Tennis Oxygen

In baseball strategy setting the table means to choose players who safely get on base to bat first by hitting boring singles, bunts or drawing walks ahead of the clean up hitter who’s responsibilities is to score everyone with a home run. Setting the table in tennis means to set up the point for yourself or your partner by playing smart before finishing the point with a winner at the net. Setting up the table means that you are hitting the ball with the intention that your opponent will return it but in a way that you or your partner will be able to take advantage.

To simply put it: 
 Construct the point by forcing your opponents into a defensive shot.