The serve is your number-one weapon - if you can't serve you'll never get to use your other shots, no matter how Wimbledon-worthy they are. If you play social doubles all the time, you often end up lobbing your serve into court and never develop it. Practise it on your own: it's the only shot you have complete control over.

Stance is critical. Have your feet about hip-width apart, your right foot parallel to baseline, left foot in front roughly pointing to the right- hand net post (reverse if left-footed). Slightly bend your knee - you have to feel comfortable. Hold the racquet in front of you with the ball held at the throat of the racquet. The correct grip is the chopper grip - imagine you're holding the racquet like an axe.

The secret is good and consistent ball toss. You need to toss the ball slightly higher than the height of the racquet at full extension above your head. And that's where you hit, just as the ball begins to fall. You don't want to be waiting for the ball to drop and you don't want to be snatching at it either. Don't toss it directly in front of you - aim for slightly to the front and right (or to the left if left-handed). When you hit, imagine you're throwing the racquet through the ball. To test yourself, take 10 balls and try serving, if you get more than 70 per cent in you're doing well. If you drop below 50 per cent you're in trouble. Unless your opponent has a really terrible backhand, hit to both strokes 50-50 to keep them unsettled. Once the ball has left your racquet don't stop and admire its awesomeness, keep moving, don't let the racquet drop, be ready to hit again. Focus on the ball. Watch what's written on it.

Interview by Ian Tucker