DIET | DETECTIVE^®

The "I'm a star" approach: Watch out for an opponent who comes to the court with an armful of racquets in their bag, says tennis expert Vic Braden.

"This kind of player is basically saying, 'You probably didn't realize you were paying one of the all-time greats today.' The reality is they probably haven't broken a string since 1937!" More often than not, you needn't worry about this kind of player. "The more the person tries to psych you out with this kind of posturing, the more they think their strokes can't do the job," says Braden.

The talker: This opponent is a chatterbox and will talk during changeovers and even between points. "Some people will constantly talk as a way of keeping you distracted," says Braden, "and others are just nice people who love tennis and enjoy it most as a social tool. But if it's too constant, I would just tell them this: 'Make a note of all the things you want to say to me and then we can discuss it after the match!'"

Lace 'em up!: This is the ultimate move when you're looking to break your opponent's rhythm and get a much-needed break after a long point. You'll see virtually everyone-even top pros such as Andre Agassi and Martina Hingis-try this maneuver if an opponent is rushing them between points or running away with the match. If that's the case, slow down your own pace, lace up your own sneakers, and re-establish your own rhythm.

Follow the bouncing ball: Is there anything more annoying than an opponent who bounces the ball a dozen times or more before serving? If your opponent is a little bounce-happy, return the favor before your own serve, and add a few extra bounces of your own. Or, as Braden says, "The best thing is to turn your back when they're finally ready to serve, or joke, 'When you're within three bounces, would you let me know?'"

You need a (bathroom) break today: This move, especially in pro tennis, is very controversial. Remember when Martina Hingis took a bathroom break during the 1999 French Open final, which she, as the heavy favorite, was losing to the legendary Steffi Graf? The Swiss Miss had lost control of the match, and hoped to slow down her German foe by hitting the bathroom (which is allowed by the rules) before the start of the third set. Remember, more often that not, this move backfires (Hingis not only eventually lost the match but also was booed when she returned to the court). "You are allowed a bathroom break," says Braden, "but there are people who use this as a ploy. If a player goes more than once, it's against the rules because play is supposed to be continuous."

High strung: If you watch a match on television, you'll see players constantly adjusting their strings, and it's not simply to keep their shots from spraying around the court. Playing with your strings is a great excuse to slow down the pace-especially against an opponent who likes to serve too quickly-and disrupt your rhythm in the process. "Once you're ready to serve, your opponent should be in position, and if they're still playing with their strings, I'd say, 'Let me know when you're ready.' If you call attention to it, they usually stop. You can play with strings all you want during the 30 seconds between points, but not more than that."

Time out!: Yes, they have them in tennis, too. In the pros, a player can call for the trainer and take an injury time-out for up to five minutes. And if you feel a little twinge in your back or ankle, taking a few extra minutes during the changeover to work it out is allowed. "But some people will fake injuries, and look like they're going to die," says Braden. "That's when you need to watch out. Ken Rosewall used to do that, and everyone knew he'd get even tougher. The bottom line is when you see someone who's injured, as Jack Kramer used to say, 'Beat their brains out and then take them to lunch!'"

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