This is the fourth in a four-part series of articles about the abundance of power-baseliners in professional tennis today, the absence of other styles of play and what this means for the game...

Power Baseliners and the Wave of the Future

by Rob York (Columnist)

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Opinion

August 18, 2008

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John Stevenson 10 months ago

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I don't agree with all of your analysis.
1) The serve and volley always rules in the end. Laver in his generation (though not the best comparison due to equipment), McEnroe overcame Borg, and Lendl in their Primes, Sampras over everyone else in his era. If Federer reverted back to his more attacking style and serve and volley play he would probably have won Wimbledon. Instead of a bunch of clones playing the same baseline game, a true aggressive attacker like Sampras or McEnroe would carve these stiffs up. How is this possible? By your own admission, Agassi's one of kind game was neurtralized by Sampras, and McEnroe took out Borg, and before his serve weekened after his 1984 season, he handled Lendl pretty regularly. Talented serve and volley players with big serves, and technically perfect ground strokes just aren't around... for now. But at some point, we will see some breakthroughs and remember the greatness of Sampras and McEnroe and Laver etc... and then go Oh Yea! Serve an volley.
2) The caviat in all this are courts and balls. If he USTA continues to slow down the courts and balls we could be waiting a long time and might as well have 4 French opens every year. To play 4 majors on four slow surfaces waters down the GrandSlam for whoever wins it... When can argue the slam was not that big of a feat for Laver as it should be today because he won the slam on all Grass surfaces. I think the idea is to establish mastery on different surfaces. fast courts will inspire serve an volley play and shot making which is what is lacking today and to my overall point and disagreement with your analysis...this s not credited to a new eveloution or enlightenment of the modern tennis player as it is more a style of play dictated by the pinheads that have mandated to slow down the surfaces of the US Open and Wimbledon.

I don't agree with all of your analysis. 1) The serve and volley always rules in the end. Laver in his generation (though not the best comparison due to equipment), McEnroe overcame Borg, and Lendl in their Primes, Sampras over everyone else in his era. If Federer reverted back to his more attacking style and serve and volley play he would probably have won Wimbledon. Instead of a bunch of clones playing the same baseline game, a true aggressive attacker like Sampras or McEnroe would carve these stiffs up. How is this possible? By your own admission, Agassi's one of kind game was neurtralized by Sampras, and McEnroe took out Borg, and before his serve weekened after his 1984 season, he handled Lendl pretty regularly. Talented serve and volley players with big serves, and technically perfect ground strokes just aren't around... for now. But at some point, we will see some breakthroughs and remember the greatness of Sampras and McEnroe and Laver etc... and then go Oh Yea! Serve an volley. 2) The caviat in all this are courts and balls. If he USTA continues to slow down the courts and balls we could be waiting a long time and might as well have 4 French opens every year. To play 4 majors on four slow surfaces waters down the GrandSlam for whoever wins it... When can argue the slam was not that big of a feat for Laver as it should be today because he won the slam on all Grass surfaces. I think the idea is to establish mastery on different surfaces. fast courts will inspire serve an volley play and shot making which is what is lacking today and to my overall point and disagreement with your analysis...this s not credited to a new eveloution or enlightenment of the modern tennis player as it is more a style of play dictated by the pinheads that have mandated to slow down the surfaces of the US Open and Wimbledon. Edit Comment Cancel

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Rob York 10 months ago

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You think Federer would have beaten Nadal at Wimbledon by serving & volleying? On a surface that has been noticably slowed since the late '90s? Against the fastest player in the world, with the best passing shots? When Federer himself gave up that approach just before he had his major breakthrough?

You can think that if you want, but the evidence doesn't back you up. Sampras was my guy, and McEnroe was a pleasure to watch in his prime, but things have changed.

You think Federer would have beaten Nadal at Wimbledon by serving & volleying? On a surface that has been noticably slowed since the late '90s? Against the fastest player in the world, with the best passing shots? When Federer himself gave up that approach just before he had his major breakthrough? You can think that if you want, but the evidence doesn't back you up. Sampras was my guy, and McEnroe was a pleasure to watch in his prime, but things have changed. Edit Comment Cancel

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Power Baseliners and the Wave of the Future

2 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment