The Soto Slice: More Than a Shot in Taylor Jenkins Reid's Carrie Soto Is Back

What Is the Soto Slice?

The Soto Slice is Carrie Soto's signature backhand slice shot—a low, skidding stroke that stays close to the court and forces opponents to scramble. Carrie perfected the shot during her youth under the relentless coaching of her father, Javier Soto. In the novel, the shot is described through Carrie's on-court execution: she takes the ball early, uses a backhand drive volley or a drop shot, and aims for precise spots that leave rivals off balance.

The Soto Slice is not merely a technique; it is the physical embodiment of Carrie's philosophy: controlled aggression and mental dominance. It represents the thousands of hours of drills Javier imposed on Carrie from age eight, the bond they forged through practice, and the champion's mindset of treating every point as a battle for self-improvement rather than external validation.

Where the Soto Slice Recurs

The shot appears repeatedly in Carrie's matches throughout her 1995 comeback season. While the novel does not always label the stroke explicitly, the narrative signals its signature nature when Carrie uses a backhand slice to close out points.

1995 Australian Open — First Round (Chapter 17): Carrie hits a backhand slice that "flies right past" Dvořáková, sealing the match in straight sets.
1995 French Open — Round of Sixteen (Chapter 26): Carrie sets up Moreno with a backhand slice to the far corner, then finishes with a precise drop shot.
Wimbledon 1995 — Semifinals (Chapter 30): Carrie wins match point with a "drop shot, right over the net"—a variation of the slice that keeps the ball low and unreturnable.
Wimbledon 1995 — Final (Chapter 31): Against Cortez, Carrie uses a "backhand drive volley" that lands at Cortez's feet, followed by a drop shot that seals the championship.
1995 US Open — Semifinals (Chapter 35): Carrie employs aces and aggressive returns, but the Soto Slice is implicit in the "wide to her backhand" pattern that wears Cortez down.
One Year Later — 1996 US Open Final (Chapter 37): Carrie recalls teaching the Soto Slice to Nicki Chan during their training sessions, marking the shot's transition from personal weapon to shared legacy.

How the Meaning of the Soto Slice Changes

Initially, the Soto Slice is a weapon of domination. Carrie uses it to humiliate opponents—like the thirteen-year-old boy she taunts in Chapter 3—and to reaffirm her status as the greatest player alive. The shot's clinical precision mirrors her cold, ruthless approach to competition.

As Carrie ages and returns from retirement, the Soto Slice becomes a symbol of resilience. In her comeback matches, the shot proves that her body can still execute the movements her father taught her. It connects her to the past even as her body aches and her ranking falls.

After Javier's death, the Soto Slice transforms into an inheritance. When Carrie teaches it to Nicki Chan in the months leading up to the 1996 US Open, the shot is no longer about winning at all costs; it is about passing on knowledge and letting go. The shot now carries the weight of mentorship, of accepting that someone else will carry the legacy forward.

At the 1996 US Open final, Nicki Chan uses the Soto Slice (or a version of it) to win her twenty-third Grand Slam title, breaking Carrie's record. Carrie watches from the players' box and nods—the shot has completed its arc from weapon to gift.

Character Connections

Carrie Soto – The shot defines her identity. She obsesses over its perfection, and it is the first thing she thinks of when she considers her legacy. Her willingness to teach it marks her emotional growth.
Javier Soto – He drills the slice into Carrie's muscle memory. The shot is their shared language, a physical record of his coaching philosophy and his love.
Nicki Chan – As the recipient of the shot, Nicki represents the future. She respects the shot's history but remakes it into her own. Her success with the Soto Slice validates Carrie's decision to pass it on.
Bowe Huntley – While Bowe does not use the shot, he witnesses its significance. His support helps Carrie see that her value is not tied solely to the shot or to records.
Gwen – As Carrie's friend and agent, Gwen understands that the Soto Slice is more than a technique; it is the key to Carrie's brand and her emotional anchor.

Theme Connections

Aging and the Comeback – The Soto Slice proves that an older athlete can still compete at the highest level if she adapts and trusts her foundation. Carrie's reliance on the shot in the 1995 season shows that experience can outlast youth.
Father‑Daughter Bonds – Every time Carrie hits the Soto Slice, she carries Javier's presence. Their relationship is inscribed in the shot's mechanics and its emotional weight.
Legacy and Letting Go – Teaching the Soto Slice to Nicki is Carrie's most profound act of release. She must accept that records are temporary but influence can endure.
Rivalry and Respect – Ingrid Cortez and other opponents are forced to respect the shot even as they try to counter it. The rivalry between Carrie and Nicki deepens because Nicki learns the shot from Carrie herself.
Mental Toughness and Self‑Talk – Executing the Soto Slice under pressure requires Carrie to block out crowd noise and opponent intimidation. The shot is a test of mental discipline, reinforced by the mantra "break points are my moment."

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Carrie choose to teach the Soto Slice to Nicki Chan rather than keep it to herself?

Carrie teaches Nicki because she recognizes that greatness is not owned—it is shared. After Javier's death, Carrie realizes that her legacy is not just about trophies; it is about what she passes on. Teaching the shot allows her to remain part of the sport even after retirement. It also shows her emotional growth from a selfish competitor to a generous mentor.
How does the Soto Slice connect to Carrie's lesson from her father in Chapter 3: "Every day you must beat the day before"?

The Soto Slice is the physical manifestation of that lesson. Javier drilled the shot until it was automatic, so Carrie could focus on improving her own performance rather than obsessing over opponents. The shot represents continuous self-improvement: each repetition aims to be sharper than the last, mirroring the philosophy that competition is against oneself.
What does the Soto Slice reveal about Carrie's relationship with her father at different points in the novel?

Early on, the shot is an extension of Javier's control; he created it, and Carrie executes his plan. Later, as Carrie returns to tennis without him, the shot becomes a way to keep his memory alive. When she teaches it to Nicki, she transforms the shot from a relic of her father's coaching into a living gift. The arc shows Carrie moving from dependence to independence to generosity.
In what ways does the Soto Slice challenge the idea that a player's prime is limited to youth?

The shot relies on touch, timing, and experience rather than raw power. Carrie uses it to outsmart younger, faster opponents who have never faced such a precise weapon. The Soto Slice proves that a well‑honed skill can compensate for physical decline, and that a veteran's prime may come later when she leans on accumulated wisdom.

Conclusion

The Soto Slice is the beating heart of Carrie Soto Is Back. It begins as a symbol of domination, matures into a sign of resilience, and finally becomes a testament to the power of letting go. Through the shot, Taylor Jenkins Reid explores how identity, family, and legacy intertwine in the world of elite sports. Carrie's decision to pass the Soto Slice to Nicki Chan ensures that her name—and her father's—will echo beyond the record books.

For deeper exploration, see our pages on the novel's themes of legacy and letting go and the father-daughter bond, or learn more about Carrie Soto and Nicki Chan.