I have a very large bet on this.

I'm in really good shape. He isn't at all. However, I don't play tennis, and he did throughout high school and at a bad university. He gave me the doubles lanes as a handicap, and I asked for a 5set match (so I can try to tire him out). But I bet another poster on this, and he tells me that I have NO CHANCE in this match, and will be unlikely to win a game, as I don't understand that a person who doesn't really play tennis cannot beat a "real" tennis player.

What's my optimal strategy to play in this situation? I'm currently leaning to trying to capitalize on the doubles lanes in my service return, and to place my returns in such a way as to go for winners via the doubles lanes. I also plan to try to tire him out, make him run around alot (obviously), etc.

Is there any other standard fare I could use here to win this?

I would say your best bet would be to do what those of us in the tennis world call "pushing." Don't worry about trying to abuse the doubles alleys-- unless you already know what you're doing they best serve as a margin for error. Just try to get as many balls in play as you can. Aim for maybe halfway between the center and the edge of the doubles alleys. High, soft shots are fine. In fact they're probably better than medium speed ones because that will make him generate all the pace on his own if he wants to hit a winner.

One useful shot you may be able to practice independent of footwork/balance/etc. is drop-shots. If you hit those short and cross court, especially with the extra doubles alley to work with, you can probably wear him out some with the sprints to the net especially if he's fat.

If you don't have enough power in your services and returns, as most amateur players don't because of their technique, he will control the pace of the match and won't tire as much, his services alone should cause you major problems because if you don't play tennis you won't be able to hit them well... you'll also have to do a lot more running because of this. Even if he is out of shape he should def be the favourite. As for strategy the best would be to obviously try and place each shot really well in the doubles and hit as powerfully as you can to try and make him run and not allow him to control the whole match (this would depend on your skill tho, how good is your game?) Also try to drag the match on as long as possible obv.

ask him to play w/o a racket

you might even lose still

you wont even be able to get any serves in. he'll be able to stand 8 feet in from the base line and just crush back your puss serve that you will have to lob into the box. and if he played in college, you are going to have a very very hard time just getting his serve back into play. you are totally screwed.

LOL. You have absolutely no chance. Attempt to buyout for 95% of the amount bet.

To be fair, it was "kinda" college tennis, at best. He played at Cal Tech :-).

lol... I already tried to buy myself out of this and it was an epic, epic, epic fail. At that point, I knew I was in trouble.

Save yourself the humiliation and just pay him. lolololol

PS: Stop running your mouth off.

You'd lose if he had to hold the racquet with his off hand.

I'm pretty sure I'd get beat by my friend who is a tennis pro at a resort if I forced him to keep a pivot foot the entire match (switching sides for serve). And not just beat, like humiliation.

Can you reliably serve? Or have any any racquet sport skills? Maybe if you were an elite squash or racquetball player and were hustling.

When I was a senior in high school, I played a friend of mine who was an average player on the tennis team. I was able to run down a lot more balls, but was way worse at everything else, and I lost the first set 6-1 before I quit. It's been a while since I talked to her.

You're doomed OP

I've played maybe 50-100 times in my life. Regular stuff. Some in high school or college. Here or there with my wife. Yada yada.

I'm not sure if I'd call my serve reliable :-). I'll hit the first one okay/hard but without any great movement/spin or anything, will miss it probably 70% of the time, and will get the 2nd one in 95% of the time. It won't be a total pancake, but he'll probably cream the 2nd serve every time.

This kid is maybe 5'7", 150lbs soaking wet. He "played college tennis", but it was at CalTech for Goshdarns-sake, with a class size of 200 people, most of whom have only played tennis on a Wii. He claims "professional training", which to me still means little more than that he's taken tennis lessons at some point, which matches like 50% of people that I know.

He'll destroy you. My friend is question is smaller than that, but better at tennis. He'll probably overpower you with his play which will be even more lol.

He'll probably still lose, but playing for Cal Tech means nothing.