Prepare with Chris O’Connell: “Each ball you hit in observe is necessary” | 15 March, 2024 | All Information | Information and Options | Information and Occasions

Prime-100 star Chris O’Connell reveals why taking advantage of each minute is necessary on the observe court docket in our ‘Prepare with the professionals’ collection.

Australia, 15 March 2024 | Jackson Mansell

Onerous work and persistence has helped Chris O’Connell attain some unbelievable heights in his profession.

After peaking at world No.53 in singles final yr, the 29-year-old from Sydney is now concentrating on a top-50 breakthrough.

In our Prepare with the Professionals collection, O’Connell shares his most memorable observe periods and gives recommendation on tips on how to enhance your recreation.

Do you will have a favorite time of day to practise?

I might say round 11am. Typically we attempt to practice when matches kind of begin, however I want to do my coaching within the morning, so I’ve my afternoon free.

On common, what number of hours do you spend on court docket coaching per week?

I really don’t spend that many hours in comparison with a whole lot of guys, however through the years I’ve kind of elevated it, so wherever from two to a few hours. I normally do it in a single session, I don’t do two periods in a day.

Do you will have a favorite a part of your recreation you wish to work on?

Just lately, in all probability volleying. I’ve kind of added it into my recreation a little bit bit, so I’m actually having fun with engaged on that as a result of I’m seeing the most important enchancment, versus my groundstrokes which I’ve labored on all my life.

Do you will have a least favorite a part of your recreation to work on?

I discover engaged on my serve is fairly boring, nevertheless it’s so necessary. It’s such a key element of your recreation. So in all probability serving, however every so often I don’t thoughts simply hitting serve after serve after serve.

Are you able to bear in mind the primary skilled participant you had a possibility to practise with?

It might’ve been Sam Stosur once I was 14. I don’t bear in mind an excessive amount of from the periods together with her, however I simply bear in mind she was tremendous skilled.

Are you able to recall any coaching periods you have been significantly nervous for?

I practised with Lleyton Hewitt one of many preseasons 5 plus years in the past. That was my most nervous observe.

Who’re the gamers on tour that you just most take pleasure in practising with?

I appear to hit with the identical guys week in, week out. I hit with Alexander Zverev lots, so I take pleasure in that. I hit with Aslan Karatsev lots. However I do like mixing up who I observe with, whether or not it’s a man that makes a whole lot of balls or a man that has an enormous recreation, huge serve so I can work on my returns. So I’m making an attempt to combine it up continually.

Are there any gamers on tour you’d love the chance to hit with?

You at all times wish to practise with the massive guys. I haven’t educated with Carlos Alcaraz but. I’ve performed him when he was actually younger. He nonetheless is younger however yeah, I wish to practise with him.

Should you might practise with any participant from tennis historical past, who wouldn’t it be?

One in all my heroes was Gaston Gaudio, an Argentinian man. I had an Argentinian coach once I was youthful, so I did like watching a whole lot of the Argentinian gamers. I might have favored to have educated with him. I did really take pleasure in watching Pablo Cuevas as properly, a Uruguayan. He’s nonetheless taking part in a little bit bit, however I haven’t received to practise with him but. These picks are a little bit bit odd, I assume.
I’d say Roger Federer as properly. I cherished his one-handed backhand. I’ve received a one-handed backhand, so I might have cherished to have a backhand, cross-court duel with him.

What recommendation would you share with an aspiring participant to get essentially the most out of a coaching session?

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realised actually each ball you hit in observe is necessary. I used to only roll via periods, I imply I used to be locked in, however not utterly locked in at instances. At this stage, it’s all concerning the one-percenters. So, simply utilising each minute of your observe session and making an attempt to be locked in. Attempt to replicate match situations, as arduous because it’s solely observe, however actually simply attempt to be locked in for a way lengthy you’re on court docket.

Lastly, you will have 5 minutes left in a coaching session and may do something you need. What wouldn’t it be and why?

I fairly take pleasure in this slice-to-slice kind of recreation, the place you’re slicing up and down the doubles alley and making an attempt to land it within the doubles alley. I do play that recreation a bit with my coach Marinko Matosevic and Jordan Thompson, who I hit with fairly a bit.

> READ MORE: From our “Prepare with the professionals” collection

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