out of bounds. When you watch a game, you will see this as a tactic the pros use. Hitting deep also keeps your adversary from approaching the net and taking control of the point.

sketch: tennis forehand

Today’s competitive game of tennis is not for the faint of heart. No longer is it about gently tapping the ball back and forth. Sorry Chris Evert. Both male and female players are as muscular as a Marvel comic superhero. The loud grunting of top players, Sharapova and Azerenka, is a testament to how hard every swing of the racquet is. Here is a quick rough sketch of Goerges, who through her fiery desire to win and powerful forehand was able to beat even the number one seed, Wozniaki, in a recent clay court tournament.

sketch: tennis receive stance

Just a quick sketch of tennis player receiving the ball.

sketch: before the toss

Drawing of a side-view stance during the Australian Open, day 3.

sketch: tennis ready stance

Drawing of a player in preparation to receive a ball in the game of tennis.

wimbledon tennis

Tennis fans, mark your calendars, and set your DVRs.  Wimbledon will be on from June 22th to July 5th, 2009.  After the fall of Nadal’s reign and the return of Federer’s supremacy at the French Open, who knows what the All-England Club will bring us?