Modern Age Tennis

Tennis in the 90s was a traditional serve and volley game, which allowed one to appreciate the beauty of each shot. However, this has been radically transformed into a more monotonous smash-and-return game, one in which strength and speed are the sole determining factors in the outcome. Tennis players nowadays are much stronger, better athletes, and can seemingly run down most balls.

This change has been reflected in the tendency of players these days to come up to the net only to shake hands, whereas earlier players would push themselves to get into the net and finish off points. Some of the greatest matches of years past have been face-offs between a serve-and-volley player against a counter-puncher or baseliner; nowadays it seems like every singles match is between two baseliners.

While doubles matches have retained a certain amount of the serve-and-volley game, not so singles. Several factors have contributed to the lack of good serve-and-volley players in the mix of current games, prime among them slower balls and courts causing shots to be easily perceivable, thus making the game slightly sluggish as opposed to how it used to be earlier.

Andy Roddick has been quoted saying, “It seems like everything is slowing down a little bit as far as surface and balls go, and therefore you see many more guys dependent upon their running ability and their legs. Nadal is a fantastic champion, his effort and talent level are just phenomenal. However, as great as Nadal is, I do not think he would have the same kind of results that he is having today had he been playing back in the ’90s. His clay court results would have been similar, but his hard court and grass court records would not have been as great as they are now.”

Research has indicated that serve-and-volley players benefit from playing on fast courts, such as grass or fast concrete. The quick bounce and faster pace of play gives them an advantage because opponents have less time to set up for a passing shot. However, the number of serve-and-volley players is decreasing in today’s professional tennis, because this strategy requires more experience to master and defeat other playing styles, as well as to accommodate for changes in racquet technology that have improved players’ passing shots.

On being asked to comment on today’s game, the legend Pete Sampras said, “Rackets have changed, strings have changed; balls and courts seem pretty much the same…I think the players today are a little bit stronger, a little bit bigger…The technology has really improved. But even then I would play the same. I would get in (into the net), chip and charge, put pressure on these guys – it’s just the only way I know how to play. I’m just all about coming in. It’s tougher now because I don’t move as well, I’m not as agile, but my game would hold up in any generation. I feel when i was at my best, i was unbeatable. Technology’s changed things, it has helped guys return a little bit; but it would also help me so it sort of evens out. Man, i love guys staying back – I just lick my chops.”

However, it would be unfair to say that today’s style is entirely inappropriate as it has definitely benefited players in planning their strategies and working on sheer power to win points. As a result we see them pushing themselves beyond their physical limit. Nonetheless, to have a few good serve-and-volley players in the mix battling players such as Nadal and Djokovic from the net and testing their passing shots would be a nice addition to the game. And to see the current greats incorporating the serve-and-volley technique in their present style would be a marvelous sight.