Ask Lindsay Davenport to evaluate a match she's just finished and she'll tell you about every important moment. Lleyton Hewitt, too, can rattle off the details of nearly every point he played in a five-set match. And Martina Navratilova still remembers, stroke-for-stroke, matches she played decades ago.

The ability to recall information about matches is not unusual among top players. In fact, it's one of the reasons they became so good in the first place. Like champion poker players who know which cards have been played and which haven't, good tennis players make decisions in their matches by recalling their opponent's tendencies and patterns of play.

Here are two things you can do to develop this skill:

Remember the errors: It's best to pay attention to your own game first. Start by keeping a mental tally of all the unforced errors you make in a game, in a set, and in a match. (An unforced error is when you hit the ball into the net or out while under no pressure from your opponent). The more you track your errors, the easier it becomes. Use this information to measure how well each of your strokes is working. For example, if you made too many errors on your backhand in the first set, adjust by playing a little safer the rest of the match. Once you get good at remembering your own errors, look at your opponent's game and keep track of his errors too.

Look for patterns: The pros use their powers of recall to detect their opponent's tendencies and habits. You should, too. Does your opponent always serve to your backhand on important points? Has she missed every forehand volley when you kept the ball low? Does he try for a winner if he has to hit more than three shots in a rally? These cues allow smart players to make winning adjustments during their matches.

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