Workshop: Watanabe’s Deception

Satomi Watanabe, (the then world no. 19) played a very fine match against Nele Gilis to win the 2024 Optasia Championship.

It was outstanding for the excellent structure of her basic game and her judicious use of deceptive shots that provided the coup de grace to a crucial number of rallies.

Gilis, with three outstanding Egyptian players above her, could in any other era have been the one dominant player. In the Optasia final she did not play badly, for this was a fine match, with tight squash, variety, and good rallies.

But it was Watanabe’s use of deception that proved exquisite to watch.

Watanabe set up her shots well, established a good length in a straight pattern and waited for and forced short weak balls on her opponent’s forehand. Then she shaped for an attacking straight drop, delayed, lured her opponent to move, and used her wrist to play another shot – a faded crosscourt drop.

The timing was critical. “You have to be patient and wait for the right time,” said Watanabe. She had studied her opponent before the match. “She takes off very quickly,” she said.

Gilis occasionally lapsed into short shots on the forehand but overall her game had good length. This is squash, when the opportunities occur you must take them and that is exactly what Watanabe did.

Now, if you play a loose ball in your game, and no-one is perfect, my advice is to make an ‘emergency recovery’ to the T (or even anticipate and move for the opponent’s next shot) – that is make an extra effort to get back in position and be ready to retrieve.

Gillis movement is impressive, and she worked had to retrieve after playing a loose ball. Watanabe however was ready for this, had anticipated it and had set-up a plan.

Once the ‘loose’ shots had been played, Gilis’ options were limited. You can hang back and hope your opponent will hit it back to you, but then you are at a disadvantage. Really you need to work hard to cover your opponent’s shot options - particularly the attacking ones.

Gilis did this and perhaps the only criticism is that she did not learn as the match went on but, as I said, she was in a difficult position.

The art of deception, of wrong footing your opponent, is a wonderful part of our game that is rather lacking in tennis. There are two main parts (two shots) to the skill – the ‘show’ shot (the one you are showing your opponent) and the ‘deceptive’ shot (the real one) played when your opponent has been moved and it is too late for them to change direction.

The ‘show’ shot is the set-up; often it is started early, is rather deliberate, and uses a classic (or obvious) technique. It is an obvious signal to the opponent – this is a straight drop.

The key then is delay – the hold! This shot rarely involves brilliant mesmerising sword work. There is a clear shot demonstrated, a message sent – and a delay. The opponent moves. Got ya! If the opponent does not move it is all in vain.

When playing this shot, shape early and keep the ball out in front. Don’t cramp yourself up. The set-up is early before the ball has got to you, to the impact point.

Start to play down the line of your ‘show’ shot to the front corner. Hold your body in the position for that shot. Then when the opponent moves, use the wrist (just the wrist as you hold the body for the ‘show’ shot) and fade the ball crosscourt.

It looked very easy when Watanabe did it and Gilis would not have liked watching it in replay which she undoubtedly would have done.

This however is not something that Watanabe just conjured up. She had studied her opponent on SQUASHTV and was aware of her speed at take-off to the front corners.

This was part of the game plan – if the opportunity arose.

Omneya Abdel Kawy, in many ways the pathfinder for this great generation of Egyptian women, was brilliantly deceptive. When asked her about her game she said, “What! You want me to tell everyone my secrets.”

“Yes,” I said. And here it is. She practiced. She went on court by herself and worked the shots out.

Try then yourself in practice, practice matches, and then matches. It is just a little flick but there are also a few other things to consider: