A robust serve has always been a part of ASU women’s tennis junior Nicole Fossa-Huergo’s skill set.
At the tender age of 7, in her hometown of Bologna, Italy, Fossa-Huergo hoisted her first racket on a court surface foreign to many American tennis players, clay.
After immigrating to the United States, Fossa-Huergo arrived at Armstrong State in Savannah, Georgia, with little knowledge about American hard courts. Thus, she had to adjust.
“On a hard court, my serve gets hurt in spots that I normally would go on a clay court,” Fossa-Huergo said.
Clay courts are made from crushed brick, instead of natural clay. They play slower than hard or grass courts and balls bounce much higher. This surface often favors a strong returner who can keep the ball in play.
Consequently, players hit fewer winners. On clay, Fossa-Huergo frequently served to her opponent’s backhand. After losing four of her six singles matches in January, the Italian decided to serve more to the forehand side.
“I can take my opponent outside the court and get a free point going wide to the forehand,” Fossa-Huergo said. “That is a problem on clay courts, since the ball doesn’t go as fast compared to hard courts.”
This adjustment, in part, helped Fossa-Huergo win six straight singles matches from mid-February through the second week of March. Her most significant win during that streak was an upset of then-No. 51 Laura Gulbe of Pepperdine.
In addition to working on serve placement, Fossa-Huergo has worked with the coaching staff on first serve strategy.
“We talked about where to go (on the court) for my first and second serve,” Fossa-Huergo said. “You have to practice and you have to know what ball you’re going to get next.”
Fossa-Huergo used to rely heavily on a kick-serve. This serve is hit with a lot of topspin, causing the ball to bounce high off the court. She said most of her early-season service games started with kick serves, because she worried about keeping the ball in play, instead of going for a winner.
Most players hit their first serve with the maximum amount of power, with the goal of hitting an ace or winning the point on the next stroke. At recent practices, Fossa-Huergo worked with head coach Sheila McInerney on the technique.
This adjustment helped her dictate points and control rallies in a 7-5, 6-2 match-clinching victory over junior Jena Cheng of Utah on March 10.
“Nicole has worked really hard over the last month or so on her serve,” McInerney said, after beating the Utes. “I think her serve really helped her out today.”
Fossa-Huergo is not abandoning her kick serve. She said she will normally “kick” if her first service misses its intended target, but said her strategy depends on the situation.
“I like to mix it up so my opponents don’t get used to it,” she said.
Senior Alex Osborne plays with Fossa-Huergo in doubles. She said her partner's improved serve has helped them win more matches on court one.
“We want to play through the middle (of the court),” Osborne said. “By cutting down her angles and serving deep balls into (the opponent’s) body, it really helps me move at the net.”
Despite losing her last two singles matches against Stanford and Cal, respectively, Fossa-Huergo is encouraged with the progress she is made.
“I’ve started seeing the progress,” Fossa-Huergo said. “Everything started making me more confident, and that is why I think I started winning more matches.”
Reach the reporter at jpjacqu1@asu.edu or follow @joejacquezaz on Twitter.
Like State Press Sports on Facebook and follow @statepresssport on Twitter.
