The following observations are of course my personal view and do not claim to be the “truth”!
Here comes Hu Limei (China):
Strengths:
- very consistent, low and often quite choppy back hand defending
- consistent forehand defending
- good counter blocks and loops with forehand
- very good footwork
- good variety of forehand serves, not yet widespread among female defenders so far
- nice change in placement of forehand pushes and backhand defending making it difficult for the attacker to surprise her with fast topspins
Weaknesses:
- forehand often goes up to high even though being very consistent
- return on serve on forehand often bounces back too high, immediately being punished by a big smash (this is admittingly one of the most difficult balls to play for defenders)
- attacks to seldom with forehand on long pushes into her forehand, thus making the attacker feel more comfortable or unvulnerable.
- more weakness may be visible against other playsers. Is hard to say with only one match to see.
Suggestions:
- should try to occasionally defend with long pimples on forehand when facing slow and spinny topspins in order to prevent ball bouncing back to high or with too few backspin.
- should attack earlier with forehand on repeated pushes down her forehand.
- should use greater variety of backhand serves.
- should occasionally try to “float” the ball back when defending with the forehand thus making here backspin more unpredictable.
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