Tennis coaches cannot complain that players are poor decision-makers while continually removing decisions from practice. Tennis is supposed to be fun. Yet pressure from parents, head coaches and performance systems can push coaches towards sessions that look controlled, organised and technically productive. The problem is that tennis itself is not controlled or predictable. It is a continuous interaction between two players. The ball changes, positions change, intentions change and new opportunities emerge with every action. I have sat in performance meetings where one of the biggest criticisms of players was that they were poor decision-makers and problem-solvers. But then you look at how many of them practise: “Two crosscourt, one down the line.” The coach has already decided where the player should hit each ball. So where is the decision? What if the opportunity to attack down the line appears on the first ball? What if going crosscourt on the third ball is no longer func...