No problem Fabian, improving returning the half long serves is mostly about mindset I would say so always expecting a serve you can attack and getting into position quickly. You can definitely practice it though just getting someone to serve to you a mixture of short serves which you have to push back, and longer serves that you try to attack, this way you will get better at spotting which ones you can attack more often.
I’d say he’s fairly good on both sides when playing topspin, but probably more confident to attack faster and harder on his forehand side, his backhand is more controlled but not as dangerous I would say.
You will definitely find you can generate more spin and quality when you are relaxed, this will actually help a lot of areas because you get more acceleration through the ball, you can move more easily and feel less rushed when you relaxed the upper body.
For Reading the serves the best way is to always expect the ball is long and try to spin and then if it does come short you’ll still have time to step in and push. If you do expect to push its hard to then change and play a topspin attack. The best way to really practice this is just a player serving to you as I mentioned or playing practice matches but really focus on this element of receiving the serves 🙂
