If there's one thing you can learn from Albert Costa's victory last Sunday at Roland Garros, it's that you should take advantage of short shots from your opponent. Throughout his four-set win over Juan Carlos Ferrero, Costa consistently and emphatically punished every ball that didn't land close to his baseline, and point after point he forced Ferrero to scramble from side to side. Granted, Costa played the match of his life, but it was clear in the very first game that his plan was to dictate play and go after every short ball. We can all gain from his example.

Move into the court: Too often players at the recreational level hang back behind the baseline and wait for the ball to come to them. That's a mistake. Instead, you should move forward and go after the ball. Costa usually prefers to stay farther back and rally, but against Ferrero he adjusted his mindset and his court position. As a result, not only was he more forceful overall, he was in a better position to react when he got the short ball he was looking for. Even if he didn't play an attacking shot, by moving toward the ball he reduced the amount of time he gave Ferrero to prepare.

Develop a finishing shot: One of the obvious differences between intermediates and advanced players is that good players know how to put the ball away. Costa, who's not known for hitting big, still ended the point any time Ferrero's shot wasn't penetrating. Costa later said that he'd been working on this before the match. An easy way to hone this skill is to have a partner feed you shots that bounce near the service line, then practice placing them down the line and sharply crosscourt. Don't worry too much about power. Placement is crucial.

You may not find yourself on the winner's dais at Roland Garros, but by learning to take advantage of short balls you're bound to lift your game a notch or two. ©Miller Sports Group LLC