While grass-court tennis favors big serves and blistering ground strokes, it also rewards players who mix in subtlety and finesse. Among the favored options at a player’s disposal is the slice.

It's getting to the point where, if you're one of the ATP's Big Four and find yourself down a set to Thomaz Bellucci, you can be forgiven for thinking, "Okay, I've got him right where I want him." ...