Most tennis coaches would probably try to change this. Tatjana Maria slices from both the forehand and backhand sides. Her strokes do not resemble the conventional topspin-based model that dominates modern tennis coaching. It may look “strange.” But strange according to whom? In 2022, Maria reached the Wimbledon semifinals. In 2025, aged 37, she qualified for Queen’s and defeated four Top 15 players including Elena Rybakina, Madison Keys and Amanda Anisimova to win the title. She became the oldest woman to win a WTA 500 event and later achieved a career-high ranking of world No.36. She has also won four WTA singles titles. So let’s ask an uncomfortable question: How many coaches would have tried to remove the very movement solutions that made her successful? “Get under the ball.” “Finish over your shoulder.” “Drive through the forehand.” “You can’t slice from both sides.” Maria’s game reminds us that technique does not need to conform to one predetermined visual model. I...