Have you noticed that female tennis players bend their knees to get more power on their shots? But male tennis players don’t do that. Why is that? The distinctive crouching technique commonly seen in women’s tennis is influenced by several key biomechanical and tactical factors:

Physical Differences

Women generally have a lower center of mass and wider hips, providing them greater pelvic mobility and flexibility compared to men. This anatomical difference allows female players to more naturally adopt lower positions while maintaining balance.

Playing Style Differences

Ball Characteristics

Women tend to hit flatter shots with less topspin compared to men. This results in:

• Lower bouncing balls that require players to get down lower to make contact
• More linear ball trajectories that are easier to redirect when taken early

Tactical Approach

The crouching position serves multiple purposes:

• Helps neutralize powerful shots by absorbing pace
• Allows players to stay close to the baseline and redirect pace
• Conserves energy compared to backing up and hitting full swings
• Takes time away from opponents by intercepting balls early

Notable Examples

Players like Angelique Kerber and Agnieszka Radwanska have effectively used this technique as part of their defensive style. While it may appear unconventional, it enables them to:

• Handle low-bouncing balls effectively
• Maintain aggressive court positioning
• Create counter-attacking opportunities

Technical Considerations

This technique is particularly prevalent on the backhand side where:

• Players can use their leg strength to generate power
• The lower position helps get under flat-hit balls
• It allows maintenance of preferred grip positions for different ball heights

While some consider this style suboptimal compared to backing up and hitting conventional shots, it has proven effective for many top female players, particularly those with defensive playing styles who excel at redirecting pace.

The tennis world witnessed another significant sponsorship shift as Italian star Lorenzo Musetti debuted his new ASICS partnership at the Hong Kong Tennis Open. The 22-year-old Olympic bronze medalist stepped onto the court sporting an all-Heather Purple kit with charcoal shoes, marking the end of his long-standing relationship with Nike.

The multi-year agreement with ASICS comes at a pivotal moment in Lorenzo Musetti‘s career, following his most successful season to date. In 2024, the Italian achieved several career milestones, including reaching his first Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon and securing a historic Olympic bronze medal in Paris – the first Olympic tennis medal for Italy in 100 years.

The sponsorship change isn’t the only fresh start for Musetti in 2025. The Italian tennis star recently surprised fans by trading his signature long locks for a dramatically shorter hairstyle, a decision influenced by his girlfriend, Veronica Confalonieri. The couple, who welcomed their son Ludovico in March 2024, continues to share their personal milestones with fans.

Currently ranked as Italy’s No. 2 player behind Jannik Sinner, Musetti’s career achievements include two ATP titles (2022 Hamburg European Open and Tennis Napoli Cup), and he was part of Italy’s victorious Davis Cup teams in 2023 and 2024. His most notable victory came against World No. 1 Novak Djokovic at the 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters.

With this new partnership, Musetti joins ASICS’s growing roster of tennis athletes, signaling the brand’s continued commitment to expanding its presence in professional tennis, while Nike appears to be scaling back its tennis sponsorships.