What tennis greats and PR pros have in common

The various racquet strokes employed by the tennis greats are a bit similar to the tools a PR professional uses for media relations. Here’s a comparison of the two admittedly very different professions’ box of tricks.

Forehand – press release

The most classic shot in tennis is much like a press release. It’s the old favorite for public relations professionals looking to get the job done. It’s also a must-have for tennis pro hopefuls.

American tennis player James Blake recorded the fastest ever forehand at 125 mph at the 2011 U.S. Open—still searching for a comparable press release, though Mitch Delaplane’s certainly is in the running.

Backhand – byline

The backhand is a formidable weapon in its own right. Roger Federer has perfected the art of the one-handed backhand, though Richard Gasquet is thought to have the most technically sound shot. It’s similar to a byline placement in that it can be equally as effective as the old standby approach, and it’s nice to switch things up.