Mind, Set, and Match

Drutman yo-yos me from one side of the court to the other, moving me around, looking to put me away. He's got me lunging, but I manage to keep the ball in play - and I do more: I throw up defensive lobs to buy time. I slice the ball to his vulnerable backhand.

In the final sequence, Drutman returns a volley that lands short. I sprint into the forecourt, catch a glimpse of him cheating on the cross-court side, and smash the ball down the line. It ticks the tape for a winner. At that glorious moment, I know I've found my weapon: I've learned to think several shots ahead and to work the point to my advantage.

I can hear the instructors howling from as far away as the cabana. Suddenly I'm 12 years old again, at the top of my game, filled with the confidence of youth. It occurs to me that I should quit while I'm ahead. Instead, I hear myself saying, "Next!"

Coordinates: Three days of instruction only at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, $431. 800-872-6425; http://bollettieri.sportsline.com

Todd Balf toddbalf@compuserve.com, a contributing editor at Outside magazine, writes frequently for Fast Company.

Action Item: Have Racquet, Will Travel

It's midwinter - a good-enough reason to pack your tennis gear the next time business takes you to a sunny destination. Johan Kriek, who won the Australian Open men's singles title in 1981 and 1982, is journeying to 19 of the 21 Nuveen Tour senior events this season - so he's uniquely qualified to give out travel advice: "I always, always keep my racquets with me on the plane. If the airline loses my racquets, I'm out of a job."

All you need is a sleek, well-padded shoulder bag that you can easily stow in the 747's overhead compartment. Our favorite is Wilson's blue-and-black Triple Thermo, a rugged bag with room for three standard- or stretch-sized racquets. It's got padded shoulder straps, and it's built with 600 series Denier polyester and Black Diamond PVC (the same material that backpacks are made of), so it should hold up to all the abuse that even the most frequent of frequent flyers can impose on it.

Coordinates: $39.99. Wilson Sporting Goods, 800-946-6060; http://www.wilsonsports.com

Net Advantage

To win at tennis, it's not enough to know your own game - you must know your opponent's game too. Here are master coach Nick Bollettieri's champion-tested tips for getting an early read on the enemy.

What shot does he want to hit? During the warm-up, hit the first ball down the center of the court. Almost always, says Bollettieri, your opponent will instinctively set up to hit his favorite stroke - and that knowledge gives you a tactical advantage.

What shot does she avoid? If your opponent is tentative about a down-the-line backhand, concede the corresponding side of your court - and dare her to hit a winner past you. If she doesn't take the bait, the real estate that you must cover has shrunk by about one-third.

Can he run and hit? Don't feed your enemy an endless diet of shots to his weak side. Hit regularly to his strong side, and then prey on his weakness. "You don't have to hit outright winners," says Bollettieri. "You just have to hit shots that are hard to reach."

Coordinates: $25. My Aces, My Faults, Nick Bollettieri (Avon Books, 1996)

Schools of Aces

Looking to jump a few rungs on the club ladder this summer? You can get a head start by taking a three- to five-day crash course at one of these top-rated tennis camps - all of which are located in a warm clime.

Evert Tennis Academy
Boca Raton, Florida
Yep, that Evert. You won't find a better place to learn how to slug a two-fisted backhand. Nearby: a half-mile stretch of Atlantic beach, several PGA-quality golf courses, and the posh West Palm Beach shopping district.
Coordinates: Five-day, instruction-only package, $300. 800-417-3783.

John Newcombe Tennis Ranch
New Braunfels, Texas
Once ranked number one in the world and now the captain of the Australian Davis Cup team, John Newcombe also knows how to have a good time, and at his camp in the Texas hill country, 30 miles north of San Antonio, the staff lets the good times roll.
Coordinates: All-inclusive weeklong packages from $618. 800-444-6204.

Vic Braden Tennis College
Coto de Caza, California
The highlight here is Braden himself: His lectures are funny, well-researched, and wonderfully counterintuitive.
Coordinates: Instruction only, $150 per day. 800-422-6878.