Power Baseliners and the Wave of the Future

Even at his best, it would appear that Agassi’s game did not match up well against Sampras: the latter had a better serve, better volleys, and better lateral movement. He could also generate more power off the forehand. How then, was Agassi able to test Sampras and become No. 1? Because, like Connors, his strengths weren’t just good; they were unprecedented. Agassi’s ability to return 130 mph serves harder and more accurately than they arrived, plus his ability to hit the ball earlier and more accurately than any other player made him one of a kind.

When Agassi truly learned the lesson provided by Jim Courier and became the fittest player on tour in 1999, he showed the level of dedication that would be necessary to dominate from here on. Today, the failure of unquestionably gifted players like Marcos Baghdatis and David Nalbandian to put up consistent results have shown that talent, not sufficiently trained, will never be enough again.

Roger Federer/Rafael Nadal– Many tennis purists will criticize the decision to lump these two together: Federer is their last, best hope for tradition, while Nadal is seen as a kind of muscular, sleeveless-shirt-wearing and trophy-biting antichrist. Federer is technically perfect, overwhelming opponents with the greatest array of weapons ever assembled in one man. Nadal’s strokes are wholly unorthodox, but his speed and the topspin in his groundstroke is as revolutionary as the Connors backhand or the Agassi return.

There is at least one way in which these two men are alike.

Throughout the open era, those players described as greatest athletes or greatest talents have traditionally taken the aggressive approach: Laver, McEnroe and Sampras were considered the greatest talents of their respective ages, and net-rushers like Stefan Edberg, Boris Becker and Patrick Rafter often had the word “athletic” used to describe their play.

Though they are different in many ways, Federer and Nadal both seek to win by overpowering their opponents from the baseline. Also, they both represent the pinnacle of not only athletic ability in today’s game, but also fitness and determination. Certain players, like Marat Safin, Gael Monfils and the surging Juan Martin del Potro appear to have the athletic ability to rival the top players, but none of them has yet shown the commitment needed to dominate.

They have adopted the approach that was invented by Connors and then modified by Lendl, Courier and Agassi, propelling it to new heights of athletic ability. Because both men are baseliners, their points are longer than those between net rushers. Because of their similar physical and mental gifts, their match at Wimbledon is already being called the best of all time. The practitioners of other styles, like big servers, serve and volleyers and counterpunchers have been driven from the top ranks with no return on the horizon.

This creates an environment in which nearly everyone plays the game in the same way, making it harder to find a contrast in styles, like there was between Sampras/Agassi or Connors/McEnroe. It also means that players like Nadal and Federer face less imposing competition in the early rounds: After all, if they can defeat the Lleyton Hewitts and the James Blakes in the latter rounds, what threat do the Jarkko Nieminens pose in round three?

The parity has done some good things for the sport, however. There is much more to show on the highlight reels than there was during the days when Boris Becker was facing Goran Ivanisevic in the latter rounds of events. The game has become truly international, with Europeans staring down North Americans, South Americans and Asian/Pacific contenders. Also, rangy, imposing new athletes like del Potro show the potential to take the game to greater heights than ever before.

The other styles of play are gone, and may be missed occasionally. However, with the new power baseliners, the future of tennis looks brighter than ever.

 

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